Investigation of the presence of cryptococcus spp. in eucalyptus trees by using sedimentation and swabbing methods [Sedimentasyon ve eküvyon yötemleri ile Okaliptüs agaçlan?nda Cryptococcus spp. varl?g?n?n araşt?r?lmas?]

PubMedID: 19149087Yeasts of the genus Cryptococcus are life-threatening microorganisms that cause cryptococcosis in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent humans and animals worldwide. In the nature, Cryptococcus species exist in eucalyptus trees and other species of trees as well as in the soil contaminated with pigeon droppings. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Cryptococcus spp. in the samples collected from eucalyptus trees by classic sedimentation and swabbing methods. Regarding these microorganisms, stem hollows, blossom and leaf samples from 61 trees (more than 95% were Eucalyptus comaldulensis) found in and around Adana province (located at Mediterranean region of Turkey) have been examined in June 2006 and June 2007 periods. The samples were then evaluated in terms of the growth of mucoid, dampish and brownish colonies after inoculation onto three media (Guizotia abyssinica birdseed agar with 0.1 %, 0.01 % and without cliphenyl) and incubation in aerobic conditions at 28°C for three weeks. However, no Cryptococcus spp. has been isolated from any of the samples. It was suggested that other species of trees and environmental samples should be examined for the existence of yeast fungi, so that more extensive epidemiological data could be obtained

Environmental study of Cryptococcus neoformans in and around Adana, Turkey

Fungal diseases affecting humans generally originate from the environment. Due to the rising of in human fungal infections in recent years, it is now extremely significant to know more about ecology in order to control fungal pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of Cryptococcus neoformans in its well-known ecological niches in eight different locations, in Çukurova region, Turkey. For this purpose, for a total of 1835, 1508 vegetable material from tree of the genus Eucalyptus trees, 119 pigeon droppings and 208 soil samples were examined for the presence of yeast in a nigerseed medium. Cryptococcus spp. was not recovered from any of these samples. We believe that in our region there are elements affecting the life cycle of Cryptococcus neoformans, such as alkaline pH and high carbon ratio of the soil

Effect of circumcision on genital colonization of Malassezia spp. in a pediatric population

PubMedID: 16519013This study aimed to determine the prevalence of yeast fungi in samples from the glans penis and prepuce of circumcised and uncircumcised children. Impression preparations were made on modified Dixon and Leeming-Notman agar without cycloheximide. The isolates were identified by morphological and physiological characteristics. The yeasts were detected in 32 (28.6%) of 112 children, 12 (18.2%) being among 66 circumcised and 20 (43.5%) among 46 uncircumcised children. The most common species was Malassezia globosa (40.6%) followed by, Malassezia furfur (31.3%), Malassezia slooffiae (15.6%), Candida albicans (6.3%), Candida tropicalis (3.1%) and Candida parapsilosis (3.1%). The colonization with yeasts, and especially lipophilic species was more frequently observed among uncircumcised versus circumcised children. While age was not found to be a factor (P > 0.05), circumcision was responsible for increasing the colonization rate by 4.8 times (95% CI: 1.6-14.5) (P lt; 0.01). The circumcision status was not found to effect the distribution of Mallassezia spp. © 2006 ISHAM

Epidemiology of pityriasis versicolor in adana, Turkey

PubMedID: 19583685Pityriasis versicolor is a common superficial mycoses of the skin. It is now recognized that the causative organisms of this infection are different species of Malassezia. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of Malassezia species in patients with pityriasis versicolor in Adana, Turkey. In total, 97 patients positive for Malassezia elements, namely, yeast cells and short hyphae in microscopic examination, were included in the study. All samples were inoculated in plates containing modified Dixon's medium. However, only 44 of the patients (45.4%) showed Malassezia spp. in culture. Malassezia globosa (47.7%) was the most commonly isolated species followed by Malassezia furfur (36.4%) and Malassezia slooffiae (15.9%). Mixed Malassezia species were not isolated. In conclusion, M. globosa was found to be the predominant PV isolate in Adana, Turkey. © 2009 Japanese Dermatological Association

Genotyping of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains causing nosocomial infections by pulsed field gel electrophoresis in Adana Çukurova University Hospital [Adana Çukurova Üniversitesi Hastanesinde hastane İnfeksiyonuna yol açan metisiline dirençli Staphylococcus aureus suşlarının pulsed field jel elektroforezi yöntemi ile genotiplendirilmesi]

Objective: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most important pathogens causing nosocomial infections. Genotyping epidemiologically related MRSA strains is useful in terms of determining the sources of infectious pathogens, potential carriers, ways of spread and enviromental factors and thus preventing and decreasing nosocomial infections. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) is accepted as the gold standard among the molecular methods used for investigation of genotypic relation. In our study, we aimed to genotype MRSA causing nosocomial infections by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Material and Methods: In the study, genotypic relationship of 46 MRSA isolates that caused nosocomial infections in different clinics of our hospital between 2005 and 2007 were evaluated using PFGE method which genomic DNA cut by Smal enzyme. Isolates with PGFE band profiles resembling to each other 80% and above with Gel Compar II program were accepted as clonally related. Results: Forty two strains out of 46 were found to be closely related and took place in the same major "A" group while four strains were found to be unrelated. All of 12 MRSA strains isolated from reanimation clinic were found to take place in group "A" and 100% resemblance was found in eight of them. Conclusion: A single MRSA genotype was found to dominate and cause nosocomial infections in the three year period according to PFGE analysis results. © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri

Asymptomatic dermatophyte scalp carriage in school children in Adana, Turkey

PubMedID: 17305777The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic dermatophyte scalp carriage and symptomatic tinea capitis in Adana Province, Çukurova region, Turkey. For this purpose, a screening study was performed in five schools, between January 2004 and May 2005, covering a total of 5143 children with 2740 (53.3%) boys and 2403 (46.7%) girls, aged 7-14 years (9.6 ± 2.0). The diagnosis was made using the cotton swab method with inoculation onto Sabouraud glucose agar amended with cycloheximide, chloramphenicol and gentamicin. Among 10 (0.2%) cases, six asymptomatic carriers (mean age 10.7 ± 2.3) and four symptomatic cases (mean age 8.3 ± 0.5) were detected, all of whom were boys and had immigrated from the south-eastern and eastern region of Anatolia, Turkey. The mean age differences were found to be statistically significant (Mann-Whitney U = 3.000, P = 0.046). Boys were found to be more prone to asymptomatic carriage (P = 0.033), but not tinea capitis (P > 0.05). Zoophilic dermatophytes, namely Microsporum canis (40%) and Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes (40%) were the most commonly isolated species, followed by anthropophilic Trichophyton tonsurans (10%), while no causative agent was detected in a case (10%) with tinea capitis superficialis. Scalp cultures were found to be dermatophyte-negative after 3- to 8-month follow-up in cases with asymptomatic carriage. As a conclusion, the prevalence of asymptomatic carrier state was similar with the prevalence of symptomatic cases, and we found a predominance of zoophilic species. © 2007 The Authors