The serum amyloid-a, haptoglobin, ceruloplasmin and albumin levels in dogs which are infected with babesia canis

Bu çalışmada Babesia canis ile doğal enfekte köpeklerde serum haptoglobin (Hp), serum amiloid-A (SAA), seruloplazmin (Cp)ve albümin (Alb) seviyelerinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmanın materyalini, Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi İç Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı kliniklerine getirilen, kan frotilerinin giemsa yöntemi ile boyanması sonucunda B. canis tanısı konulan 20 hasta köpek oluşturdu. Kontrol amacı ile 10 sağlıklı köpek kullanıldı. Hasta hayvanların serum Hp, SAA, Cp ve Alb seviyeleri sırasıyla 0.44±0.12 mg/mL, 43.18±13.77 µg/mL, 10.75±2.45 mg/dL, 2.74±0.15 g/dL olarak belirlendi. Sağlıklı hayvanların serum Hp, SAA, Cp ve Alb değerleri ise sırasıyla 1.84±0.29 mg/mL, 1.18±0.40 µg/mL, 4.80±0.53 mg/dL, 3.01±0.34 g/dL olarak ölçüldü. Hasta hayvanların SAA ve Cp değerleri sağlıklı hayvanlara göre daha yüksek bulunurken (P<0.001), Hp (P<0.001) ve Alb (P<0.01) seviyelerinin daha düşük olduğu belirlendi. Sonuç olarak köpeklerde B. canis enfeksiyonunda serum SAA ve Cp değerleri yükselirken, Hp ve Alb seviyelerinin düştüğü belirlendi.In this study, we aimed to determine the serum haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid-A (SAA), ceruloplasmin (Cp) and albümin (Alb) levels in the dogs which are naturally infected with Babesia canis. 20 patient dogs which were diagnosed as B. canis by staining of their blood smears with giemsa method, which were brought to Kafkas University Veterinary Faculty Internal Medicine Department clinics formed the material of the study. 10 Healthy dogs were used for control. The serum Hp, SAA, Cp and Alb levels of the sick animals were determined as 0.44±0.12 mg/mL, 43.18±13.77 µg/mL, 10.75±2.45 mg/dL, 2.74±0.15 g/dL, respectively. Whereas, the serum Hp, SAA, Cp and Alb values of the healthy animals were measured as 1.84±0.29 mg/mL, 1.18±0.40 µg/mL, 4.80±0.53 mg/dL, 3.01±0.34 g/dL, respectively. While the SAA and Cp values of the sick animals were determined higher than that of the healthy animals, the (P <0.001), the Hp (P <0.001) and the Alb (P <0.01) levels were found to be lower. As a result, it was determined that the serum SAA and Cp levels increased, and the Hp and Alb levels decreased in the dogs which are infected with B. canis

Correction to: The tree that hides the forest : cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article

The tree that hides the forest: cryptic diversity and phylogenetic relationships in the Palaearctic vector Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) at the European level

Abstract Background Culicoides obsoletus is an abundant and widely distributed Holarctic biting midge species, involved in the transmission of bluetongue virus (BTV) and Schmallenberg virus (SBV) to wild and domestic ruminants. Females of this vector species are often reported jointly with two morphologically very close species, C. scoticus and C. montanus, forming the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Recently, cryptic diversity within C. obsoletus was reported in geographically distant sites. Clear delineation of species and characterization of genetic variability is mandatory to revise their taxonomic status and assess the vector role of each taxonomic entity. Our objectives were to characterize and map the cryptic diversity within the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Methods Portion of the cox1 mitochondrial gene of 3763 individuals belonging to the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex was sequenced. Populations from 20 countries along a Palaearctic Mediterranean transect covering Scandinavia to Canary islands (North to South) and Canary islands to Turkey (West to East) were included. Genetic diversity based on cox1 barcoding was supported by 16S rDNA mitochondrial gene sequences and a gene coding for ribosomal 28S rDNA. Species delimitation using a multi-marker methodology was used to revise the current taxonomic scheme of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex. Results Our analysis showed the existence of three phylogenetic clades (C. obsoletus clade O2, C. obsoletus clade dark and one not yet named and identified) within C. obsoletus. These analyses also revealed two intra-specific clades within C. scoticus and raised questions about the taxonomic status of C. montanus. Conclusions To our knowledge, our study provides the first genetic characterization of the Obsoletus/Scoticus Complex on a large geographical scale and allows a revision of the current taxonomic classification for an important group of vector species of livestock viruses in the Palaearctic region

