Canine parvovirus-2 (CPV-2) is the aetiological agent of an infectious viral disease of dogs, characterised by diarrhoea and vomiting. Mutations of the CPV-2 genome have generated new variants circulating worldwide. This article reports the molecular analysis of CPV-2 variants collected in the dog population in southeast Anatolia, Turkey. Twenty blood samples previously taken for the laboratory diagnosis of dogs with suspected parvovirus were screened for CPV-2 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the 20 samples, 18 tested positive for CPV-2. Partial VP2 gene sequencing and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis revealed CPV-2a (n = 1), CPV-2b (n = 16) and CPV-2c (n = 1) variants. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial length VP2 gene showed that CPV-2b (n = 15) variants showed sequences clustering separately in the phylogenetic tree. The CPV-2c sample was phylogenetically related to Chinese strains and Indonesia strain, whereas the CPV-2a sample was phylogenetically related to the Portuguese strain. These results, which are the first to demonstrate the presence of CPV-2c in the dog population of southeast Anatolia, Turkey, indicate that CPV-2a/2b/2c variants co-exist in Turkey’s dog population.

Canine parvovirus (CPV) and canine distemper virus (CDV), which are seen mostly in dogs younger than 6 months (mos) old with high mortality despite early diagnosis and treatment, cause various hematological abnormalities and clinical symptoms accompanied by gastroenteritis findings. Since the methods developed for definitive ante-mortem diagnosis are time-consuming and require expertise and equipment, routine laboratory tests such as blood gases and hemogram analyzes still maintain their importance in the diagnosis and monitoring the complications associated with the viruses. The animal material of the study was consisted of a total of 50 dogs: 40 dogs (Experimental Group; 24 male, 16 female) aged between 2-6 mos, from medium to large breeds such as Anatolian shepherd, Boxer and mixed breed with gastroenteritis symptoms; 10 healthy dogs (Control Group; 8 male, 2 female) aged between 2-6 mos, from similar breeds. All were brought to the hospital either for diagnosis/treatment or for routine check-up. Based on the results of rapid antigen tests performed following the clinical and laboratory analyzes, the Experimental Group was divided into two subgroups: Canine Parvovirus Group (CPV Group, n=22) and Canine Distemper Virus Group (CDV Group, n=18). As a result of laboratory analyzes, differences in respiratory rate, capillary refill time and body temperature (P=0.000) in the clinical examinations; leukocyte (WBC) (P=0.003), granulocyte (P=0.000) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) (P=0.001) levels in the hemogram; pH (P=0.001), lactate (P=0.004) and HCO3 (P=0.001) levels in the blood gases analysis were detected in the CPV and CDV groups. Based on the Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) evaluation of the parameters, which were determined to vary in the Experimental Group, it was concluded that low pH and HCO3 with high lactate levels in blood gases along with low WBC, granulocyte and high MCV levels in the hemogram may be useful parameters in establishing a routine laboratory test panel for diferentiation between CPV and CDV.

We screened ticks and human clinical specimens to detect and characterize tick phleboviruses and pathogenicity in vertebrates. Ticks were collected at locations in Istanbul (Northwest Anatolia, Thrace), Edirne, Kırklareli, and Tekirdağ (Thrace), Mersin (Mediterranean Anatolia), Adiyaman and Şanlıurfa (Southeastern Anatolia) provinces from 2013–2018 and were analyzed following morphological identification and pooling. Specimens from individuals with febrile disease or meningoencephalitic symptoms of an unknown etiology were also evaluated. The pools were screened via generic tick phlebovirus amplification assays and products were sequenced. Selected pools were used for cell culture and suckling mice inoculations and next generation sequencing (NGS). A total of 7492 ticks were screened in 609 pools where 4.2% were positive. A phylogenetic sequence clustering according to tick species was observed. No human samples were positive. NGS provided near-complete viral replicase coding sequences in three pools. A comprehensive analysis revealed three distinct, monophyletic virus genotypes, comprised of previously-described viruses from Anatolia and the Balkans, with unique fingerprints in conserved amino acid motifs in viral replicase. A novel tick phlebovirus group was discovered circulating in the Balkans and Turkey, with at least three genotypes or species. No evidence for replication in vertebrates or infections in clinical cases could be demonstrated.

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This study was carried out to determine the effect of different industrial by-products (pistachio, pomegranate, and olive) as alternative feed sources for sheep. Fifty-two Awassi sheep aged 3 and 4 years were divided into four groups (n=13 per group) concerning age, birth type, milk yield, and lactation period: basal diet without byproducts (CON) and basal diet added with either pistachio shell (PIS), pomegranate hull (POM), or olive pulp (OP). By-products were mixed with the total ration at a rate of 5% and given in the morning and evening feedings. The feeding experiment was continued for 60 days. Milk yield, milk quality, feed consumption, and biochemical parameters such as urea, creatine, triglyceride, total bilirubin, and albumin were determined at 30-day intervals from the beginning of the study. Tukey multiple comparison test was used to compare the research groups. There was no treatment effect on feed consumption. The highest milk yield was measured in sheep fed the POM diet in all periods (the first, second, and third-period means were 1143±111, 967±127, and 785±112 gr, respectively). Milk yield for other groups was similar. At the end of the study, the fat ratio in the CON, PIS, POM, and OP groups were determined to be 6.11±0.30%, 6.25±0.36%, 5.61±0.42%, and 5.97±0.48%, respectively. Protein values were determined as 6.34±0.16%, 6.26%±0.27%, 6.06%±0.23%, and 6.39±0.19% in the same order. There was no statistically significant difference between CON, PIS, POM, and OP groups regarding biochemical parameters. In conclusion, sheep ration can contain PIS, POM, and OP up to 5% as alternative feed sources.

