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Turkey has more than 200 endemic freshwater fish species, one of which is the Ankara nase, Chondrostoma angorense Elvira, 1987 (Cypriniformes: Leuciscidae), a food fish in northern Turkey. Like most endemic fish species in Turkey, its myxosporean parasite fauna (Cnidaria: Myxosporea) are not yet described. We surveyed twenty C. angorense from Lâdik Lake in northern Turkey, and identified two myxosporean parasites from gills of these fish: Myxobolus arrabonensis Cech, Borzák, Molnár, Székely, 2015, and a co-infection of a novel species, Myxobolus polati sp. nov. We characterized both infections based on myxospore morphology, morphometry, tissue tropism, small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence and phylogenetic analysis. Plasmodia of both species were observed in gills, but had distinct tropism: M. arrabonensis is an intrafilamental vascular type, and M. polati sp. nov. is an intralamellar vascular type. We identified M. arrabonensis on the basis of myxospore characters and 100% similarity to the type DNA sequence from the closely-related host C. nasus. The small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence of M. polati sp. nov. (1946 base pairs; GenBank Accession number MH392318) had a maximum similarity of 98% with any Myxobolus sp. from other Eurasian cypriniforms. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that M. polati sp. nov. is most closely related to gill-infecting Myxobolus diversicapsularis from Rutilus rutilus (L.). The present study is the first record of myxosporean species infecting C. angorense comprising a novel species, M. polati sp. nov. and a known species M. arrabonensis., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The genus Eustrongylides Jägerskiöld, 1909 includes parasitic nematodes (Dioctophymatidae) affecting various fish species and piscivorous birds of freshwater ecosystems. Currently, there is little information on the molecular characterization of E. excisus based on nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA regions. However, before the present study, there had been no reports of characterizing the E. excisus using nuclear small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) genes sequences. In the present study, Eustrongylides spp. larvae were collected from pike-perch Sander lucioperca (L.) in Northern Turkey, and characterized by sequencing of ITS regions, SSU rRNA, and COI markers. Larvae herein morphologically identified as the fourth stage of Eustrongylides spp. were genetically identified as E. excisus based on the ITS sequence analysis. This study is the first record of SSU rRNA and COI sequences for E. excisus in GenBank. This is also a molecular characterization of E. excisus for the first time in Turkey. The ITS, SSU rRNA, and COI sequences of E. excisus can be used to establish the phylogenetic relationships of Eustrongylides species from Turkey and worldwide for further studies.

Calodium hepaticum (Bancroft, 1893) Moravec, 1982 (Syn. Capillaria hepatica) is a zoonotic nematode that causes hepatic capillariosis, an uncommon zoonotic infection. The nematode is globally distributed and parasitizes the liver of mammals, mainly Muroidea. Cricetulus migratorius Pallas, 1773 (Cricetinae) was rarely reported as a host for C. hepaticum. In Turkey, C. hepaticum was recorded in three rodent species; Rattus rattus, R. norvegicus, and Apodemus flavicollis. In this study, C. migratorius (grey dwarf hamster) has been identified as a new host species for C. hepaticum in Turkey. The parasite was identified by morphological, histological, and molecular methods and the phylogenetic relationships of C. hepaticum collected from different hosts were revealed. This is the first molecular characterization of C. hepaticum from a grey dwarf hamster., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Whether zoonotic or not, arboviral infections are continuing to be a major threat to human health as well as the livestock industry all around the world. This project presented the results of the identification study on five arboviruses, including West Nile virus (WNV), Bovine ephemeral fever virus, Akabane virus, Bluetongue virus, and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus, in mosquitos and midges from eight provinces of the Black Sea Region., Methods: During 2011 and 2012, 3193 mosquitoes were captured around natural streams, rivers, lakes, and ponds using dry-baited miniature light-traps. Identification studies were concluded by employing