A molecular epidemiological study of black queen cell virus in honeybees (Apis mellifera) of Turkey: the first genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of field viruses

Black queen cell virus (BQCV) is one of the most common honeybee pathogens causing queen brood deaths. The 63 apiaries were sampled between 2007 and 2013 from four different ecogeographic regions in Turkey to estimate BQCV molecular structural characteristics. The BQCV positivity was 47.6%. The 25 local Black queen cell viruses (TrBQCVs) were molecularly characterized and investigated for their genetic relationship with previous records. The identity of the helicase gene among the TrBQCVs was 92-98%, whereas the similarity ranged from 37 to 85% in comparison with the intercontinental records. The identity of the partial capsid gene among the TrBQCVs was 91-100%, and the similarity rate varied from 86 to 97, 88-96, 90-97 and 89-99% in comparison with the Asian, African, American and European counterparts, respectively. The four nonsynonymous substitutions on the partial capsid protein suggest a predicted genotype that is specific among TrBQCVs

Investigation of some pathogens "Colony Loss Syndrome" resembled losses apiaries in Tekirdağ

Dünya’da on yıldan fazla süredir dikkat çeken koloni kayıpları, farklı etken ve faktörlerin etkileşimi ile ortaya çıkan arı sağlığı sorunu olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bal arısı koloni sağlığını tehdit eden hastalık etkenleri arasında viruslar, Nosema ceranae ve Varroa destructor ciddi öneme sahiptir. Bu çalışmada 2015 ve 2016 yıllarında Tekirdağ ilindeki farklı arılıklardan gönderilen balarısı numuneleri incelenmiştir. Örnekler “koloni populasyonundaki beklenmeyen azalma veya ani koloni kaybı” şikâyetleriyle gönderilmiştir. Buna göre 17 arılıktan gönderilen 510 bal arısı örneği, Deforme kanat virusu (Deformed Wing Virus – DWV), Nosema cerenae ve Varroa destructor yönünden kontrol edilmiştir. Bu arılıkların tamamında varroosis tespit edilirken, DWV 15 arılıkta, N. ceranae ise 5 arılıkta tespit edilmiştir. DWV tespit edilemeyen iki arılıkta N. ceranae da tespit edilememiştir. Bu araştırmada, ani koloni kaybı sendromuna benzer şekilde görülen koloni kayıplarında DWV, Nosema cerena ve Varroa destructor’a rastlanma oranlarının araştırılarak bu konuda güncel veri sağlanması hedeflenmiştir.Colony losses, which are remarkable in the world for more than ten years, are regarded as bee health problems arising from the interaction of different factors and agents. The viruses, Nosema ceranae and Varroa destructor among the disease agents threaten the colony health, have significant importance. In this study, the honeybee samples delivered to our laboratory from different apiaries in Tekirdağ province between 2015 and 2016, were examined. Samples were sent by complaints with "unexpected decrease in colony populations or sudden colony loss". A total of 510 honey bee samples from 17 apiaries were tested for Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Nosema cerenae and Varroa destructor. DWV and N.cerena were detected in 15 and 5 apiaries, respectively while varroosis was detected in all apiaries. N. ceranae was not be detected in the DWV negative two apiaries. In this study, it was concluded that considering the presence of DWV, Nosema cerena and Varroa destructor in sudden colony losses resemble case, and it would be advantageous the precaution and treatment strategies for bees against these pathogens

The investigation of Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) species and Bluetongue virus and Schmallenberg virus in Northwest Turkiye

Culicoides biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) act as mechanical and biological vectors of arboviruses and are crucial in the global spread of these viruses. This study investigated the diversity of distribution of Culicoides species and the presence of Bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) in Tekirdag province in Northwest Turkiye. The fourteen Culicoides species, such as Culicoides newsteadi, Culicoides schultzei, Culicoides nubeculosus comp., Culicoides punctatus, Culicoides circumscriptus, Culicoides obsoletus comp., Culicoides gejgelensis, Culicoides festivipennis, Culicoides longipennis, Culicoides spp., Culicoides pulicaris, Culicoides picturatus, Culicoides odiatus, Culicoides kurensis, and Culicoides flavipulicaris, were detected. Culicoides newsteadi, C. odiatus, and C. pulicaris were the most abundant species. Phylogenetic analyses of Culicoides species' ITS-1 gene region were performed. A pool of C. festivipennis was positive for SBV RNA, while the BTV genomic materials was not found in the qPCR analysis. This is the first report of the presence/detection of SBV in Culicoides species in Turkiye. The survey of bioecological and epizootiological aspects of vector species is essential in implementing effective control measures for arboviral infections.Namik Kemal University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (NKUBAP) [NKUBAP.00.23.AR.14.08]The project was financially supported by Namik Kemal University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (NKUBAP) with the project no. NKUBAP.00.23.AR.14.08

“Çorlu Devlet Hastanesı Acil Tıp Polikliniğine Başvuran Hastalarda Kene Kaynaklı Bazı Zoonoz Patojenlerın Araştırılması”

Kene kaynaklı zoonoz enfeksiyonlar halk sağlığını tehdit etmektedir. Bu hastalıklar yaşam kaybına kadar varan ciddi zararlara yol açabilmektedir. Çorlu bölgesi yerli turizm ve sanayi odaklı insan hareketlerinin yoğun olarak yaşandığı bir coğrafyada yer almaktadır. Koruma ve kontrolde koruyucu hekimlik önemli yer tutmaktadır. Ancak bu enfeksiyon etkenleri ve bulaşmada rol alan vektör kenelerin bölgedeki epidemiyolojisi hakkında yeterli kaynak ve güncel veri bulunmamaktadır. Bu araştırmada Çorlu Devlet Hastanesi Acil Tıp Polikliniğine, kene tutunması şikayetiyle başvuran hastalardan alınan kan örneklerinde Kırım Kongo Kanamalı Ateşi Virüsü, Batı Nil Virüsü, Rickettsia conorii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi varlığı serolojik olarak araştırılmıştır. Araştırma 12 ay süre ile Çorlu Devlet hastanesine başvuran 120 olguyu kapsamaktadır. İnsanlardan alınan kan örneklerinden yapılan testler neticesinde dört hastada Kırım Kongo Kanamalı Ateşi, yedi hastada Batı Nil Virüsü, otuz bir hastada Borrelia burgdorferi ve on bir hastada Rickettsia conorii IgG seropozitifliği tespit edilmiştir. Bu hastalardan toplam 200 adet kene örneği toplanmıştır. Hastalardan toplanan kenelerin, Ixodes spp., Hyalomma spp., Haemaphysalis spp. ve Rhipiocephalus spp. olmak üzere 4 cinse ait oldukları tespit edilmiştir. İçeriği ve kapsamı itibariyle bölgede ilk defa gerçekleştirilen araştırma ile en güncel veriler elde edilmiştir.Tick-borne zoonotic infections threaten public health. These diseases can lead to serious injuries to life. The Çorlu region is located in a geographical region where the domestic tourism and industry oriented human movements are concentrated. Preventive medicine is important in protection and control. However, there are not enough sources and current data about the causes of these infections and sufficient space for their transmission and the epidemiology of the veterinarian's region. In this study, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, West Nile Virus, Ricettsia conorii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia burgdorferi were serologically investigated in blood samples taken from patients who applied to Çorlu State Hospital Emergency Medical Polyclinic. The study covers 120 cases referred to Çorlu State Hospital for 12 months. As a result of the tests performed on humans, we found four cases of Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever, seven cases of West Nile virus, thirty one cases of Borrelia burgdorferi and one patient of Rickettsia conori IgG seropositivity. A total of 200 cases of ticks from these patients. Ixodes species, Hyalomma species, Haemaphysalis spp. and Rhipiocephalus spp. It was determined that they belonged to 4 gods to be. The most up-to-date data was obtained with the first survey conducted in the region by its content and coverage

Tekirdağ Ili Culicoides (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Faunasının Mavi Dil Virus Ve Schmallenberg Virus Varlığı Yönünden Araştırılması

