Investigation of vector-borne diseases in dogs

In this study, a total of 186 blood samples were collected from kennel dogs consisting of 104 male and 82 female in five provinces (Mersin, Adana, Hatay, Gaziantep and Batman) of Turkey, and evaluated using molecular methods for the presence of canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs). Overall, 10.8% of the sampled dogs were found to be infected with one or more CVBD pathogens investigated. Ehrlichia canis (17/186; 9.1%) was the most common CVBD pathogen, followed by Babesia canis vogeli (5/186; 2.7%) and Hepatozoon canis (1/186; 0.5%), respectively. Co-infection of E. canis with B. caniswas detected in 3 (1.6%) dogs. Infection with Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp., Leishmania spp., Diroflaria immitis, Diroflaria repens, and Acanthocheilonema reconditum were not detected. No sex association with CVBDs was determined (p>0.05). The result of the study indicates the presence of three CVB pathogens, including the first report of B. canis and H. canis in the studied provinces.Bu çalışmada, Türkiye'nin beş farklı ilindeki (Mersin, Adana, Hatay, Gaziantep ve Batman) köpek barınaklarındanalınan 186 (104'ü erkek ve 82'si dişi) kan örneği vektör kaynaklı nakledilen patojenler yönünden moleküler yöntemlerlearaştırıldı. İncelenen örneklerin %10.8'inin en az bir veya birden fazla patojen ile enfekte olduğu tespit edildi. Ehrlichiacanis (17/186; %9.1) en yaygın vektör aracılı nakledilen patojen olup, bunu sırasıyla Babesia canis vogeli (5/186; %2.7) veHepatozoon canis (1/186; %0.5) izledi. E. canis ve B. canis ortak enfeksiyonu 3 (%1.6) köpekte tespit edildi. Rickettsia spp.,Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp., Leishmania spp., Diroflaria immitis,Diroflaria repens ve Acanthocheilonema reconditum enfeksiyonu saptanmadı. Vektör aracılı nakledilen patojenler yönündenpozitif bulunan köpeklerde yaş ve cinsiyet yönünden istatistiksel olarak önemli bir fark belirlenmedi (p> 0.05). Çalışılanillerde köpeklerde vektör aracılı nakledilen patojenlerden üçünün varlığı gösterilmiş ve çalışılan illerde ilk kez B. canis ve H.canis varlığı tespit edilmiştir

A new stationary phase for hydrophilic interaction chromatography: Polyacrylate‑based hydrophilic, monosized‑porous beads with zwitterionic molecular brushes

Hydrophilic, polyacrylate-based, monosizedporous beads with zwitterionic molecular brushes were synthesized as a new stationary medium for hydrophilic interaction chromatography. Monosized-porous poly(glycerol1,3-diglycerolate diacrylate-co-glycerol dimethacrylate), poly(GDGDA-co-GDMA), beads 5 μm in size were obtained by a staged-shape template polymerization. As an initiator for surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SIATRP), bromine functionality was obtained on the beads by reacting their hydroxyl groups with 3-(aminopropyl)triethoxy silane and α-bromoisobutyryl bromide, respectively. Zwitterionic molecular brushes on the hydrophilic poly(GDGDA-coGDMA) beads were generated by SI-ATRP of a sulfobetaine monomer, [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl) ammonium hydroxide (MESH). Poly(MESH)-grafted poly(GDGDA-co-GDMA), poly(MESH)g-poly(GDGDAcoGDMA), beads were slurry packed into the microbore columns with 2 mm i.d. and evaluated as stationary medium for the separation of organic acids, nucleosides and peptides using microbore columns in hydrophilic interaction chromatography with the plate numbers up to 30,000 plates 1/m

