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Gallbladder is a rare localization for hydatid disease. Complications are even rarer and precise diagnosis is quite difficult even with radiological assistance. We report a rare case of 41-yr-old male patient presenting with the rupture of a gallbladder hydatid cyst with multiple fistulae to intra and extrahepatic bile ducts and pancreas, at Kocaeli State Hospital, Turkey in 2021. The patient had abdominal pain and abdominal CT scan reported a bizarre "contrast enhanced cholangiography" sign - radiopaque contrast substance in gallbladder, intra and extrahepatic bile ducts and pancreatic ducts, with concomitant acute cholecystitis. Surgery was performed and intraoperatively gallbladder hydatid cyst with multiple fistulae was noted. Cholecystectomy with total cyst excision was performed. Endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP) was utilized to irrigate and eradicate the parasite in the fistulae tracts localized near pancreas and intra/ extrahepatic ducts. Postoperative period was uneventful, antiparasitic treatment was started, and in the yearly follow-up patient had no recurrence. Multidisciplinary and minimal invasive management is crucial in such bizarre, complicated cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Echinococcosis is a common parasite with zoonotic character created by a small cestode, Echinococcus spp., and is an important public health problem in Turkey as well as all over the world. We aimed to investigate antibodies in serum samples of suspected Echinococcosis patients sent to the National Parasitology Reference Laboratories of the General Directorate of Public Health. Methods: Serum samples of 2390 patients sent to our laboratory between January 1, 2014 and May 01, 2019, evaluated by ELISA, Indirect Hemagglutination Test (IHA) and Western Blot (WB) methods are presented. Our laboratory is the national reference laboratory. All kinds of tests requested from suspected patients can be performed Results: Overall, 1199 (50.2%) of 2390 serum samples were female and 1191 (49.8%) were male. It was observed that 178 (14.9%) of men and 210 (17.5%) of women were seropositive. There was no statistical difference between the sexes in terms of seropositivity. Of all samples, 1941 (81.2%) were negative, 388 (16.2%) were positive, and 61 (2.6%) were borderline. Results determined as borderline are considered suspicious and a recommendation is made to repeat the test after 15 days. A statistical difference was found in the distribution of seropositivity by years. While seropositivity was lowest in 2014, it was found to be highest in 2018 and 2019. Conclusion: Despite all the precautions taken, it is seen that echinococcosis still continues to exist in Turkey as a zoonotic disease. Hence, CE has been involved in Turkey Zoonotic Diseases Action Plan (2019-2023) and decided to carry out studies for the protection and prevention of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myiasis is a disease that occurs when adult forms of some diptera species are non-parasitic, while larval forms (Diptera: Calliphoridae, Muscidae and Sarcophagidae) feed on necrotic, living, or dead tissues of humans and vertebrates or fluids from body tissues or ingested food. Myiasis causes serious economic losses and health problems in humans and animals, especially in rural areas of tropical and subtropical countries where cattle, sheep and goat breeding are common. The case of myiasis is classified in many ways according to the parasite-host relationships or the tissues and organs in which the diptera larvae located: external myiasis if it settles on the skin surface of the hosts; internal myiasis if it settles in organs or body cavities. Diptera larvae collected from the preputium of a sacrificial goat were brought to the parasitology laboratory in 70% ethanol for identification. According to the microscopic examination, third instar larvae of Wohlfahrtia magnifica (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) were detected in samples. The aim of this study was to present the cases of external and internal myiasis in Turkey, together with the first case of preputial myiasis of goat caused by W. magnifica in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dead black stork (Ciconia nigra) was found by an a birdwatcher in the Kızılırmak Delta near Samsun, Turkey and brought to the Parasitology Laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ondokuz Mayis University for ectoparasitological examination in December 2019. During the examination, 45 specimens of chewing lice (21 males, 18 females and 6 nymphs) were collected. All of the specimens were identified as Neophilopterus tricolor (Burmeister, 1838) (Ischnocera: Philopteridae). Neophilopterus tricolor is reported from the black stork (C. nigra) for the first time in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dead Caspian gull (Larus cachinnans) submitted to the parasitology laboratory of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Ondokuz Mayis University was examined in accordance with the standard techniques in the laboratory. The parasites were fixed, clarified and identified as Cosmocephalus obvelatus and Paracuaria adunca according to morphological characteristics. Some specific morphological charecters were measured and photographed by microscopically. To our knowledge, both nematode species are the first record for parasite fauna in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Cryptosporidiosis is a worldwide zoonosis. Microscopic examinations may fail due to indistinctive morphological peculiarities of causative species. Hence, molecular diagnostics has become more important. Methods: Stool samples from 150 patients were examined using carbol-fuchsin stain to determine Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts. Combined nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique was used for establishing different species in positive samples. The samples were also screened for other parasites by wet-mount and zinc sulfate flotation methods. Results: Microscopic examinations and molecular techniques revealed 0.67% (1/150) and 8.93% (5/56) positivity, respectively. Nested PCRRFLP enabled the detection of Cryptosporidium hominis (C. hominis) in one sample, while Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) was detected in four samples. With this study, C. hominis was reported from humans for the first time in Turkey. Among infected ones, three of which were children, four patients excreted C. parvum oocysts had gastroenteritis, and a patient positive for C. hominis had gastroenteritis accompanied by nausea and vomiting. No Giardia spp. and Entamoeba spp. were detected in all infected individuals. Conclusion: C. parvum cases outnumbered C. hominis cases, suggesting a zoonotic transmission although infected individuals were living in an urban area where animal husbandry was not allowed. However, water-borne pathogen contamination in the city's water supply is considered a factor for transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is an important public health problem with around 2.000 autochthonous reported cases each year in Turkey. Due to the civil war in Syria, Turkey received around three million refugees and they are mainly located at either camps or homes in south/southeastern part of Turkey. In the present study, we aimed to collect samples from CL suspected patients admitting to State Hospital in Gaziantep City and perform parasitological and DNA-based techniques for diagnosis as well as species identification of the parasite for better understanding the prevalence of each species among Turkish and Syrian patients in the region. The collection of samples was carried out between January 2009 and July 2015. The lesion aspiration samples were taken and stained with Giemsa stain followed by microscopical examination for parasitological diagnosis. After the DNA extraction from Giemsa stained slides, real time and semi-nested PCRs both targeting ITS1 region were performed for molecular diagnosis and species identification. A total of 567 people were admitted to the hospital with the suspicion of CL and 263 (46.4%) of them were found to be positive by parasitological examination. One hundred seventy-four (66.15%), 88 (33.46%) and 1 (0.38%) of them were Turkish, Syrians and Afghan, respectively. Slide samples obtained from 34 CL suspected patients were analyzed by PCR and 20 of them were found positive. Eighteen (13 Turkish and 13 Syrians) of the positive samples were identified as L. tropica , while two (1 Turkish and 1 Syrian) of them were L. infantum . In conclusion, the effects of Syrian civil war on the epidemiology of CL in Gaziantep city is demonstrated in the present study. The use of molecular tool in the diagnosis of leishmaniasis is effective, sensitive and time saving which will enable the species typing. Species typing of the causative agent in endemic areas will bring valuable data to epidemiological knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine bacterial, parasitological and viral agents of diarrhea in lamb and goat kid in Marmara Region of Turkey. The material of this study was consisted of 88 lambs and 26 kids which were younger than 6 months old. A total of 26 Escherchia coli (22.8%), 27 Eimeria spp. (23.7%), 11 Cryptosporidium spp. (9.6%) and 6 Clostridium perfringens (5.3%) were identified from samples. In addition Rotavirus and Pestivirus were detected in 3, 4 of 114 of samples respectively. It