Yunus Emre Beyhan

Clinical significance and prevalence of Blastocystis hominis in Van, Turkey

Objectives: To determine the associated clinical symptoms and prevalence of Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis). Methods: Stool samples of 50,185 patients (26,784 males and 23,401 females) who were received at the Parasitology Laboratory of Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey in the last 5 years were inspected microscopically using saline and iodine-stained wet-mount preparations. Age, gender, and symptoms of patients were recorded and their significance was evaluated. Results: The prevalence of B. hominis in the total sample was 0.54% (275/50185). Out of 275 infected patients, 143 (52%) were males, and 132 (48%) were female (χ2=0.884; p=0.348). The distribution of B. hominis infection was high in 7-13 aged children (34.9%) (χ2=306.8; p=0.001). Blastocystis was higher among symptomatic patients (70.2%) compared with asymptomatic patients (29.8%) (χ2=107.13; p=0.001). The most frequent clinical symptoms associated with the disease were abdominal pain (27.3%) and diarrhea (19.6%) followed by anorexia, fever, saliva, anal itching, and nausea. Conclusion: Blastocystis hominis is considered a causative agent of human disease in patients with recurrent symptoms. Due to the significant risk for zoonotic transmission, molecular techniques must be used to determine the route and source of infection.

[Evaluation of Cystic Echinococcosis Suspected Patients Applied to National Parasitology Reference Laboratory of Public Health Institution of Turkey Between 2009-2013].

OBJECTIVE Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the metacestode form of Echinococcus granulosus is an important public health problem common in our country. In this study, anti-E. granulosus antibodies were aimed to investigate in the serum samples of CE suspected patients who applied to the National Parasitology Reference Laboratory of Public Health Institution of Turkey. METHODS In the study, serum samples of 2921 patients which were sent to our laboratories from different hospitals between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013 were evaluated with at least one of the following tests: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Indirect Hemaglutination Assay (IHA) and Western Blot (WB) techniques. RESULTS Four hundred thirty nine (15.03%) of inspected 2921 samples were determined seropositive with at least one of the methods. When the results analyzed by gender, 13% of males and 16.40% of females were found positive. Examined the distribution of the results by years, with a maximum of 25% positivity was observed in 2009. Compatibility was determined at the rate of 91.4% among ELISA and IHA results; also 89.7% among WB and the other tests results. CONCLUSION Despite the gradual decreases the CE in Ankara and its surroundings, it is still continues to be a major public health problem. Essential prevention and control measures should be taken to reduce the prevalence of the disease. Also in the diagnosis of the disease, more reliable results can obtained with applying two tests (ELISA/IHA) together and confirm the positivity with WB.

Giardia muris infection in laboratory rats (Rattus norvegicus) and treatment with metronidazole

OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of metronidazole for treatment of Giardia muris infection in laboratory rats. METHODS The feces of rats was yellow watery diarrhea and brought to the surgery research center of University of Ondokuz Mayis in order to be a study. Stool samples were examined by native examination, evaluation of infection rates was done with an X40 lens, and results were recorded as positive from 1 to 4. Metronidazole was administered to infected animals orally for 5 days with a 20 mg/kg dose. RESULTS As a result of fecal examination of 64 rats held in groups of four in cages, 15 of the cages (60 rats) were found to be infected with G. muris. While agents were not observed in collected stool samples following 5, 7, and 14 days of drug administration of 14 groups, trophozoite density in one cage was decreased (75%), and adverse effects were not seen in rats. CONCLUSION Metronidazole was found to be an effective drug for the treatment of giardiasis.

Investigation of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) in Samsun and Afyon provinces.

OBJECTIVE The present study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in water buffaloes. METHODS The research was conducted on 131 water buffaloes from Samsun and Afyon provinces. Serum samples of buffaloes were tested for toxoplasmosis with the Sabin Feldman Dye Test (SFDT), using live tachyzoites and methylene-blue dye. RESULTS 87.79% of buffaloes had anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies titered 1:16 and more. No statistically significant difference was observed between the age and gender of buffaloes with infection (p>0.05). CONCLUSION These results show that toxoplasmosis is quite common in water buffaloes in the regions of study.

Amblyomma spp. case related to overseas travel

Ticks are a threat to human health by blood sucking and vectoring many disease agents. Tick-borne diseases are seen all over the world and play an important role in the dissemination of diseases. Although many of the tick species are present in Turkey, Amblyomma genus is seen more in South America and Africa. In this case,a person returning to the country after travelling to Africa who presented to the hospital complaining of tick bites and brought ticks to the parasitology laboratory was identified as Ablyomma spp. nymph. This case is a report concerning care of tick bites when travelling abroad and shows that these ticks can transmit disease agents from abroad.

