The helminth parasites of the two bufonid toads, European Common Toad, Bufo bufo (Linnaeus, 1758) and European Green toad, Bufo (Pseudepidalea) viridis Laurenti, 1768 (Anura: Bufonidae), collected from Denizli Province, Inner-West Anatolia Region, Turkey

In this research, two bufonid toad species (Bufo bufo and Bufo (Pseudepidalea) viridis) were collected in Denizli province (Inner-west Anatolia Region - the eastern part of Aegean Region) Turkey between 2006 and 2009 and examined first time for helminths. Of 6 Bufo bufo, 5 (97.87 %) were infected with one or more helminths, of 47 Bufo viridis 46 (87.91 %) were infected with one or more helminths. The helminth fauna of Bufo bufo included 5 species of which were 4 species of nematodes (Rhabdias bufonis, Oswadocruzia filiformis, Cosmocerca ornata, and Oxysomatium brevicaudatum), and 1 species of acanthocephalan (Acanthocephalus ranae). The helminth fauna of Bufo (Pseudepidalea) viridis comprised 7 species with 1 species of monogenean (Polystoma viridis), 1 species of cestoda (Nematotaenia dispar), and 5 species of nematodes (R. bufonis, O. filiformis, C. ornata, C. commutata, and O. brevicaudatum). R. bufonis, O. filiformis, C. ornata, and O. brevicaudatum were observed in both bufonid toads. © 2011 Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Wien

Metazoan parasitological research on three species of anurans collected from çanakkale province, northwestern Turkey

In this paper, European common toad (Bufo bufo), European green toad (Bufo viridis) and marsh frog (Rana ridibunda) were collected in Çanakkale Province (northwestern Turkey) between 2000 and 2003, and examined for helminths. Three of three (100%) B. bufo, 22 of 22 (100%) B. viridis, and 13 of 14 (92.86%) R. ridibunda were infected with one or more helminths. The helminths of B. bufo included two nematodes (Cosmocerca ornata and Oxysomatium brevicaudatum). The helminth fauna of B. viridis comprised six species: one species of monogenea (Polystoma viridis), one species of digenea (Pleurogenoides medians), one species of cestode (Nematotaenia dispar) and three species of nematodes (Oswaldocruzia filiformis, Cosmocerca ornata, and Oxysomatium brevicaudatum). The helminth fauna of R. ridibunda comprised seven species: five species of trematodes (Diplodiscus subclavatus, Gorgodera cygnoides, G. vitelliloba, Bracyhcoelium salamandrae and P. medians), and two species of nematodes (C. ornata, and O. brevicaudatum). Cosmocerca ornata and O. brevicaudatum were collected from three host species, and P. medians was recorded a second time from B. viridis in Turkey. © NwjZ, Oradea, Romania, 2010

Evaluation of antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of muscari muscarimi medik. Bulb and flower extracts from Turkey

This study was designed to investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of the several extracts obtained from the bulb and flowers of Muscari muscarimi which is endemic for the flora of Turkey. While beta-carotene/linoleic acid and DPPH methods were used for the determining antioxidant activity, Folin-Ciocalteu assay was used to detect the total phenolic contents in all extracts of M. muscarimi. The brine shrimp lethality test was used to screen for the possible cytotoxic activity of the extracts. Also, the ethanolic and methanolic extracts of M. muscari were tested against different microorganisms by means of disc diffusion method. In this case, Candid a albicans and Bacillus subtilis were found to be the most sensitive microorganisms with the zone of inhibition 19.2 mm and 17.1 mm, respectively. The results of the cytotoxic activity of the extracts revealed that the bulb extracts were more active than the flower extracts. The ethanolic bulb extract showed most noticeable activity with LC50 7.43 mu g/ml. Total phenolic contents of the extracts ranged from 18.35 to 38.13 mgGAEs/g extracts. Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in all flower extracts were found to be higher than the bulb extracts. The results for higher antioxidant activity in flower extracts could be explained by presence of greater concentration of phenolics in the extracts. Results of the present study give strong scientific evidence for traditional uses of M. muscarimi

A morphological and taxonomical study on the subspecies of the Lycian salamander, Mertensiella luschani, (Steindachner, 1891) (Urodela: Salamandridae)

The morphometric measurements of 10 taxonomically important characters, and the coloration features of the 8 subspecies of Mertensiella luschani were investigated and statistical analyses were carried out. The importance of these characters in distinguishing the subspecies is discussed and some of them were found to be very reliable, although some did not show any statistical differences among the subspecies of M. luschani. The mean total body length, and the ratio of the width of the parotid to its length were the most important: the ratio of head length to head and body length, the ratio of head width to head length, the ratio of forelimb length to head and body length, and the ratio of nostril-eye distance to head length were important characters in the recognition of these subspecies. The ratios of tail length to head and body length, hind limb length to head and body length, length of parotid to the length of head and body and tail length to the total body length were not statistically significant in distinguishing subspecies of the Lycian salamander. © TÜBITAK

Marine turtle nesting at patara, turkey, in 2000

The reproduction of the sea turtle population at Patara in southern Turkey was investigated in 2000. Two Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) nests were identified, which is the first record for the area, and the westernmost nesting site in the Mediterranean. 85 Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) nests were found, but hatchlings emerged from only 19 of them. Beach erosion and the covering of nests by shifting sand dunes was responsible for the loss of 54% of all nests. Although 72% of all emergences occurred on the eastern half of the beach and 74% of all clutches were laid there, there was no significant difference found in nesting success between both beach sections, which differ markedly in structure and human impact. © 2001 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

The nematode cosmocerca ornata from the ornamented pygmy frog, microhyla fissipes, and dark-sided chorus frog, microhyla heymonsi, from Taiwan (R.O.C.) and a summation of helminth records from these hosts

ABSTRACT: Microhyla fissipes and Microhyla heymonsi are common anurans in lowland plains to low montane regions in most parts of Taiwan. Five Microhyla fissipes and 7 Microhyla heymonsi from southwestern Taiwan were examined for helminths. A nematode, Cosmocerca ornata, was the only helminth species found. This report is the first record of this nematode species from Taiwan and also confirms infection of M. fissipes by C. ornata and documents M. heymonsi as a new host record for C. ornata. Herein, updated helminth lists for M. fissipes and M. heymonsi are provided