was concluded that determining the most common agents that cause diarrhea in young small ruminants in Marmara Region may contribute to therapeutic approaches and prophylactic medicine procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides both the results of a comprehensive research study on trichodinid parasites of several fish species and a review of current trichodinid fauna of fish species revealed during parasitological survey studies in Turkey. The present study yielded 1 Tripartiella, 1 Paratrichodina, and 8 Trichodina identified to the species level and 3 Trichodina identified to the generic level in 12 fish species belonging to several families; their host preferences and infestation indices have also been presented. As a result of fish parasite investigations, a total of 33 trichodinid species have been identified on 30 fish species in Turkey. Considering the total number of 850 marine and freshwater fish species present in the Turkish fauna, the present data on the trichodinid fauna of fishes in the Lower Kızılırmak Delta and the literature studies conducted so far clearly point out the necessity of conducting more investigations on unexamined fish species to attain a more complete picture throughout all Turkish waters. The bioindicator potential of trichodinid parasites will also provide clues for the current status of aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study was designed to assess and compare the quantity and quality of Iranian and Turkish researchers working in the field of Parasitology from bibliometric point of view. Methods: To assess the contributions and achievements of the Iranian and Turkish parasitologists, bibliometric analysis was carried out based on the citation data retrieved from Web of Science. Results: The absolute productivity of Turkish and Iranian parasitologists' papers has almost tripled for Turkey, from 12 papers in 2002 to 36 papers in 2011, and decuple for Iran, from 10 papers to 123 from 2002 to 2010. The average number of citation per article is about 5.8 and 4 for Turkish and Iranian parasitologists' papers, respectively. The "Veterinary Parasitology" journal was the most cited journal in both countries. The majority (more than 90%) of cited items was foreign journal articles and one half of all references in journals articles dated 11 and 12 years while one half of cited books was dated within 14 to16 years for Turkish and Iranian papers, respectively. Conclusion: Based on observed data and applied model, it is anticipated that the total number of Iranian and Turkish parasitologists' publications in Web of Science will exceed of 2512 and 240 articles per annum for Iranian and Turkish in 2020, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stool samples of 236 patients with acute and chronic gastrointestinal symptoms admitted to Ege University Medical Faculty Parasitology Outpatient Clinic Laboratory between July 2009 to June 2010 were examined. One hundred eleven out of 236 (47%) patients admitted to the laboratory during summer and autumn period with acute gastrointestinal symptoms while other 125 patients (53%) admitted during winter and spring with chronic symptoms. At least one parasite was determined in 112 out of 236 (47.45%) patients. In retrospective analysis, it has determined that the bacteriological examination of stool samples were also performed in 121 out of 236 (51.7%) patients. Seven out of 121 (5.78%) patients admitted both bacteriological and parasitological laboratories together had at least one bacterial agent in their stool examination. Five out of 7 patients were found to be having bacteriological and parasitological mixed infection. Our findings showed that it is important to perform both bacteriological and parasitological examinations together in patients admitting to hospital with intestinal symptoms due to these mixed infections. Performing both diagnostic techniques together will improve accurate diagnosis, treatment and understanding possible etiological reasons of these mixed infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, European common toad (Bufo bufo), European green toad (Bufo viridis) and marsh frog (Rana ridibunda) were collected in Çanakkale Province (northwestern Turkey) between 2000 and 2003, and examined for helminths. Three of three (100%) B. bufo, 22 of 22 (100%) B. viridis, and 13 of 14 (92.86%) R. ridibunda were infected with one or more helminths. The helminths of B. bufo included two nematodes (Cosmocerca ornata and Oxysomatium brevicaudatum). The helminth fauna of B. viridis comprised six species: one species of monogenea (Polystoma viridis), one species of digenea (Pleurogenoides medians), one species of cestode (Nematotaenia dispar) and three species of nematodes (Oswaldocruzia filiformis, Cosmocerca ornata, and Oxysomatium brevicaudatum). The helminth fauna of R. ridibunda comprised seven species: five species of trematodes (Diplodiscus subclavatus, Gorgodera cygnoides, G. vitelliloba, Bracyhcoelium salamandrae and P. medians), and two species of nematodes (C. ornata, and O. brevicaudatum). Cosmocerca ornata and O. brevicaudatum were collected from three host species, and P. medians was recorded a second time from B. viridis in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to investigate microbiological, serological and parasitological quality in cig kofte (raw meatball) and their lettuce consumed in Istanbul. Consequently, a total of 102 cig kofte and 60 lettuce samples were analyzed for total mesophylic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), sulphite-reducing bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus-Micrococcus, and Salmonella spp. levels. Sulphite-reducing bacteria were not isolated from any of the samples. Salmonella were found positive in 9 of cig kofte and in 5 of lettuce samples. None of the analyzed samples was found to contain pork. Ten of them contained equine, 5 contained beef+mutton, 12 contained beef+poultry and 7 contained equine+poultry, while 68 of the 102 samples were only beef meat. Parasites and their fragments were also observed in some of the cig kofte and lettuce samples (6 insect fragments in cig kofte samples and 2 insect fragments, 5 acarus and mites and 2 Entamoeba coli + acarus in lettuce samples). It was concluded that cig kofte and lettuce offered to consumers in Istanbul have low microbiological and parasitological quality. Due to imitation of the products, unfair competition and profit is provided and consequently the safety of the consumer is at risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: More than half of the world''s population is exposed to malaria in approximately 100 countries. Rapid diagnosis and correct treatment of cases are the main objectives of control programs in malaria endemic areas. We have developed a PCR method to determine the presence of plasmodium DNA in blood. The method can also identify the species of the plasmodium by restriction enzyme analysis of the amplified product. We evaluated the performance of this method in the diagnosis of malaria suspected cases in Turkey by comparing to microscopy of the blood smears: blood samples were obtained from 114 patients with malaria symptoms, including fever and/or chills lasting for several days, before starting treatment. Thin and thick blood smears were prepared immediately in the region of specimen collection. After isolation of DNA from blood samples, DNA was amplified by PCR and digested by restriction enzyme AluI. The obtained fragments were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis. The number of parasites in the thick and thin smears of the blood samples was evaluated microscopically after staining by Giemsa and results were compared by PCR results. Among 114 plasmodium positive cases detected by microscopy, 100 were also detected by PCR. There were 14 false negatives and no false positive by PCR. Compared to microscopy, the sensitivity, specificity and Positive Predictive Value (PPV) of PCR were determined as 76%, 100% and 100%, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study aimed to evaluate clinical signs related with canine leishmaniosis (CanL) and to determine their relation with serological results in the differential diagnosis of this disease in dog populations. A total of 253 dogs from houses and a dog shelter in KuSadasý, an endemic region for leishmaniosis, were investigated for clinical signs related to CanL. Sera collected from the study group were examined by indirect fluorescence antibody (IFA), whole ELISA and rK39 ELISA tests for the serological diagnosis. Popliteal lymph node aspiration materials were examined for the parasitological diagnosis. Clinical signs were separated into two groups as cutaneous and visceral signs and no clinical signs were observed in 51.7% (131/253) of the dogs, while 48.3% (122/253) of the dogs had at least one sign. A total of 42 dogs [29 (23.7%) in the symptomatic and 13 (9.9%) in the asymptomatic group] were diagnosed as CanL serologically and/or parasitologically. Two strains were isolated and identified as Leishmania infantum MON-1. There was no correlation between IFAT titers and the number of the clinical signs (P > 0.05; R square = 0.002). Weight loss was found to be the most common sign of CanL while epistaxis was the least common but specific sign. The seropositivity ratio of CanL is 16.6% (42/253) among dogs in the region and clinical signs were found to be helpful for suspecting CanL but at least one serological and/or parasitological method