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Objective: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease, which leads to morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the presence of anti- Echinococcus granulosus immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, which were detected by indirect fluorescent antibody test in the samples that were transferred to the Microbiology Laboratory of University of Health Sciences Turkey, Diyarbakır Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital with the pre-diagnosis of CE. Moreover, gender differences with respect to positivity rates of anti- E. granulosus IgG antibodies were investigated., Methods: Anti- E. granulosus IgG antibodies, which were detected in the samples of cases with the pre-diagnosis of CE between January 2014 and December 2017, were retrospectively evaluated. Gender difference with respect to positivity rates was investigated by applying the chi-square test in cases with positive anti- E. granulosus IgG antibodies., Results: Out of the 829 serum samples, 222 (26.7%) were found to be positive for E. granulosus IgG antibodies, among which 40 (27.2%), 56 (25.5%), 51 (23.3%) and 75 (30.6%) were found to be positive in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. No significant difference was found between genders amongst the cases with positive anti- E. granulosus IgG antibodies (p>0.05)., Conclusion: Since CE is a major public health problem, evaluation of the presence of anti- E. granulosus IgG antibodies would be important to understand the positivity rate at the regional level.

Objective: To determine the results of radiological and serological screenings in individuals who shared the same living space as patients with hydatid cyst in a State Hospital of Afghanistan., Methods: Patients presenting with hydatid cyst to a public hospital in Afghanistan were included in this study. Full sampling method was used. Also, the relatives of the patients were called to the hospital and investigated for the presence of hydatid cyst antibodies through direct chest X-ray, upper abdominal ultrasonography and ELISA., Results: During the study period, a total of 214 patients, including 102 male and 112 female, underwent radiological and serological screenings. While cysts were radiologically detected in the liver, lung and spleen in 8, 2 and 1 patient, respectively, the serology was positive in 22 patients., Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was concluded that the patients who shared the same environment as the patients who were diagnosed with hydatid cyst in an endemic region for cyst hydatid disease.

Objective: Echinococcus granulosus, the etiological agent of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in humans and livestock, is a widely distributed zoonotic pathogen tapeworm. The infection is transmitted to humans by the ingestion of E. granulosus eggs released in the feces of definitive hosts such as dogs. The larval stage of the parasite develops a slowly enlarging cyst in the visceral organs, particularly in the liver and/or lung. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of an immunochromatographic test (ICT) for CE., Methods: A total of 50 sera from surgically and/or pathologically confirmed patients with CE were included in the study as the study group; the control group comprised patients who tested negative for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Sera were selected from the collection at Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Parasitology Laboratory, by simple random sampling. The collection included sera obtained between 2010 and 2014; antibody titers of each serum sample were determined using in-house ELISA, before storage at -20°C. The presence of E. granulosus antibody in the sera was determined using a commercially available ICT (VIRAPID® HYDATIDOSIS) kit method., Results: In the study group (E. granulosus-confirmed cases), two (4%) of the 50 sera were negative and 48 (96%) were positive with ICT. In the control group (ELISA-negative), all were negative with ICT., Conclusion: The rapid diagnostic test has been evaluated as a practical, easy-to-use method for detecting CE, and it can be used as a screening test in routine diagnosis and research.

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between serum levels of vitamin A and β-carotene in the liver of cattle., Methods: A total number of 150 samples were selected according to the type of parasitic infections of the liver after postmortem examination and confirmation. Parasitic lesions in the liver were subdivided into three major parasites, including Fasciola hepatica, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, and hydatid cysts. Fifty samples were obtained from cattle without any parasitic infection as a control group. Serum levels of vitamin A, β-carotene concentrations (μg/dL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity were assayed., Results: Naturally infected cattle with D. dendriticum, F. hepatica and hydatid cyst showed lower vitamin A levels. Serum β-carotene levels were significantly decreased in all groups (p<0.05). ALT and AST activities in animals with parasitic diseases were statistically higher than in control group (p<0.01). A significant negative correlation was determined between the β-carotene, vitamin A levels and enzyme activities of the liver in all the three types of liver infections (p<0.001)., Conclusions: This study indicated that serum levels of vitamin A and β-carotene decline was present in cattle with liver parasite infection and vitamin supplements should be supplied.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the metacestode form of Echinococcus granulosus is one of the important health problems in Turkey and in the world. In this study, whether or not the presence of CE in patients with a high eosinophil count should be determined was investigated. A total of 946 specimens from patients with a high eosinophil count (>or=350/mm3) were evaluated. The age of patients ranged from 1-94 years. Of the patients, 392 (41.4%) were male and 554 (58.6%), female. The specific antibody response in the specimens was determined by ELISA and IHA. Specific antibody response was detected in five sera of 946 (0.53%) patients with ELISA and IHA. The patients, with an antibody response, were evaluated further with liver ultrasonography and chest X-ray. One patient, in which an antibody response was detected, had a history of renal cell carcinoma surgery. In one patient (0.11%), CE was detected in the liver and the diagnosis was confirmed by surgery. No CE was found in the other three patients. In conclusion, eosinophilia is not a sufficient indicator for CE alone and this parasite should be sought in patients with clinical and radiological signs.

This study was performed in order to investigate the variations of some blood biochemical parameters as well as the levels of Vitamin. B(12) and some macro elements in sheep infected with endoparasites. The blood samples were taken from the sheep that were to be slaughtered in the Van Municipality Slaughterhouse while the stool samples were taken after the slaughtering of the same animals. The postmortem examinations were made to investigate for the presence of Fasciola spp., D. dendriticum and cyst hydatid infections. The stool samples were examined helminthologically using native, sedimentation, flotation and Baermann-Wetzel methods. The control group was composed of animals not showing any internal organ parasites or parasites in the stool examination. Following the macroscopic and the stool examination, the animals found to have the same type of parasites were considered to be the study group. According to the analyses performed on the animals, the levels of total protein (in Trichostrongylidae, hydatid cysts), globulin, amylase, chlorine, and Vit.B(12) were found to be increased significantly, while the levels of albumin, magnesium, and phosphorus were found to be decreased significantly. The other parameters analyzed were not significant statistically between the groups.