molecular methods., Results: According to the morphological identification, blood-sucking mosquitoes and biting-midges belonged to Aedes (44.69%), Anophele s (28.34%), Culex (22.14%) and Culicoides (4.83%) species. Overall, 146 pools were made up of captured mosquitos and midges. None of the five viruses were directly identified by mosquitoes., Conclusion: Mosquitoes and midges have got a crucial role in the transmission of arboviruses. The risk of occurrence for the investigated arboviruses will continue depending upon many factors including the presence of these viruses in Turkey and its neighboring countries, uncontrolled livestock movements, global warming and climate changes., (Copyright© Iranian Society of Medical Entomology & Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

Animal fasciolosis occurs every year as an occasional problem in Samsun Province, especially of grazing animals in the Kizilirmak and Yesilirmak Deltas and surrounding areas. On occasions, dead animals or internal organs, including livers, lungs and hearts, are submitted to the Parasitology Department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Ondokuz Mayis University for diagnostic purposes. Upon diagnosis of fasciolosis, the owners and veterinarians are informed about prevention measures and treatment of the disease. In that context, the livers and gallbladders of one sheep, one cow and two water buffalo, suspected of having died as a result of fasciolosis, were submitted to the parasitology laboratory of the faculty in 2015 and 2016. All organs were examined thoroughly and 38, 1076, 456 and 714. F. gigantica were collected from the sheep, cow and buffaloes' livers and gallbladders, respectively. In addition to these cases, according to information received from animal breeders and some veterinarians, at least 5 sheep and 3 cattle had also died due to fasciolosis in the previous two years. Because of the re-occurrence of F. gigantica cases in recent years, it is pertinent to discuss the past and current situation surrounding this parasite in Turkey., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background/purpose: The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica infection in sheep in the Black Sea region of Turkey., Methods: Samples from 213 sheep were collected randomly in Samsun, Tokat, and Sinop from September 2005 to January 2007 and tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis using F. hepatica excretory-secretory (E/S) antigens., Results: The distribution of ELISA-positive samples for F. hepatica infections out of a total of 213 sheep serum samples was 23/71 (32.4%), 15/59 (25.4%), and 29/83 (34.9%) in Samsun, Sinop, and Tokat, respectively. The immunodominant proteins were determined by Western blot analysis using molecular weight markers of 14 kDa, 20 kDa, 24 kDa, 27 kDa, 33 kDa, 45 kDa, and 66 kDa and extracted from sera of sheep that were positive for Fasciola spp. eggs and also hyperimmune sera from rabbits immunized with E/S antigens., Conclusion: The ELISA-positive results were confirmed by Western blot analysis. As a result, seroprevalence of F. hepatica infection was found in 31.4% of sheep from the Karayaka breed in the Middle Black sea region of Turkey., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Anisakid nematodes are important etiological agents for zoonotic human anisakiasis (or anisakidosis). These parasites in the Turkish waters still remain unexplored. This study aims the molecular identification of Anisakis species in Turkey's coast from Black, Aegean and Mediterranean Sea and specifically to screen for zoonotic species in commonly commercialized a total of 1145 fish belonging to 31 different species using both polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing of the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit II (cox2) gene. A total of 776 Anisakis type I larvae were isolated in 56/1145 (4.8%) fish of 7 species from Turkish waters. The combining all of our results, e.g., morphology, PCR-RFLP, ITS region, and the cox2 gene, conclusively supported the identification of 3 Anisakis spp. taken from marine fish hosts, namely Anisakis pegreffii, Anisakis typica and Anisakis simplex sensu stricto (s.str.)