Culicoides cinsi sokucu sinekler arbovirusların mekanik ve biyolojik vektörlüğünde önemli rol oynarken enfeksiyonların bölgeler arasında geçişinde çok etkilidirler. Culicoides türleriyle taşındığı bilinen ve Türkiye’de görülen viral hastalıkların vektörleri üzerine yapılan çalışma sayısı azdır. Bu projenin amacı, Tekirdağ ili Culicoides tür çeşitliliğinin belirlenmesi, Mavi Dil virus (MDV) ve Schmallenberg virus (SBV) yönünden varlığının araştırılmasıdır. Bu amaçla Haziran-Eylül 2015 döneminde, Tekirdağ il ve ilçelerinden Culicoides örnekleri toplanmıştır. Culicoides örneklerinin moleküler analizleri ve virus varlığı yönünden araştırılmıştır. Bu amaçla Culicoides genomu ITS-1 genine spesifik PCR testleri ve MDV ve SBV varlığının araştırılması amacıyla real time-PCR testleri gerçekleştirilmiştir. Saha çalışmalarında toplam 27 seyahat sonucu 812 adet Culicoides örneği elde edilmiştir. Toplanan örneklerin mikroskobik incelemelerine göre; C.newsteadi, C.schultzei, C.obsoletus, C.nubeculosus komp., C.punctatus, C.circumscriptus, C.obsoletus komp., C.gejgelensis, C.festivipennis, C.longipennis, Culicoides sp., C.pulicaris, C.picturatus, C.odiatus, C.kurensis, C.flavipulicaris türlerin varlığı tanımlanmıştır. Yapılan moleküler analiz sonucunda 5 tür Cuicoides örneği sekansı yapılmıştır. Proje sonunda, elde edilen veriler yönünde SBV ve MDV için vektör potansiyeli bulunan Culicoides türlerinin Tekirdağ ili içerisindeki örneklemelerde rastlanmıştır. Real time--PCR testlerinin sonucunda örnekler MDV yönünden negatif bulunurken, SBV varlığı yönünden bir örnek pozitif bulunmuştur.Culicoides insect flies play an important role in the mechanical and biological vector of arboviruses, and are very effective in the transmission of infections between regions. The number of studies carried out on vectors of viral diseases known to be carried by Culicoides species and seen in Turkey are few. The aim of this project is to determine the Culicoides species diversity of Tekirdağ province, the existence of Blue Tongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV). For this purpose, Culicoides samples were collected fromTekirdağ province in June-September 2015 period. Molecular analysis of Culicoides samples and investigation for presence of viruses were performed. For this purpose, Culicoides genomic ITS-1 gene-specific PCR tests and qPCR tests were carried out. In the field studies, 817 Culicoides samples were obtained from total 27 travels. According to the microscopic examinations of collected samples; C. newsteadii, C. schultzei, C. obsoletus, C. nubeculosus komp., C. punctatus, C. circumscriptus, C. obsoletus komp., C. gejgelensis, C. festivipennis, C. longipennis, Culicoides sp., C.pulicaris, C.picturatus, C.odiatus, C. kurensis, C. flavipulicaris were determinated. As the result of the molecular analysis, five Cuicoides samples sequences were made. At the end of the project, the Culicoides specie obtained from Tekirdağ province found to have vector potential for SBV and MDV. As a result of the Q-PCR tests, samples were found to be negative for MDV while a sample for SBV was found positive

The geographical distribution and first molecular analysis of Culicoides Latreille (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) species in the Southern and Southeastern Turkey during the 2012 outbreak of bovine ephemeral fever

This study investigated the geographical distribution and molecular analysis of Culicoides species in the Southern and Southeastern Turkey during the 2012 outbreak of bovine ephemeral fever (BEF). The midge specimens caught by Onderstepoort-type light traps from livestock farms were tested for molecular evidence of existence of viral genome. Blood specimens were collected from clinically BEF-suspected acute febrile cattle. Total nucleic acid samples obtained from field specimens were checked against the BEF virus G gene and Culicoides internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS-1) gene. A total of 20,845 Culicoides specimens (20,569 a (TM) Euroa (TM) Euro, 276 a (TM),a (TM),) comprising 11 species (Culicoides badooshensis, Culicoides circumscriptus, Culicoides gejgelensis, Culicoides imicola, Culicoides kibunensis, Culicoides longipennis, Culicoides newsteadi, Culicoides nubeculosus, Culicoides odiatus, Culicoides punctatus, Culicoides schultzei, Culicoides spp.) were collected. C. schultzei (18,032) was found as the dominant species and followed by C. imicola (1,857), C. nubeculosus complex (545), and C. circumscriptus (259), respectively. C. kibunensis was identified as new species for this region. PCR positivity of BEF was found 37.14 % (13/35) in blood samples whereas no viral genome was obtained from Culicoides specimens. Culicoides spp. ITS-1 gene sequences were analyzed phylogenetically with GenBank ITS-1 sequences. Molecular homology of Culicoides ITS-1 gene was ranged between 62.74 and 71.39 %. The results described first molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Culicoides ITS-1 gene with reference to the 2012 BEF outbreak in Turkey.Selcuk University Scientific Research CouncilSelcuk University [12401031]This research was partially funded by Selcuk University Scientific Research Council, res. no: 12401031. Researchers thank to Prof. Dr. Osman Erganis supply of BEFV as positive control