Tularemia During Pregnancy: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Tularemia is a zoonotic infection caused by Francisella tularensis with a worldwide distribution and diverse clinical manifestations. Although F. tularensis has been recognized as a human pathogen for a century, there is few data regarding the occurrence of tularemia in pregnant women and its effect on the fetus, with only eight cases reported in the literature. In this study a case diagnosed with oropharyngeal tularemia in the first-trimester of pregnancy but rejecting antimicrobial treatment is reported. A 24-year-old woman at 10 weeks of gestation was referred to the hospital because of a 21-day history of malaise, myalgias and a 10-day history of swelling on neck. In physical examination, the fever was 37°C. There was an adenopathy on the right cervical region of the neck. In consistent with clinical signs and symptoms of oropharyngeal tularemia, tularemia diagnosis was established serologically (Microagglutination test, immunochromatographic assay-ICA- ve ELISA IgM/G). The pregnancy out-come was not affected by the infection and the patient delivered a 38-week term baby. The neonate did not have any evidence of congenital infection. Tularemia serology of the infant was positive with MA titer of 1:40 and ELISA IgG, respectively. This case was presented in order to emphasize clinical course, laboratory features, and diagnosis of this very rarely seen case of tularemia during pregnancy

Köpeklerde Vektör Kaynaklı Hastalıkların Araştırılması

In this study, a total of 186 blood samples were collected from kennel dogs consisting of 104 male and 82 female in five provinces (Mersin, Adana, Hatay, Gaziantep and Batman) of Turkey, and evaluated using molecular methods for the presence of canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs). Overall, 10.8% of the sampled dogs were found to be infected with one or more CVBD pathogens investigated. Ehrlichia canis (17/186; 9.1%) was the most common CVBD pathogen, followed by Babesia canis vogeli (5/186; 2.7%) and Hepatozoon canis (1/186; 0.5%), respectively. Co-infection of E. canis with B. caniswas detected in 3 (1.6%) dogs. Infection with Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp., Leishmania spp., Diroflaria immitis, Diroflaria repens, and Acanthocheilonema reconditum were not detected. No sex association with CVBDs was determined (p>0.05). The result of the study indicates the presence of three CVB pathogens, including the first report of B. canis and H. canis in the studied provinces.Bu çalışmada, Türkiye'nin beş farklı ilindeki (Mersin, Adana, Hatay, Gaziantep ve Batman) köpek barınaklarındanalınan 186 (104'ü erkek ve 82'si dişi) kan örneği vektör kaynaklı nakledilen patojenler yönünden moleküler yöntemlerlearaştırıldı. İncelenen örneklerin %10.8'inin en az bir veya birden fazla patojen ile enfekte olduğu tespit edildi. Ehrlichiacanis (17/186; %9.1) en yaygın vektör aracılı nakledilen patojen olup, bunu sırasıyla Babesia canis vogeli (5/186; %2.7) veHepatozoon canis (1/186; %0.5) izledi. E. canis ve B. canis ortak enfeksiyonu 3 (%1.6) köpekte tespit edildi. Rickettsia spp.,Coxiella burnetii, Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., Francisella tularensis, Bartonella spp., Leishmania spp., Diroflaria immitis,Diroflaria repens ve Acanthocheilonema reconditum enfeksiyonu saptanmadı. Vektör aracılı nakledilen patojenler yönündenpozitif bulunan köpeklerde yaş ve cinsiyet yönünden istatistiksel olarak önemli bir fark belirlenmedi (p> 0.05). Çalışılanillerde köpeklerde vektör aracılı nakledilen patojenlerden üçünün varlığı gösterilmiş ve çalışılan illerde ilk kez B. canis ve H.canis varlığı tespit edilmiştir

In Vitro Activity of Tigecycline Against Francisella tularensis Subsp holarctica in Comparison with Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin and Aminoglycosides

Francisella tularensis is the etiological agent of tularemia which is a zoonosis of the northern hemisphere. For decades, streptomycin was considered the drug of choice, despite possible side effects, and vestibular toxicity in particular. Alternatives are tetracylines and chloramphenicol which are bacteriostatic agents that are associated with a considerable risk of relapse. The aim of the present study was to assess the in vitro susceptibility of F.tularensis subsp. holarctica biovar II strains to tigecycline, a member of a new class of glycylcyclines. Fourteen F.tularensis strains isolated from patients in Central Anatolia region of Turkey were examined. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of tigecycline, doxycycline, streptomycin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin were determined using the E-test method on glucosecysteine blood agar plates. Interpretation of results was made according to CLSI clinical breakpoints. All strains were susceptible to the antibiotics traditionally used to treat tularemia. Tigecycline showed good in vitro activity to all the isolates (MIC range: 0.094-0.38 mg/L). In this study, tigecycline was more active than doxycycline against F.tularensis subsp. holarctica strains, according to MIC50 (0.19 mg/L) and MIC90 (0.25 mg/L) values. Doxycycline (MIC90: 0.38 mg/L) showed good in vitro activity against all the isolates and MIC values interpreted according to the CLSI criteria for potential bioterrorism agents, have shown ranges below the breakpoint for sensitivity determination (S <= 4 mg/L). Ciprofloxacin had the lowest MIC50 and MIC90 values. In case the other antibiotics can not be used or intravenous therapy is required, tigecycline may be an important therapeutic alternative agent. However, confinement of tigecycline in the treatment of multi-drug resistant bacterial infections, its parenteral way of administration and overall cost were considered as the major limitations of tigecycline in tularemia treatment