should be performed for the accurate and differential diagnosis in the dogs. Our findings also showed that the one-third of the dogs in an endemic area for CanL could be asymptomatic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nematode Schulmanela petruschewskii (Shulman, 1948) was identified during the parasitological examination on the liver parenchyma in one specimens of a cultured rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) which reared in Derbent Dam Lake in Samsun, Turkey (41°25′6′' North latitude, 35°49′52′' East longitude) in August 2008. This parasite species was not previously reported from Turkey. With the present study we report S. petruschewskii for the first time in Turkey. This specimen which is a parasite of cultured rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) is a new record for the Turkish parasite fauna. Original measurements and figures are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hedgehog diseases are becoming important issues for veterinary surgeons due to growing interest in this animal species among pet owners and an increase in cases of rescued hedgehogs requiring veterinary care. A parasitological study was carried out on hedgehogs (Erinaceus concolor) in the Bursa province of Turkey, found dead mainly due to road casualties, to determine their helminth parasite burden. The detected helminths and their prevalences were as follows: Physaloptera clausa (72.2%), Crenosoma striatum (55.5%), Aonchotheca erinacei (55.5%), Hymenolepis erinacei (55.5%), Nephridiorhynchus major (50%) and Eucoleus aerophilus (22.2%). The number of parasites in infected animals varied from 1 to 203. The highest mean intensity of infection was observed with C. striatum, and the lowest was observed with N. major. The mean abundance of different species varied from 0.7 to 41.8, where E. aerophilus and C. striatum had the lowest and highest abundance, respectively. This study represents the first time N. major and E. aerophilus have been reported in hedgehogs in Turkey. The presence of E. aerophilus and its potential role as a zoonotic agent are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies were carried out on the galls formed byApiomyia bergenstammi(Wa.) on buds and/or twigs of pear trees, in Yayladagi, Senköy, and Belen, Hatay province, Turkey in 2003. The pest was introduced into Hatay province at least 5 years ago. It produces one generation a year and hibernates as larvae in the galls. In Yayladagi, Senköy and Belen, 20, 18 and 5%, respectively, of buds/twigs of pear trees were attacked byA. bergenstammi. Each of the galls contained on average 9.6 ± 0.5 (range: 6–11) larval chambers. Adults were reared from galls collected at the beginning of spring, viz.A. bergenstammiemerged in the first half of April 2003,Oxyglypta rugosaRuschka (Hym., Pteromalidae) andTorymus apiomyiaeBoucek&Mihajlovic (Hym., Torymidae) (a new record for Turkey) emerged in the second half of April. Other chambers contained unemerged adults ofPlatygastersp. (Hym., Platygasteridae). Natural parasitism rates obtained by dissecting 10 galls from Yayladagi and Senkoy in 2003 were: 26.6 ± 4.4% byO. rugosaand 10.0 ± 3.2% byPlatygastersp. The parasitism rate byT. apiomyiaewas 16.6% as determined from the galls collected from Belen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A wild boar (Sus scrofa) about 2 years old was brought to our parasitology laboratory from Orhaneli region, Bursa province. It was examined for ectoparasites and 32 lice collected from the animal's head were inspected and identified as Haematopinus suis. Five of them were found to be as nymphs, whereas 27 were adults. This paper is the first report of H. suis found in Bursa province, Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation was carried out to determine the frequency of the fasciolosis in Erciş, a town in the Van province located in the Eastern Turkey. The study includes 500 asymptomatic subjects (322 males and 178 females) whose ages ranged from 5 to 75 years. In all subjects, stool samples were examined at initiation of the study and one week later to rule out pseudoparasitosis. The methods of flotation (in saturated saline solution) and sedimentation (in formalin–ether solution) were used in examination of the stool samples. Fasciola hepatica eggs were detected in nine (1.8%) out of 500 subjects. In conclusion, our data showed that the prevalence of human fasciolosis was high in our region because watercress consumption was common. We also think that human fasciolosis is more frequent than expected in Turkey. To determine the exact prevalence of the disease, extensive serological investigations should be performed in different regions of Turkey. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]