Status of tick infestation of cattle in the Kayseri region of Turkey

This study was carried out to determine the status of tick infestation of cattle in the Kayseri region in Turkey. Eight hundred and sixty-six cattle and their barns in 12 localities were examined during the period of June 2000-November 2001, where 188 (21.7%) of which were infested by ticks. A total of 1,585 ticks consisting of Rhipicephalus turanicus (2.27%), R. bursa (2.14%), R. sanguineus (0.94%), Hyalomma marginatum (17.16%), H. anatolicum excavatum (24.73%), H. a. anatolicum (19.62%), Dermacentor niveus (1%), Boophilus annulatus (16.71%), Ornithodorus lahorensis (0.25%), Hyalomma sp. nymphs (7.31%), and Boophilus annulatus nymphs (7.82%) were collected. Seasonal fluctuation of ticks was also determined in this region. Rhipicephalus species were generally found in spring, others like Hyalomma in late spring, summer, and early autumn, B. annulatus in September, October, and December, D. niveus in December, January, and February, and O. lahorensis in December. Immature forms (nymphs) of Hyalomma species were found in summer and autumn, while B. annulatus nymphs were observed in October, November, and December

An early warning system for Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever seasonality in Turkey based on remote sensing technology

Abstract. In the last few years, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has been reported as an emerging tickborne disease in Turkey. This paper deals with the preparation of an early warning system, aimed to predict the beginning of the CCHF season in Turkey based on a clear, simple and repeatable remotely-sensed signal. Decadal (mean of 10 days) values of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at 1 km resolution were used on a set of 952 confirmed, accurately geo-referenced, clinical cases between 2003 and 2006. A prerequisite is that the signal should be observable between 2 and 3 decadals before a given moment of the season to be of value as early warning. Decadals marking the 10 th percentile or the 25 th quartile in the frequency distribution of case reporting were selected as markers for the beginning of season of risk. Neither raw nor accumulated decadal NDVI signals were able to predict the onset of this season. However, when we defined the NDVI anomaly (NDVIa) as the positive difference between decadal NDVI values and the average for the previous year, this standardized measure gave a homogeneous overview of the changes in the NDVI signal producing a NDVIa slope for the decadals 10 to 13 that was always greater than 0. We conclude that observing this slope over time can be used as an early-warning system as it would predict the build-up of the number of cases 20 days in advance with an accuracy of 82 % (10 th percentile) or 98 % (25 th quartile). Keywords: Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, early warning, Turkey, normalized difference vegetation index, remote sensing

Türkiye'de i?ki komşu i?lde i?nsanları tutan kene da?ılımındaki farklılıklar]

In this study, tick samples were examined, which were obtained from humans who applied to the regional hospitals with complaints of tick bites between May and November 2007 in two neighboring provinces, Kocaeli and Sakarya, in Eastern Marmara Region of Turkey. The samples were evaluated in terms of species, developmental stage and season for each province. In the course of the study, totally 3121 ticks were collected. Of those, 1610 ticks were from Kocaeli, 1511 ticks were from Sakarya. Among the total samples Ixodes spp. (52.87%), Hyalomma spp. (41.78%), Rhipicephalus spp. (4.2%), Haemaphysalis spp. (0.7%), Dermacentor spp. (0.35%) and Argas spp. (0.003%) were identified. Additionally, it was seen that one person was bitten by male Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus and one other was bitten by nymphal stage of Otobius megnini; these species were recorded for the first time in humans in Turkey. Concerning with the incidences of tick species, majority belongs to Hyalomma spp. (60.06%) in Kocaeli and Ixodes spp. (75.65%) in Sakarya. There were somewhat differences also in incidences of other tick species between these provinces. These disparities encountered between two neighboring provinces which have adjacent coordinates and similar climates, showed that the risk of tick bites or characteristic of this risk in a region could vary distinctly in terms of sub-regions which have some specific sub-conditions

Detection of Theileria and Babesia species in ticks collected from cattle

The present study was carried out to detect tick species that infest cattle, and Theileria and Babesia species transmitted by these ticks in Kayseri province (Turkey). A total of 300 cattle were examined for tick infestations. Of the 300 cattle, 14 7 (39%) were infested with ticks. A total of 1160 ticks belonging to I I Ixodid genera were collected from the infested animals and their shelters. The most prevalent tick species was Boophilus annulatus 26.37% (306/1160) followed by Hyalomma marginatum marginatum 21.12% (245/1160) and Rhipicephalus turanicus 18.7% (217/1160). The collected ticks were separated into 43 tick pools, according to their species. These pools were examined for bovine Theileria and Babesia species (Thederia sp., Babesia sp., Theileria annulata, T buffelilorientalis, Babesia bigemina, B. bovis and B. divergens) by using the reverse line blotting method (RLB). Of the 43 tick pools examined, 6 (14%) were infected with B. bigemina, 4 (9.3%) with T annulata, and 1 (2.3%) with Babesia sp., whereas 1 (2.3%) displayed mixed infection with T annulata + B. bigemina. The sequence and phylogenetic analyses of Babesia sp., which could not be identified to the species level by RLB, were performed. In the phylogenetic tree, Babesia sp. (Kayseri 1) grouped with Babesia sp. (Kashi 2), Babesia sp. (Kashi 1), Babesia sp. (Xinjiang) and B. orientalis with 96.8-100% identity. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved