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Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a common parasitic disease of livestock especially sheep and cattle. In this study molecular characterization of β-tubulin isotype 3 gene in Fasciola hepatica isolates from cattle and sheep in Turkey was carried out. For this purpose a total of 80 adult Fasciola hepatica isolates were collected from 20 sheep and 20 cattle in Kayseri and Erzurum provinces. PCR-RFLP was performed on β-tubulin isotype 3 gene and MboII revealed two fragments of approximately 350 bp and 390 bp, whereas HphI enzyme yielded 210, 340 and 540 bp bands, HindII yielded 380 and 450 bp bands in all samples. A total of 80 isolates were tested by SSCP and all of them presented the same band profiles. Six samples (4 sheep and 2 cattle) were randomly selected and DNA sequence of a 935 bp coding fragment of β-tubulin isotype 3 was performed. Sheep samples were more polymorphic than the cattle. This β-tubulin isotype 3 gene polymorphism of F.hepatica isolates from sheep and cattle of two distinct geographical areas of Turkey have been investigated for the first time.

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Neosporosis is a disease caused by an intracellular protozoon Neospora caninum and is one of the most important causes of bovine abortion. This study was undertaken to detect N. caninum seroprevalance in Erzurum, the largest province of Eastern Turkey using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). A total of 385 cattle sera including 47 previously aborted cow sera of different ages and breed were collected between June and December 2009. The anti-N.caninum antibodies were tested by competitive ELISA kits. As a result, 41 of 385 (10.65%) cattle were found to be seropositive while this rate was 21.27% (10/47) in aborted cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which examined the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in generating macrophage efficiency as first line of defense during phagocytosis in parasitic infection. In this study, horses naturally infected with Theileria equi were examined to determine whether intracellular parasite infection may be associated with oxidative damage, circulating lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and antioxidant status. An indirect fluorescence antibody test was used to examine the horses and diagnose equine piroplasmosis.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by hydatid cysts, is a widespread and hazardous disease in humans and animals worldwide. The disease is very common in Turkey, causing serious economic losses and public health problem. In this study, the seroprevalence of equine CE was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Methods: Partially purified cyst fluid antigen from sheep hydatid cyst fluid was used as antigen in ELISA. A total of 250 equids consisting of 206 donkeys and 44 horses from various regions of Erzurum province of Eastern Turkey. Results: Anti- Echinococcus granulosus antibodies were detected in 78 (31.2%) of 250 equids. The prevalence rate was 20.4% for horses and 33.5% for donkeys. There was no statistically difference between sex and ages groups for both horses and donkeys (P>0.05). Conclusion: Equine CE is quite endemic in Eastern Turkey. The high prevalence of CE suggests that equids in the transmission cycles is possible as a source of infection for definitive hosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in donkeys in Erzurum, the largest province of Eastern Turkey. The current study was carried out on serum samples collected from 55 female and 37 male donkeys from the Erzurum province which were examined using the Sabin Feldman Dye test. Out of 92 collected samples, 57 (62%) of sera were found to be seropositive at the dilution of 1:16 and greater. The rates of positivity for female and male donkeys were 67.3% and 54.1%, respectively. As far as age groups were concerned, 38.6% positivity was found at 0-3 years, 50.9% at 4-6 years and 19.3% at 7 years of age or older. This study indicated that toxoplasmosis in donkeys is common in Erzurum province and displays different ratios in terms of age and gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in dogs in Erzurum, the largest province of Eastern Turkey which until now had no animal shelter. Sera from 72 stray dogs that presented to the shelter (44 female and 28 male) were examined by Sabin-Feidman Dye Test for antibodies to T gondii. Seventy sera (97 %) were found to be positive. Among the seropositive dogs, 82% were one year old or younger while all the older dogs were seropositive. Seropositivity was