Prevalence and genotyping of bovine Cryptosporidium species in the Mediterranean and Central Anatolia Region of Turkey

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in calves and heifers with relation to diarrhea from several herds was investigated in this study. Fecal samples were collected from 135 and 120 pre-weaned calves and 79 and 130 heifers raised in the Central Anatolia (CAR) and Mediterranean Regions (MR) of Turkey, respectively. A total of 86 post-weaned calves in CAR were also included in the study. For diagnostic comparison, all samples were examined by microscopic examination, SSU rRNA nested PCR and TaqMan real-time PCR for the presence of oocyst and Cryptosporidium DNA. In total, 102 (34.0 %) and 93 (37.2 %) of the examined samples from CAR and MR were found positive for Cryptosporidium DNA with both nested PCR and real-time PCR analyses, respectively with an overall prevalence of 35.5 %. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of microscopic examination were determined as 68.7 % and 100.0 % compared to molecular tools, respectively. RFLP and sequence analyses of the SSU rRNA from the PCR products revealed that 138 (70.8 %) out of 195 positive isolates were C. parvum further confirming the species-specific real-time PCR results. Among the remaining 57 (29.2 %) positive isolates, 30 (15.4 %) and 27 (13.8 %) were characterized as C. ryanae and C. bovis, respectively. C. parvum was the dominant species in pre-weaned calves especially with diarrhea while C. bovis and C. ryanae were mostly found in post-weaned calves and heifers. The sequence analyses of the gp60 gene of C. parvum isolates revealed two subtypes (IIaA13G2R1, IIaA14G1R1) belonging to zoonotic family IIa, with IIaA13G2R1 being the most common in diarrheic calves

Theileriosis and tick infestations in sheep and goats around Kayseri Kayseri yöresinde koyun ve keçilerde theileriosis ve kene enfestasyonlari

This study was conducted on sheep and goats to investigate theileriosis and tick infestations around Kayseri between August 1997 and October 1999. During this period a total of 300 small ruminants consisting of 250 sheep and 50 goats were microscopically examined for Theileria species. Blood smears were prepared from the punctured ear of each animal for microscopic examination. At the same time, ticks were collected from the animals. The smears were stained with 5% Giemsa's stain solution and then examined under microscope with oil immersion objective. Theileria sp. were detected in 46 (18.40%) and 4 (8.00%) of the 250 sheep and 50 goats, respectively. In the field, 80 (32.00%) and 3 (6.00%) of the sheep and goats, respectively, were infested with ixodid ticks. The collected adult ticks were identified as Rhipicephalus bursa, R. turanicus, R. sanguineus, Dermacentor niveus, Hyalomma marginatum, Haemaphysalis parva, Hae. sulcata and Hae. otophila, and the engorged nymphs were identified as Rhipicephalus spp