Investigation of seroprevalences of Q fever, brucellosis and toxoplasmosis in risk groups in Hatay

Amaç: Bu çalışma, Hatay ilinde zoonotik enfeksiyonlar için risk grubunu oluşturan veteriner hekimler, veteriner fakültesi öğrencileri ve mezbaha çalışanlarında Q ateşi, Bruselloz ve Toksoplazmoz'un seroprevalansım belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Yöntem: 21'i veteriner hekim, 43'ü veteriner fakültesi öğrencisi ve 43'ü mezbaha işçisinden olmak üzere alınan 107 serum örneği Q ateşi için indirekt floresan antikor testi (IFAT), bruselloz için mikro aglütinasyon testi (MAT) ve toksoplazmoz için Sabin Feldman dye testi (SFDT) ile incelenmiştir. Bulgular: 43 mezbaha işçisinden 10'u (% 23.3), 21 veteriner hekim'in altısı (% 28.6) ve 43 veteriner fakültesi öğrencisinin altısında (%14) C. burnetii lgG antikorları yönünden seropozitif bulunurken, sadece bir mezbaha işçisinde C. burnetii IgM antikoru saptanmıştır. Brucella MAT ile 25 (%23.4) serum örneğinde 1:10-1:160 arasında değişen titrelerde Brucella antikorları tespit edilmiştir. Akut enfeksiyon tanı kriteri olarak kabul edilen $geq$ 1:160 titre sadece bir mezbaha işçisinde saptanmıştır. Toxoplasma gondii antikorları yönünden mezbaha işçilerinin % 53.5'i, veteriner hekimlerin %42.9'u ve veteriner fakültesi öğrencilerinin ise % 20.9'u seropozitif olarak bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Hatay İli'nde risk gruplarında Q ateşi ve Toksoplazmoz seroprevalansı yüksek olarak saptanmıştır. Bu nedenle, risk grubunu oluşturan meslek çalışanlarının zoonotik enfeksiyonlar yönünden bilinçlendirilmesi ve bölgede bu enfeksiyonların epidemiyolojik özelliklerinin aydınlatılması için daha ileri araştırmaların yapılması gerektiği sonucuna varılmıştır.Objective: This study was carried out to determine seroprevalence of Q fever, Brucellosis and Toxoplasmosis among veterinarians, veterinary students and slaughterhouse workers who are in close contact with animals. Method: A total of 107 sera consisting of 21 veterinarians, 43 veterinary students and 43 slaughterhouse workers were tested for Qfever by Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT), for Brucellosis by Micro Agglutination Test (MAT), for Toxoplasmosis by Sabin Feldman dye test {SFDT). Results: Ten (23.3%) of 43 slaughterhouse workers, 6 (28.6%) of 21 veterinarians, and 6 (14%) of veterinary students were positive for the presence of C. burnetii IgG antibodies. However, only one slaughterhouse worker was seropositive for C. burnetii IgM antibody. Although Brucella antibodies ranging from 1:10 to 1:160 in risk groups were observed in 25 (23.4%) serum samples, an antibody titer of 1:160, which is considered seropositivity criterion for acute Brucellosis, was determined in only one serum sample belong to slaughterhouse workers. SFDT results showed that 53.5 % of slaughterhouse workers, 42.9% of veterinarians and 20.9% of veterinary medicine students were positive. Conclusion: The high seroprevalence of Qfever and Toxoplasmosis obtained in this study suggests that people, especially those who are close contact with animals, should be warned and informed about zoonotic infections. In addition, further studies should be performed to elucidate epidemiology of mentioned zoonotic infections in this region