Quantifying changes in intravascular fluid volume is important for treatment planning and follow‐up assessment in dogs with dehydration. Recently, it has been reported that current standard methods used to estimate intravascular fluid volume in dogs are inadequate, invasive, or have complications such as thrombosis. The ultrasonographic ratio of dimensions for the caudal vena cava relative to the aorta (CVC/Ao) has been previously described as a promising, noninvasive method for quantifying changes in blood volume in dogs. This prospective observational study aimed to describe ultrasonographic CVC/Ao values before and after fluid replacement in a sample of dogs with varying degrees of dehydration due to naturally‐occurring canine parvoviral enteritis (CPE), test correlations between this measure and clinical dehydration scores and determine the clinical efficacy of this measure for fluid therapy follow‐up. The clinical dehydration score of 30 dogs naturally infected with canine parvovirus was determined at the first admission using standard clinical scoring methods, and then CVC/Ao was measured ultrasonographically. Following initial fluid therapy, the clinical dehydration scores and ultrasonographic CVC/Ao values were remeasured. On the basis of receiver operating characteristic analyses, ultrasonographic CVC/Ao was found to be a more sensitive and specific indicator than physical examination‐based methods for estimating intravascular fluid alterations in dogs with dehydration due to parvovirus and rehydration following fluid therapy. Findings supported the use of this measure for treatment planning and follow‐up in future dogs presenting with dehydration.

Iatrogenic aspiration pneumonia (AP), often caused by incorrect drenching and ‎feeding with inappropriate bottles, is a frequent condition that can lead to sudden death ‎depending on the amount of aspirated fluid.  The evaluation of clinical scores‎ and blood ‎gas analytes may provide valuable insights into the complications that may arise due to AP in later ‎stages. In this study, the AP Group consisted of ‎23 Holstein breed calves aged 1-14 days, ‎which developed clinical signs such as cough, nasal and/or ocular discharge, and respiratory ‎distress after forced feeding with inappropriate bottles. The Control Group consisted of 11 healthy calves with similar characteristics. Clinical examinations, Calf ‎Health Score (CHS) evaluations, and venous blood gas analysis were performed. Based on anamnesis, calves with AP were classified as either Acute or Chronic AP. In clinical ‎examination, heart and respiratory rates were higher in the Acute AP Group compared to the ‎other groups (P<0.001). Total CHS was higher in the AP Group than that in the Control ‎Group (P<0.001). The pH, sO2, Cl and Hb levels of the AP Group were lower, and K and ‎lactate levels were higher compared to the Control Group (P<0.031). Among all groups, ‎the pCO2 levels were highest in the Acute AP Group (P<0.001). The Na level of the Chronic ‎AP Group was lower than that of the Control Group (P<0.05). The hematocrit level was ‎lowest in the Chronic AP Group (P<0.016).  These findings suggest that venous blood samples can be effectively used to classify the course of AP ‎in neonatal calves; significant alterations in venous blood gas, electrolyte levels, and CHS can ‎be observed in affected animals; sO2 and pCO2 levels are particularly important in ‎distinguishing between acute and chronic cases of AP; and clinical and laboratory findings may ‎be similar to those observed in healthy animals in chronic cases depending on the body’s ability ‎to compensate or tolerate the disease.

Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) is a fatal disease caused by a mutated feline enteric coronavirus (FECV) that causes a wide diversity of clinical findings. Antemortem diagnosis may be challenging as the non-effusive form causes pyogranulomatous inflammation in various organs including the eye, brain, omentum, liver and kidney compared to the effusive form. Since it has been discussed that the kidney is the organ most susceptible to FIP-related lesion development, this study aimed to evaluate the renal ultrasonography findings in cats with naturally developed non-effusive FIP. Clinical and renal ultrasonographic examinations of 17 cats with compatible clinical findings that would suggest the presence of non-effusive FIP were performed with the appropriate protocol. Both kidneys of all the cats were evaluated for echogenicity, size (longitidunal length), shape, presence of free fluid, if any, and echogenicity of this fluid. As a result of renal ultrasonography, it was observed that the most prominent abnormal ultrasonographic findings were cortical hyperechogenicity (11 out of 17 cats), medullary rim sign (11 out of 17 cats), renomegaly (10 out of 17 cats), pyelectasis (5 out of 17 cats), loss of corticomedullary differentiation (4 out of 17 cats) and distortion of internal architecture (4 out of 17 cats). In conclusion, it was observed that morphological and parenchymal alterations occur in the renal ultrasonographic evaluation in cats with non-effusive FIP, and renal ultrasonography could provide useful clinical information in evaluating the clinical reflection of vasculitis due to FIP. Although these abnormal renal ultrasonography findings were not specific for FIP, it was concluded that the combination of the observed ultrasonographic findings and other compatible clinical findings and their evaluation together can be used to increase the index of suspicion for antemortem FIP infection.