found to be 100% in males and 95.5 % in female dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence bovine fasciolosis in Erzurum Province in Turkey and to evaluate sensitivity and specificity of the coproscopy by sedimentation and antibody-ELISA tests considering the copro-ELISA test as the gold standard. A total of 282 cattle (230 female and 52 male; Holstein, n=6; Simmental, n=6; Brown Swiss, n=159; and crossbreed cattle, n=111), at an average of 3.55±2.49 [mean±SD, (range 1.00-15.00)] years old, from local farms were monitored for fasciolosis between April 2011 and June 2011. Animals were grazed and watered on communal areas during days and housed in barns at nights. Blood and fecal samples were collected for coproscopy and serology for F. hepatica. Data were subjected to Chi-square analysis, analysis of variance, and receiver operating characteristics curve development. The prevalence rate was 35.46, 61.70, and 34.04% when assessed by the copro-ELISA, antibody-ELISA, and sedimentation tests, respectively (P < 0.0001). Cattle that were female, purebred, and in advanced ages (⩾6 years) had greater fasciolosis prevalence than those were male, crossbred, and in younger ages (2⩽ years) (40.4 vs. 3.6%, P < 0.0002 for sex; 22.8 vs. 55.0%, P < 0.0001 for breed; and 57.8 vs. 20.0%, P < 0.0001 for age) as attained by the copro-ELISA test. Sensitivity and specificity were 100.0% and 59.3% for the antibody-ELISA technique and 96.0% and 100% for the sedimentation technique, considering copro-ELISA technique gold standard. These data suggest that fasciolosis prevalence can greatly vary by the diagnostic methods and should be cautiously interpreted as they reflect disease status at different stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this pilot study were to determine the seroprevalence of canine leishmaniasis in Kocaeli, Sakarya, Mersin and Elazığ provinces and make a general evaluation of the serologic prevelence of Canine Leishmaniasis (CanL) in Turkey. For this purpose, 111 sera were collected from dogs of different breeds, ages and sexes. Anti-Leishmania IgG antibodies were detected with a commercially available IFAT kit. The relationship between location, breed, age, sex and the seropositivity were evaluated with Chi Square (X2) test. At the end of the study, the overall seroprevalence was determined as 7.20% (8/111). Seroprevalance rates were 5%, 10.52% and 18.75% in Sakarya, Kocaeli and Mersin provinces, respectively; however, no antibodies were detected in dogs from Elazığ. There was no statistical difference in breed, sex and age groups (P>0.05). The prevalence of infection in the province of Mersin was significantly higher than in Elazig (p<0.05). The mean seroprevalence of CanL was calculated as 7.29% for Turkey, which is similar to our results (7.20%). In this study, we gave information about the serostatus of CanL in four different provinces of Turkey. We consider that further studies are required for a clearer understanding of the parasite epidemiology and effective control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to detect Neospora caninum IgG antibodies in Saanen and Hair goats from Elazig, Erzurum and Kırsehir provinces of Turkey. For this, a total of 128 sera obtained from goats were tested using a commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) kit. Overall prevalence of anti-N.caninum antibodies was 10.2% (13/128); and mean prevalence in Hair and Saanen goats were 13.8% (12/87) and 2.4% (1/41) respectively. This is the first serological study on caprine neosporosis in the above mentioned provinces of Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted on 11 camels, ranging in age from 2 months to 40 years. The aim of this study was to detect the Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and helminth parasites in camels. T. gondii antibodies were detected by Sabin-Feldman Dye Test (SFDT), and faecal samples were examined by Fulleborn flotation and Benedek sedimentation methods. As a result of the study, T. gondii antibodies were detected in 10 out of 11 (90.9%) camels. Detected helminths consisted of 63.63% (7/11) Trishostrongyloidea spp., 45.45% (5/11) Trichuris spp. and 9.09% (1/11) Dicrocoelium dendriticum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify Echinococcus species by morphological and molecular means., Methods: A dead gray wolf (Canis lupus) was found near Erzurum province and brought to the parasitology laboratory. Sedimentation and counting technique (SCT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis were conducted., Results: The SCT implications indicated that the wolf had a substantial worm burden (62,720 and 