Comparison of microscopy, ELISA, and real-time PCR for detectionof Giardia intestinalis in human stool specimens

Background/aim: This study included patients who had digestive system complaints between August 2015 and October 2015. The research was designed to compare conventional microscopy with an antigen detection ELISA kit and the TaqMan-based real-time PCR (RT-PCR) technique for detection of Giardia intestinalis in human stool specimens. Materials and methods: Samples were concentrated by formalin-ether sedimentation technique and microscopic examinations were carried out on wet mount slides. A commercially available ELISA kit (Giardia CELISA, Cellabs, Brookvale, Australia) was used for immunoassay. DNA was extracted from fecal samples of about 200 mg using the QIAamp Fast DNA Stool Mini Kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany) and the LightCycler Nano system (Roche Diagnostics, Mannheim, Germany) was used for the TaqMan-based RT-PCR assay. Results: A total of 94 stool samples, 38 of them diagnosed positive (40.4%) and 56 of them diagnosed negative by microscopy, were selected for evaluation by antigen detection and molecular assays. The prevalence of G. intestinalis infection was found as 46.8% (n: 44) and 79.8% (n: 75) by ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. RT-PCR revealed by far the highest positivity rate compared to the other two methods. The difference between these methods was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). In comparison to PCR, the sensitivity and specificity of microscopy and ELISA were 50.7% and 100% and 53.3% and 79%, respectively. Conclusion: RT-PCR seems to be much more sensitive and beneficial for rapid and accurate diagnosis of G. intestinalis in human stools.

Detection and identification of cutaneous leishmaniasis isolates by culture, Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analyses in Syrian and Central Anatolia patients

Objectives: To characterize the cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) isolates of Syrian and Central Anatolia patients at species levels. Methods: Skin scrapings of 3 patients (2 Syrian, 1 Turkish) were taken and examined by direct examination, culture in Novy-MacNeal-Nicole (NNN) medium, internal transcribed spacer polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis (PCR). Results: According to microscopic examination, culture and PCR methods, 3 samples were detected positive. The sequencing results of all isolates in the study were identified as Leishmania tropica. The same genotypes were detected in the 3 isolates and nucleotide sequence submitted into GenBank with the accession number: KP689599. Conclusion: This finding could give information about the transmission of CL between Turkey and Syria. Because of the Syrian civil war, most of the Syrian citizens circulating in Turkey and different part of Europe, this can be increase the risk of spreading the disease. So, prevention measurements must be taken urgently.

Cyclospora cayetanensis, Opportunistic Protozoan Parasite, in Van Province, Turkey: A Report of Seven Cases

The aim of this study is to report seven Cyclospora cayetanensis (C.cayetanensis) cases determined in Yuzuncu Yil University Medical Faculty Parasitology Laboratory, Van province, Turkey. In the study native-Lugol, formalin-ethyl acetate and modified acid-fast staining methods were performed to stool samples of the patients sent from outpatient clinics of the hospital. All of the patients infected with C. cayetanensis were older than 15 years. In our cases there were not a history of international travel. Only one of our seven cases was immunosuppressed. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (160/800 mg) was administered for the treatment of the patient. In conclusion, it was understood that the physicians should consider cyclosporiosis in the patients with diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Effects of acetic acid on the viability of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs. Is vinegar reliable enough to clean the vegetables

Objectives: To investigate the effects of acetic acid on durable Ascaris lumbricoides (A. lumbricoides) eggs to determine the effective concentration of vinegar and the implementation period to render the consumption of raw vegetables more reliable. Methods: This experimental study was performed in May 2015 in the Parasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey. The A. lumbricoides eggs were divided into 2 groups. Eggs in the study group were treated with 1, 3, 5, and 10% acetic acid concentrations, and eggs in the control group were treated with Eosin. The eggs’ viability was observed at the following points in time during the experiment: 0, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, and 60 minutes. Results: The 1% acetic acid was determined insufficient on the viability of Ascaris eggs. At the 30th minute, 3% acetic acid demonstrated 95% effectiveness, and at 5% concentration, all eggs lost their viability. Treatment of acetic acid at the ratio of 4.8% in 30 minutes, or a ratio of 4.3% in 60 minutes is required for full success of tretment. Conclusion: Since Ascaris eggs have 3 layers and are very resistant, the acetic acid concentration, which can be effective on these eggs are thought to be effective also on many other parasitic agents. In order to attain an active protection, after washing the vegetables, direct treatment with a vinegar containing 5% acetic acid for 30 minutes is essential.

Seroprevalance of Leishmaniasis in Dogs from Hatay and Burdur Provinces of Turkey and Northern Cyprus.

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalance of leishmaniasis in dogs from Hatay and Burdur provinces of Turkey and Northern Cyprus. METHODS Blood was collected from a total of 278 dogs, including 124 from Hatay, 49 from Burdur, and 105 from Northern Cyprus. Dilutions of serum samples were prepared, and the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies was investigated by indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT). RESULTS A total of three dogs were found to be seropositive (1.1%), one from Hatay (0.8%) and two from Northern Cyprus (1.9%). Also, one dog (0.4%) from Northern Cyprus was found to be borderline positive. All dogs from Burdur have been identified as seronegative. CONCLUSION This is the first research on the seroprevalence of the parasite in dogs from Hatay and Burdur. The seropositivity detected in dogs from Hatay and Northern Cyprus demonstrates the presence of the parasite in these regions, and obtained results contribute data on the prevalence of the disease in an epidemiological manner. To obtain more reliable data, it will be useful to conduct studies on wider dog populations and vector sandflies.