/A. pegreffii hybrid genotype. No Anisakis larvae were isolated from the Black Sea whereas A. pegreffii, A. typica and A. simplex s.str./A. pegreffii hybrid genotype was found in the Aegean Sea and A. pegreffii was only isolated from the Mediterranean Sea. This study represents the first identification of A. typica and A. simplex s.str./A. pegreffii hybrid genotypes from Turkish waters. Moreover, in the present study first record of the presence of A. pegreffii is also reported from Turkish coasts of Aegean and Mediterranean Sea. No zoonotic Anisakis species were found in commonly commercialized 1025 fish belonging to 16 different species from the Black Sea, thus Turkish populations who consume captured fish from the Black Sea may have a less risk of human anisakiasis or allergies. However, the prevalence of larvae were 47.1% and 46% and recognized zoonotic A. pegreffii were identified from the Aegean and Mediterranean Sea coast, suggesting a high threat of anisakiasis or allergies for Turkish populations who consume fish originating in these regions., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A total of 286 larval forms of Hysterothylacium aduncum were collected from Merlangius merlangus euxinus and Trachurus trachurus captured at different sites of the Black Sea coast of Turkey. Prevalence of H. aduncum in M. merlangus euxinus and T. trachurus was 37.4 and 29.3 %, respectively. The fourth-stage larvae from M. merlangus euxinus and T. trachurus of H. aduncum were characterized genetically using a molecular approach. The ribosomal DNA (rDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS-1, 5.8S subunit, ITS-2) was amplified and sequenced. Two isolates of H. aduncum obtained from M. merlangus euxinus and T. trachurus in Black Sea showed a 100 % nucleotide similarity. Pairwise comparison between the entire ITS fragment including ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2 sequences of the H. adumcum isolates of M. merlangus euxinus and T. trachurus from Black Sea (Turkey, JX413596-JX413597) and other H. adumcum isolates from Baltic Sea (Poland, AJ937672), North Sea (Denmark, HM598666), Mediterranean Sea (Tunisia, HQ270427), Japan Sea (Japan, AB277826), Adriatic Sea (Croatia, JQ934878), East Greenland Sea, English Channel, Bay of Biscay, Adriatic Sea, and North Sea showed differences ranging from 0.1 to 0.7 %. With the present study, larvae of H. aduncum infecting M. merlangus euxinus and T. trachurus caught off the Black Sea, Turkey were characterized for the first time by sequencing of the ITS rDNA.

Fifteen roe deer were examined at necropsy from Northern Turkey in the period 2006-2010 for the helminth infections. Totally 6470 helminth specimens were collected and identified by morphological criteria. Twenty-five helminth species were identified (1 of the Class Trematoda, 1 of Cestoda and 23 of Nematoda). Dicrocoelium dendriticum (Prevalence 20%) was found in liver. Cysticercus tenuicollis (6.6%) was found in mesentery. Haemonchus contortus (53.3%), Ostertagia leptospicularis (73.3%), O. leptospicularis (minor morph: kolchida) (53.3%), Ostertagia ostertagi (26.6%), Spiculopteragia spiculoptera (66.6%), S. spiculoptera (minor morph: mathevossiani) (6.6%), Teladorsagia circumcincta (40.0%), T. circumcincta (minor morph: davtiani) (6.6%), T. circumcincta (minor morph: trifurcata) (6.6%), Trichostrongylus axei (66.6%) were found in abomasum. Trichostrongylus andreevi (6.6%), T. colubriformis (6.6%), T. longispicularis (26.6%), T. vitrinus (40.0%), T. capricola (6.6%), Cooperia oncophora (26.6%), C. punctata (6.6%), Nematodirus filicollis (66.6%), and Capillaria bovis (26.6%) were found in small intestine. Oesophagostomum venulosum (46.6%), Chabertia ovina (26.6%), and Trichuris ovis (13.3%) were found in large intestine. Dictyocaulus capreolus (6.6%) was found in lungs., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A coprologic study was conducted to determine the prevalence of helminth infections at the Samsun Zoo, Turkey. There are 184 animals comprising 45 species or subspecies, including 23 ruminants, three equines, 21 carnivores, 10 rabbits, two primates, two kangaroos, and 123 birds in the zoo. Fecal samples of zoo animals were collected and examined four times from 2006 to 2007: in September, December, March, and June. In four seasons, coprologic analysis revealed that 123 of 338 (36.4%) fecal samples were infected with different helminths types, including one trematode, one cestode, and 12 nematodes eggs or larvae. Species included Dicrocoelium spp. (0.9%), Moniezia spp. (1.1%), Toxascaris leonina (7.1%), Toxocara spp. (8.6%), Uncinaria stenocephala (1.4%), Dictyocaulus filaria (1.9%), Muellerius spp. (14.1%), strongyle type (20.7%), Strongylus edentatus (8.3%), Cyathostomum spp. (66.7%), Trichuris spp. (3.9%), capillarid type (9.5%), Ascaridia spp. (1.9%), and Heterakis spp. (12%).