Incidence of cyclosporiasis in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in western Turkey

WOS: 000243503800010PubMed ID: 17179908Background: This study was designed to investigate the distribution of cyclosporiasis between October 2003 and October 2004 and the relationship between Cyclospora infection and seasonal as well as patient factors in western Turkey. Material/Methods: Stool samples from 4660 immunocompetent patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and 326 immunocompetent patients with allergic symptoms from western Turkey were examined between October 2003 and October 2004 using wet preparation, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration, Trichrome stain, and modified Kinyoun's acid-fast staining methods. Results: Twenty-three patients were found to be infected with Cylospora oocysts. Parasites such as Cryptosparidium, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Blastocystis hominis and others were also observed. The incidence of cyclosporiasis was higher in summer and early autumn and most of the Cyclospora-infected patients were without diarrhea. Conclusions: Clinicians with patients from Turkey and abroad who have intestinal symptoms after visiting the Country should be aware that Cyclospora infections could be considered as a possible cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of diarrhea in immunocompetent patients during the summer period in Turkey

Differentiation of Entamoeba histolytica and Entamoeba dispar by PCR: a preliminary study in Izmir, Turkey

WOS: 000244261100006PubMed ID: 17319599The causative agent of amoebiasis is currently attributed to two distinct species (E.histolytica and E.dispar). The aim of this study was to differentiate these species by PCR in stool samples. Isolated genomic DNA was amplified by PCR and band products of 101 by (E. dispar) were obtained. All seven stool samples were found to be E. disbar, not E.histolytica. Our results demonstrated the significance of E.histolytica/dispar differentiation in the diagnosis of amoebiasis. This study is preliminary to our current research project entitled "Investigation of the prevalence of amoebiasis and Entamoeba species in Izmir and its hinterland"

Genotyping and Molecular Identification of Acanthamoeba Genotype T4 and Naegleria fowleri from Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples of Patients in Turkey: Is it the Pathogens of Unknown Causes of Death?

Purpose This study was aimed to investigate the presence of pathogenic free-living amoebae (FLA) in suspected cases of meningoencephalitis with unknown causes of death in Turkey. Method A total of 92 patients, who were diagnosed as meningoencephalitis, were enrolled. All cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were directly microscopically examined and cultured. Acanthamoeba, N. fowleri and B. mandrillaris were further investigated using molecular diagnostic tools including real-time PCR, sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses. Results The examined CSF samples were not found positive for the presence of FLA by microscopic examination and culture method. However, two CSF samples were detected positive by real-time PCR assay. Of the positive CSF samples, one was identified as Acanthamoeba genotype T4 and the second positive sample was identified as N. fowleri belonging to genotype II. Furthermore, the pathogens diagnoses was verified through Sanger sequencing. Conclusion This study was significant to report the presence of Acanthamoeba genotype T4 and N. fowleri genotype II in CSF samples by real-time PCR assay. The present study shows the significance of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) as one of the differential diagnoses to be considered by clinicians during the evaluation of suspected meningoencephalitis or cases of unknown cause in Turkey. Using real-time PCR, this has made the rapid detection, in a short time-frame, of Acanthamoeba and N. fowleri in CSF samples from patients. The problems with qPCR is that it is not available in every laboratory, reagents are expensive, and it requires skilled and expert personnel to set up these assays.Scientific Research Projects Branch Directorate of Ege University, Turkey [11-TIP-078]The research was supported in partly by a grant from the Scientific Research Projects Branch Directorate of Ege University, Turkey (Grant number: 11-TIP-078)

Investigation of Dientamoeba fragilis Prevalence and Evaluation of Sociodemographic and Clinical Features in Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms

WOS: 000463575500018PubMed ID: 30645736BackgroundDientamoeba fragilis is a protozoan parasite of the human gastrointestinal tract and still controversial in association with gastrointestinal symptoms.PurposeWe present cross-sectional study of the prevalence of D. fragilis, and sociodemographic and clinical features in the patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.MethodsA total of 490 fecal specimens were collected from outpatients with gastrointestinal symptoms in the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University and Celal Bayar University, Turkey. Fecal specimens were examined with microscopy and inoculated in Robinson medium. D. fragilis-positive samples were examined for the presence of other intestinal parasites using enzyme immunoassay. Real-time PCR analysis was performed on all samples.ResultsOf the 490 stool specimens examined by real-time PCR, 59 patients were positive for D. fragilis infection with prevalence rate of 12.04%. Forty-four of positive patients (74.5%) were found to be infected with only D. fragilis, while 23.7% were co-infected with Blastocystis and 1.7% were co-infected with Rotavirus. No statistically significant difference was found in all the examined patients in terms of D. fragilis positivity for all sociodemographic parameters. Loose stool consistency was associated with the presence of D. fragilis, with 18.3% (P=0.001). When the clinical symptoms of all the patients participating in this study were examined, diarrhea was statistically more significant in patients with the presence of D. fragilis (16.3%; P=0.001). The rate of diarrhea in D. fragilis-positive patients (84.09%; P=0.0005) was higher than that of D. fragilis-negative patients and it was statistically significant.ConclusionThis study is important for assessing the prevalence of D. fragilis and its association with other factors in symptomatic patients in a large sample group in Turkey, as well as investigating the relationship of identified symptoms with the D. fragilis pathogenicity. It is suggested that D. fragilis in this case is not a commensal parasite but a pathogenic parasite and that the most common clinical symptom is diarrhea.Scientific Research Projects Branch Directorate of Ege University, TurkeyEge University [13-TIP-092]We thank all the patients who participated in the study, also we are grateful to Christen Rune Stensvold in Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark, for D. fragilis-positive control DNA. This study was supported by the grant given by the Scientific Research Projects Branch Directorate of Ege University, Turkey (Grant no.: 13-TIP-092)