The molecular prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia spp., and Anaplasma spp. in shelter dogs of the Thrace Region in Turkey

The study aimed to update the molecular prevalence of some tick-borne pathogens (Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia spp., and Anaplasma spp.) in the shelter dogs of the Thrace Region, Turkey. The study was carried out on 450 dogs from 7 pet shelters. The individual data of the dogs were recorded, and blood samples were collected in tubes with anticoagulants (EDTA). Then, individual PCR protocols were applied to all samples for the three infective agents. PCR test results recorded for B. burgdorferi is 38.22% (n = 172), 24.22% (n = 109) for Babesia spp., and 21.6% (n = 97) for Anaplasma spp. The positivity of dogs with at least one pathogen was 56.22% (n = 253). Only one pathogen positivity rate was determined in positive samples as 56.92% (n = 144). The positivity was determined 33.99% (n = 86) for two pathogens and 9.09% (n = 23) for three pathogens. The coexistence of the two pathogens was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The effect of sex and age was not statistically significant in the agent positivity (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). Among tested three pathogens, only the positivity of B. burgdorferi (p = 0.155) was statistically significant compared with the prevalence of the others (p < 0.01). As a result, pathogens transmitted by ticks in shelter dogs of the Thrace region were simultaneously investigated and detected for the first time. Results revealed that shelter dogs pose a hidden risk for animal and human health in the region and so the necessity to plan systematic epidemiological studies about tick-borne zoonose pathogens more frequently.Tekirdag Namik Kemal University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit [NKUBAP.10, GA.17.130]This study is a part of the project supported by Tekirdag Namik Kemal University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit with the number NKUBAP.10. GA.17.130. We would like to thank the Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit of Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Istanbul, Edirne, Luleburgaz, Kirklareli, Corlu/Tekirdag, Gelibolu/Canakkale and Suleymanpasa/Tekirdag Municipality Veterinary Affairs Directorates who conducted the sampling. We also extend our gratitude to the responsible veterinarians and staff of these municipalities' animal shelters and/or temporary housing facilities for their valuable contributions

Strengthening the Infrastructure of the Experimental Animal Application and Research Center

Araştırma ve uygulama çalışmaları üniversitelerin asli görevlerindendir. Merkezimiz mevcut fiziki yapısının bir deney hayvanları araştırma ve uygulama merkezinden beklenen asgari koşulları sağlamakta ancak donamım açısından önemli eksiklikleri bulunmaktadır. Bu projenin amacı merkezin donanım açısındaki eksikliklerinin giderilip araştırıcıların üniversite bünyesinde ülkemiz ve bölgemizin sorunlarını çözme kabiliyeti olan, üniversitemizin ulusal ve uluslararası tanıtımına katkı sağlayacak katma değeri yüksek, prestijli her türlü deneysel çalışmayı yapabilme potansiyeline kavuşturmak, araştırıcıları pozitif yönde etkileyerek üniversitemizin bilimsel çalışmalarda nitelik ve nicelik olarak katkılarını artırmaktır. Mevcut proje bütçesiyle birer adet kan sayım cihazı, elektrolit kan gazları analiz cihazı, hasta başı monitörü, kapnograf ile veri kayıt ve analiz cihazı temin edilmiştir. Araştırmacılar bu cihazlar ve mevcut imkanlar sayesinde daha komplike deneysel çalışmalar yapabilme imkanına kavuşmuşlardır. Sonuç olarak üniversitemiz bünyesinde ulusal ve uluslararası arenada kalite ve kredibilitesi yüksek birçok prestijli çalışmanın yapılması beklenmektedir.Research and applications are the primary tasks of the universities. Our center's existing physical structure provides the minimum criteria expected from an experimental animal research and application center, but it has major deficiencies in terms of equipment. The aim of this project was to improve the equipment deficiencies of the center to provide the researchers a potential to perform all kinds of high valuable and prestigious experimental works having the ability of solving the problems of our country and our region in the university and to contribute to the national and international promotion of our university and also to increase the contributions of our university in quality as well as in quantity of the scientific studies by influencing the researchers positively. A cell counter, an electrolyte blood gas analyzer, a patient monitor, a capnograph and a data recording and analysis device were purchased with this project. With these devices, and existing facilities, researchers have gained an opportunity to perform more complex experimental studies. As a result, it is expected many prestigious studies with high quality and credibility in the national and international arenas to be performed in our university