49,280 parasites) due to a co-infection of E. granulosus s.l. and E. multilocularis. Genus/species-specific PCR was used to analyze DNA extracted from adult worms and confirmed as E. granulosus s.s. and E. multilocularis, utilizing COI and 12S rRNA gene sequence analysis, respectively., Conclusion: This report presents the first co-detection of E. granulosus s.s. and E. multilocularis in a gray wolf found in an urban area in a highly endemic area for human echinococcosis in northeastern Turkey. The results emphasize that AE is not only a problem of rural areas, but also occurs in urban areas, which may pose a threat to public health. Therefore, surveillance in urban areas is crucial. The need to develop new control strategies for domestic and wildlife in the study area is also highlighted., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Wild rodents are natural reservoir hosts of various pathogens, including Babesia microti. This study investigated the presence of B. microti in rodents from Erzurum province in Turkey. A total of 498 rodents and 21 rodent-fed ticks were analysed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique to test for the presence of B. microti. Babesia spp. were detected in three (0.6%) of the 498 rodent spleen samples. The Babesia-positive rodent species were identified as Microtus socialis by means of molecular analysis. The rodent-fed ticks comprised 15 Ixodes laguri and 6 Rhipicephalus sanguineus, none of which tested positive for Babesia spp. A sequence analysis of the 18S PCR amplicons confirmed the three Babesia-positive samples to be B. microti. The Erzurum isolates were 100% identical to the zoonotic Jena strain. The results of this study indicate the existence of zoonotic B. microti strains that may constitute a potential public health risk in Erzurum province. Future studies should determine the tick vector and other reservoir rodent species of B. microti in Erzurum., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an important zoonotic infection caused by the larval stages of the genus Echinococcus. Turkey is a highly endemic region for CE and the disease is one of the major public health problems. The study was aimed to assess the situation of the CE in sheep in Turkey and also to provide data on circulating genotypes in the country. A total of 3319 sheep at slaughter were screened during the study. The prevalence of CE in the study area was 31.7% (1052/3319). The lungs were the most frequently CE infected organ (50%, 526/1052). Microscopic examination revealed that overall cyst fertility was 68.1%. Molecular analysis of partial fragments of 12S and COI gene regions were included for 351 selected cyst samples and all of them were identified as E. granulosus sensu stricto. Sequence analysis showed that the predominant genotype in the study areas was G1 (77.1%), and the rest were G3 (22.9%). The prevalence rate of CE in sheep in the study area is lower compared to previous years except for one province. Considering the high cyst fertility rate and the predominance of E. granulosus G1 which is particularly pathogenic to humans, calls for serious control measures like public awareness about the disease, sufficient dog deworming programs, continuity of monitoring the disease should be taken., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Echinococcosis, caused by larval stage of the genus Echinococcus, is one of the most important zoonotic diseases worldwide. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of Echinococcus species in stray dogs of Erzurum, a highly endemic region for cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in Turkey. The study samples consisted of 446 stray dog faecal specimens collected from an animal shelter in Erzurum, Turkey, between October 2015 and February 2016. The faecal samples were collected from individual dogs for the isolation of taeniid eggs using the sequential sieving and flotation method (SSFM). Molecular analyses and sequencing revealed the prevalence of Echinococcus spp. as 14.13% (63/446) in faecal samples. The stray dogs harboured five different Echinococcus spp.: E. granulosus s.s. (G1/G3) (n = 41), E. equinus (G4) (n = 3), E. ortleppi (G5) (n = 1), E. canadensis (G6/G7) (n = 3) and E. multilocularis (n = 16). E. granulosus s.s. was the most abundant species. Surprisingly, the occurrence of E. multilocularis in dogs was revealed for the first time in Turkey. E. ortleppi was also reported for the first time in Turkey. These findings highlight a significant public health risk for human AE and CE, presenting useful baseline data on Echinococcus spp. infection in dogs for designing control strategies.

This study was conducted to determine the occurrence of E. multilocularis in foxes and environmental fecal contamination by E. multilocularis in Erzurum, the most highly endemic region for AE in Turkey. The study materials consisted of 50 red fox carcasses collected from 20 counties of Erzurum, Turkey, between October 2015 and February 2016. After the application of the sedimentation and counting technique (SCT), E. multilocularis was identified through the identification of typical morphological structures. Fox fecal samples (n = 600) were also collected from these counties for the isolation of taeniid eggs using the sequential sieving and flotation method (SSFM). Then, the collected adult worms and taeniid eggs were subjected to molecular and sequence analyses. Mature E. multilocularis parasites were found in 42% (21/50) of the fox intestines, with a mean number of 7,806 (150-31,644). The severity of infection was higher in carcasses obtained from the central district (48.6%, 17/35) than in those obtained from the peripheral district (26.7%, 4/15). The prevalence of environmental fecal contamination with E. multilocularis was 10.5% (63/600) in fecal samples collected from all counties of Erzurum. This infection rate was higher in the central district (32.1%, 36/112) than in the peripheral district (5.5%, 27/488; P < 0.0001). In conclusion, contrary to expectation, the prevalence of E. multilocularis positivity was high in urban areas. This could have been due to alterations in the dietary habitats of definitive and intermediate hosts. Therefore, new control strategies are essential to eliminate human AE cases in the future as urbanization advances., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Erzurum province of Turkey is known to be highly endemic for alveolar echinococcosis (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE). In this study, we confirmed Echinococcus multilocularis cases, searched genetic variations of the isolates, and-for the first time-determined the genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus s.l. infecting humans in the province. A total of 5 alveolar and 106 hydatid cysts as well as 23 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples that were diagnosed as AE were collected from hospitals between 2015 and 2017. Partial sequences of two mitochondrial genes were amplified to detect E. multilocularis and E. granulosus sensu lato with conventional polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and genotypes confirmed by sequencing. PCR amplification of a partial 12S rRNA gene on an alveolar cyst and FFPE tissue samples yielded the expected bp in 5 cysts and 19 of 23 FFPE samples; all Erzurum E. multilocularis isolates were confirmed by sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the isolates indicated that some of them were identical to European isolates, whereas some of them were identical to Asian isolates. Off all hydatid cyst samples, 101 (95.2%) yielded the expected bp (94 with 12S rRNA-PCR and 7 with COI-PCR). Sequence analysis showed that 98 (97%) of them corresponded to the G1 genotype, whereas 3 (3%) corresponded to the G3 genotype. Results of the study emphasize that E. multilocularis isolates of Erzurum, based on short sequencing, are similar to both European and Asian isolates, and the G1 genotype of E. granulosus is the main causative agent of human CE in Erzurum.

This professional opinion describes the use of an off the shelf knee orthotic to correct the gait and functional mobility of a patient with hemisensory loss including proprioception following a stroke and provides supporting video. Interestingly, this case corrects a human analogue of a functional deficit found experimentally in monkeys in the 19th century by Mott and Sherrington., Competing Interests: The authors have no financial or other conflicts. The patient gave written informed consent for use of the videos., (Copyright (c) 2020 Eric Altschuler, Ihsan Balkaya.)

Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a common parasitic disease of livestock especially sheep and cattle. In this study molecular characterization of β-tubulin isotype 3 gene in Fasciola hepatica isolates from cattle and sheep in Turkey was carried out. For this purpose a total of 80 adult Fasciola hepatica isolates were collected from 20 sheep and 20 cattle in Kayseri and Erzurum provinces. PCR-RFLP was performed on β-tubulin isotype 3 gene and MboII revealed two fragments of approximately 350 bp and 390 bp, whereas HphI enzyme yielded 210, 340 and 540 bp bands, HindII yielded 380 and 450 bp bands in all samples. A total of 80 isolates were tested by SSCP and all of them presented the same band profiles. Six samples (4 sheep and 2 cattle) were randomly selected and DNA sequence of a 935 bp coding fragment of β-tubulin isotype 3 was performed. Sheep samples were more polymorphic than the cattle. This β-tubulin isotype 3 gene polymorphism of F.hepatica isolates from sheep and cattle of two distinct geographical areas of Turkey have been investigated for the first time., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest The authors fully declare that there is no financial or other potential conflict of interest., (© 2019 S. Sadet Canakoglu, S. Simsek, I. Balkaya, S. Gunyakti Kilinc, published by Sciendo.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), a zoonotic disease caused by tapeworms of the species complex Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, represents a substantial global health and economic burden. Within this complex, E. granulosus sensu stricto (genotypes G1 and G3) is the most frequent causative agent of human CE. Currently, there is no fully reliable method for assigning samples to genotypes G1 and G3, as the commonly used mitochondrial cox1 and nad1 genes are not sufficiently consistent for the identification and differentiation of these genotypes. Thus, a new genetic assay is required for the accurate assignment of G1 and G3. Here we use a large dataset of near-complete mtDNA sequences (n = 303) to reveal the extent of genetic variation of G1 and G3 on a broad geographical scale and to identify reliable informative positions for G1 and G3. Based on extensive sampling and sequencing data, we developed a new method, that is simple and cost-effective, to designate samples to genotypes G1 and G3. We found that the nad5 is the best gene in mtDNA to differentiate between G1 and G3, and developed new primers for the analysis. Our results also highlight problems related to the commonly used cox1 and nad1. To guarantee consistent identification of G1 and G3, we suggest using the sequencing of the nad5 gene region (680 bp). This region contains six informative positions within a relatively short fragment of the mtDNA, allowing the differentiation of G1 and G3 with confidence. Our method offers clear advantages over the previous ones, providing a significantly more consistent means to distinguish G1 and G3 than the commonly used cox1 and nad1., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a severe parasitic disease caused by the species complex Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. Human infections are most commonly associated with E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.), comprising genotypes G1 and G3. The objective of the current study was to provide first insight into the genetic diversity and phylogeography of genotype G3. Despite the epidemiological importance of the genotype, it has remained poorly explored due to the ambiguity in the definition of the genotype. However, it was recently demonstrated that long sequences of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) provide a reliable method to discriminate G1 and G3 from each other. Therefore, we sequenced near-complete mtDNA of 39 G3 samples, covering most of the known distribution range and host spectra of the genotype. The phylogenetic network revealed high genetic variation within E. granulosus s.s. G3 and while G3 is significantly less prevalent worldwide than G1, the genetic diversity of both of the genotypes is equally high. We also present the results of the Bayesian phylogeographic analysis, which yielded several well-supported diffusion routes of genotype G3 originating from Turkey and Iran, suggesting the Middle East as the origin of the genotype.

Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis (AE), one of the most threatening zoonoses in Eurasia. Human AE is widespread in the Erzurum region of Turkey, but the situation of the disease in intermediate and definitive hosts is unknown. A Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) was killed in a traffic accident in the north of Erzurum, and was taken to our laboratory. Sedimentation and counting technique (SCT), DNA isolation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis were performed. The SCT results showed that the lynx was infected with E. multilocularis with a medium (745 worms) worm burden. The DNA of adult worms obtained from the lynx was analyzed with a species-specific PCR, and the worms were confirmed to be E. multilocularis by 12S rRNA gene sequence analysis. This is the first report of E. multilocularis from Eurasian lynx in Turkey.

Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) is the major cause of human cystic echinococcosis worldwide and is listed among the most severe parasitic diseases of humans. To date, numerous studies have investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of E. granulosus s.s. in various geographic regions. However, there has been no global study. Recently, using mitochondrial DNA, it was shown that E. granulosus s.s. G1 and G3 are distinct genotypes, but a larger dataset is required to confirm the distinction of these genotypes. The objectives of this study were to: (i) investigate the distinction of genotypes G1 and G3 using a large global dataset; and (ii) analyse the genetic diversity and phylogeography of genotype G1 on a global scale using near-complete mitogenome sequences. For this study, 222 globally distributed E. granulosus s.s. samples were used, of which 212 belonged to genotype G1 and 10 to G3. Using a total sequence length of 11,682 bp, we inferred phylogenetic networks for three datasets: E. granulosus s.s. (n = 222), G1 (n = 212) and human G1 samples (n = 41). In addition, the Bayesian phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were performed. The latter yielded several strongly supported diffusion routes of genotype G1 originating from Turkey, Tunisia and Argentina. We conclude that: (i) using a considerably larger dataset than employed previously, E. granulosus s.s. G1 and G3 are indeed distinct mitochondrial genotypes; (ii) the genetic diversity of E. granulosus s.s. G1 is high globally, with lower values in South America; and (iii) the complex phylogeographic patterns emerging from the phylogenetic and geographic analyses suggest that the current distribution of genotype G1 has been shaped by intensive animal trade., (Copyright © 2018 Australian Society for Parasitology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Echinococcus multilocularis is the causative agent of alveolar echinococcosis (AE), a potentially fatal zoonotic disease. Large parts of Turkey are considered as endemic for E. multilocularis. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of metacestode of E. multilocularis in wild rodents in Erzurum, an endemic region for human AE in Turkey. During the sampling period, a total of 498 rodents were trapped in twenty counties of Erzurum Province. Suspected lesions were observed on the livers of 48 rodents, and then partial fragment of mitochondrial 12S rRNA gene was PCR-amplified. Five liver samples exhibited E. multilocularis infection. The prevalence of E. multilocularis for Microtus spp. was 1·3%. All of the infected rodents had fertile metacestodes. Infected rodents were morphologically and molecularly analysed and were confirmed to be Microtus irani by the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequence analysis. This is the first report of the presence of E. multilocularis in rodent intermediate hosts in Turkey. Our findings of infected M. irani with protoscoleces show that this rodent can act as suitable intermediate host for E. multilocularis' life cycle in Turkey. However, there was a complete lack of data on the infection of carnivores from the country. An extensive survey is recommended to determine the prevalence of E. multilocularis in definitive hosts in this endemic region.

Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a hemoprotozoan tick-borne disease with worldwide distribution that is caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. There are studies reporting the presence of equine piroplasmosis in Turkey but the situation in Erzurum is unknown. The aim of the current study was to determine the situation of equine piroplasmosis in jeered horses in Erzurum. Between April and August 2015, a total of 125 Arabian horse were examined and blood samples were collected. At the time of sampling, animals were also examined for tick infestations and clinical signs. Besides microscopic examination of Giemsastained blood smears, multiplex PCR performed with species specific primers partially amplifying the 18S rRNA gene of B. caballi and T. equi. During the microscopic examination of blood smears, T. equi piroplasms were found in 6 (4.8%) samples. In total, 11 (8.8%) T. equi DNA were detected with multiplex PCR. B. caballi piroplasms or DNA were not obtained. BLAST analysis of the sequenced T. equi samples (GenBank: KU921661-KU921667) indicated 98.8-100% identity to each other, and 100% similarity to T. equi isolates in South Africa, Iran, China, Sudan, India, Mongolia, Trinidad, Kenya, Spain, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Turkey (Bursa). The results of our study indicate that T. equi occurs more frequently than B. caballi in the study area. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of the molecular detection of equine piroplasmosis in jeered horses in Erzurum, Turkey.

Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis. The disease is a significant global public health concern and human infections are most commonly associated with E. granulosus sensu stricto (s. s.) genotype G1. The objectives of this study were to: (i) analyse the genetic variation and phylogeography of E. granulosus s. s. G1 in part of its main distribution range in Europe using 8274 bp of mtDNA; (ii) compare the results with those derived from previously used shorter mtDNA sequences and highlight the major differences. We sequenced a total of 91 E. granulosus s. s. G1 isolates from six different intermediate host species, including humans. The isolates originated from seven countries representing primarily Turkey, Italy and Spain. Few samples were also from Albania, Greece, Romania and from a patient originating from Algeria, but diagnosed in Finland. The analysed 91 sequences were divided into 83 haplotypes, revealing complex phylogeography and high genetic variation of E. granulosus s. s. G1 in Europe, particularly in the high-diversity domestication centre of western Asia. Comparisons with shorter mtDNA datasets revealed that 8274 bp sequences provided significantly higher phylogenetic resolution and thus more power to reveal the genetic relations between different haplotypes.

