Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in Aydin province, Turkey

BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women at first trimester of their pregnancy and to follow up the seroconversion for next two trimesters, and to identify the risk factors and possible contamination routes in Aydin province, Turkey. METHOD: The sample size was calculated as 423 on a prevalence of 50%, d=0.05 at a confidence level of 95% with 10% addition. It was a cross-sectional study with multistage sampling. After a questionnaire applied to the pregnant women, anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were studied with ELISA and IFA, values in conflict with DA test, where IgM antibodies were studied with ELISA and for borderline or positive values of IgM avidity test was used. RESULTS: The mean age of 389 (92.9%) of pregnant women in the study was 24.28+/-4.56 years, the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies for toxoplasmosis was 30.1%. Seroprevalence was increased with age (p=0.001) and with drinking water consumption other than bottled water (p=0.042). No significant relations were observed between anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and education level, being native or migrant, abortion history, consumption of meat, vegetable and milk/milk products, personal or kitchen hygiene habits, cat owning at home of the pregnant women. No IgM antibody was detected. CONCLUSION: One of every three pregnant women in Aydin was at risk of toxoplasmosis at the first trimester of their pregnancy. Increased seroprevalance with age was a predictable result because of increasing time of exposure. Increased seroprevalence with consumption of municipal and uncontrolled water (well/spring water) supplies was similar with latest epidemiological findings

HELMINTHOLOGIA

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, is potentially dangerous for humans. The aim of this study was to examine serological and clinical findings regarding cysts localisation and individual responses in 54 patients with CE. The majority of patients in this study were females (63%) and the average age was 46.3 years. Most of the patients lived in rural areas or kept a dog (46%) for a long time. The most frequent symptoms were hypochondrial pain (48.9%), epigastrial discomfort (27.7%), vomiting (21.3%), minor cough (12.8%), urticaria (6.3%), weakness (4.3%), fever (2.1%), side- or backache (4.3%). However, 17% of the patients showed no symptoms. In every case, the ultrasound (USG) and/or computer tomography (CT) investigations were positive. In most cases (53.2% of the patients) a single cyst was found but 46.8% of the patients had multiple cyst formations (from 2 to 9 cysts) located in the liver. Sporadic lung, splenetic, mesenterial, tibial and cerebral localisations were also found. The patients were individually treated with albendazol (10 - 15 mg/kg) five days prior and six months after the surgical treatment. Serum samples were investigated by the serological techniques: IHAT, ELISA and Western blot using hydatid fluid antigen. In the patient sera, the specific antibody levels were mostly increased after surgery. Different results were obtained only in two patients. In the first case, seroconversion was delayed. In the other case all ELISA results were negative, however, the Western blot analysis and surgery proved the presence of CE. The results suggest that the different antibody response of patients depends on the individual immune response. Multiple localization and various stages of CE cysts demonstrate the necessity of a complex approach for the confirmation of a correct diagnosis

An investigation on roundwood extraction of Fagus orientalis lipsky, Abies nordmanniana (Stew.) Spach. and Picea orientalis (L.) Link. by Urus M III forest skyline on snow

Harvesting and transportation of woods from forest are extremely difficult, expensive and timeconsuming operations. In the most regions of Turkey, the application of mechanized harvesting equipment is currently very limited due to low labor cost and high fuel cost. In Turkish forestry, the most common harvesting method is cut-to-length system, which is carried out intensively during the late spring and summer, as well as during the winter with a limited extent. In this study, productivity of roundwood extraction (Fagus orientalis Lipsky., Abies nordmanniana (Stew.) Spach. and Picea orientalis (L.) Link.) by Urus M III skyline on snow in Artvin, Turkey was investigated. The average total time of shift was measured as 13.10 min for uphill logging and 22.92 min for downhill logging. Increases in number of pieces, log diameter, log length and log volume increased the total transportation time. The results also indicated that the productivity value of Urus MIII skyline varies among the sites (5.87 m³/h in Site-1, 6.82 m³/h in Site-2, 4.08 m³/h in Site-3 for uphill and 1.69 m³/h in Site-4 downhill), and uphill yarding by Urus MIII was more productive than downhill yarding on snow

[The investigation of Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax in a group of patients with periodontal disease]. [Periodontal Hastaligi Bulunan Kişilerde Diş Eti Plaklarinda Entamoeba gingivalis ve Trichomonas tenax Araştirilmasi.]

PubMed ID: 20597052The oral cavity is suitable for invasion of many microorganisms. Entamoeba gingivalis (E.gingivalis) and Trichomonas tenax (T.tenax) settle in the oral cavity of patients with poor oral hygiene and gingival disease. In the present study, two slide specimens were prepared from the cole region of the teeth of 46 persons for investigation of the parasites. One of the slide specimens was dried in the air while the other one put into fixative and they were stained with trichrome and Giemsa stains. The two staining methods were used for 36 samples and only Giemsa, for 10 samples. E. gingivalis was positive in 7 (19.44%) out of 36 samples stained by the trichrome stain while T. tenax was positive in one (2.17%) out of 46 samples stained by Giemsa stain. Parasitic infections were found to be positive in seven (21.2%) specimen from 33 patients with periodontal disease and in one (7.69%) specimen from 13 healthy controls. Dental policlinics are generally far from parasitology laboratories and microscopical wet mount examination can not be performed. Therefore dentists can send the specimens and have the parasites diagnosed with Giemsa and trichrome staining methods as an alternative to wet mount examination

A sero-epidemiological study of cystic echinococcosis in Izmir and its surrounding area, Turkey

WOS: 000079355900004Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important helmintic diseases in Turkey. In this study ELISA and IFA techniques were used as an initial screening tests to estimate the prevalence of CE in man within the rural areas and also in the urban area of Izmir. A total of 2055 blood samples were collected from residents of Izmir and surrounding area were processed, and 71 (3.45 %) sere-positive cases were detected. These seropositive serum samples, and also 150 sere-negative sera, were retested with Indirect haemaglutination (IHA), SDS-PAGE and Western blotting and an Echinococcus antigen with an apparent molecular weight of 8 (or 12) and 116 kDa were identified as diagnostically important for patients of CE in Turkey. According to our data, prevalence of CE in Izmir and surrounding area was found 291 per 100 000 (6/2055) inhabitants