This study aimed to find out the occurrence of Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes in Erzurum province, the highest endemic region for human alveolar echinococcosis in Turkey. The sedimentation and counting technique was used to reveal adult Echinococcus spp. in the intestines of foxes. One out of the 10 foxes was infected with E. multilocularis. The adult worms were analyzed morphologically and molecularly and were confirmed to be E. multilocularis by species-specific PCR. Pairwise comparisons between the 12S rRNA sequences of the E. multilocularis isolate from Erzurum and other E. multilocularis isolates showed 100% similarity of the Erzurum isolate with European isolates. With this study, the presence of E. multilocularis in a fox in Erzurum was confirmed by PCR, and molecular identification of E. multilocularis is reported for the first time in Turkey.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the parasites present in horses belonging to the Erzurum Province., Methods: Fecal samples were collected from 76 horses of different ages, genders and breeds in Erzurum. Individual fecal samples were collected and examined by flotation and sedimentation methods., Results: The following species were detected: strongylid egg (57.89%), Parascaris equorum (10.52%), Dicrocoelium dendriticum (2.63%), Fasciola spp. (2.63%) eggs, and Eimeria spp. oocysts (5.26%)., Conclusion: Equine animals are significantly infected with Strongylosis in the Erzurum Province, and effective parasite control measures should initiated.

In this study, asymptomatic dogs in nine provinces of Turkey were surveyed to investigate the prevalence and intensity of Hepatozoon canis infection. DNA obtained from blood samples collected from 694 domestic dogs (243 stray, 288 shelter, and 163 pets) of both genders and varying ages were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, 285 thin blood smears prepared from these blood samples were also evaluated for microscopic examination. Direct microscopy revealed Hepatozoon gamonts in the peripheral blood of three of 285 (1.0%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21-3.04) tested. Using PCR, 155 of the 694 (22.3%; 95% CI: 19.28-25.61) were found to be positive for the presence of H. canis DNA. The prevalence of infection was higher in adult dogs (26.2%; 95% CI: 22.1-30.7) than young animals (16.4%; 95% CI: 12.2-21.3). Although the prevalence determined by PCR was higher in male dogs (24.5%; 95% CI: 19.6-29.9) than in female dogs (20.8%; 95% CI: 16.9-25.1), gender differences were not significant. Pet dogs had a lower prevalence of infection (10.4%; 95% CI: 6.2-16.2) compared to stray (26.3%; 95% CI: 20.9-32.3) and shelter dogs (25.7%; 95% CI: 20.7-31.1), but no significant association between stray and shelter dogs was found for the presence of the parasite. Partial sequences of the 18S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene shared 99-100% similarity with the corresponding H. canis isolates. This epidemiological survey revealed a high prevalence of H. canis in dogs from several provinces in Turkey, and it suggests that the age and origin are associated with the parasite., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Canine tick-borne parasites have emerged in recent years, showing a wider geographic distribution and increased global prevalence. In addition to their veterinary importance, domestic dogs play an important role in the transmission cycles of some agents by acting as reservoirs and sentinels. This study investigated Babesia, Theileria, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia species in asymptomatic dogs in ten provinces of Turkey., Methods: DNA obtained from blood samples collected from 757 domestic dogs (243 stray, 351 shelter, 163 pet) of both sexes and various ages were evaluated using PCR and reverse line blotting (RLB) assays., Results: Of the 757 dogs tested, 41 (5.4%) were found to be infected with one or more parasites. Ehrlichia canis (37/757, 4.9%) was the most common canine tick-borne pathogen, followed by Anaplasma platys (4/757, 0.5%). Babesia canis and Theileria annulata were each detected in 1 (0.13%) sample. Combined infection of E. canis and A. platys was detected in 2 (0.3%) samples. The prevalence of tick-borne pathogens was higher in adult dogs (6.8%) than in those under one year old (3.1%). Difference in infection rate of male and female dogs was not significant. Pet dogs had a lower prevalence of infection (1.2%) compared to stray (7.4%) and shelter dogs (6%) although the difference between stray and shelter dogs was not significant., Conclusions: Babesia canis, T. annulata, A. platys, and E. canis species were identified at the molecular level in dogs in several provinces of Turkey, with E. canis being the most common species among tick-borne pathogens. Detailed studies should be conducted regarding the existence and prevalence of B. canis and Dermacentor reticulatus in eastern Turkey.