The heartworm Dirofilaria immitis is a vector-borne filarioid parasite of dogs. This parasite particularly settles in the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries. The parasite can infect dogs, cats, and other carnivores. Humans could also be aberrant hosts, as well (1-3). Various techniques are used for performing the diagnosis of canine dirofilariasis, such as morphological parameters of microfilariae by blood smear, the modified Knott's method (Knott), histochemical reactions of microfilariae, and immunoassays like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests (4). Some particular hardships can occur when interpreting the results by these techniques (4,5). Correct detection of filarioid species is clinically important due to zoonotic worries and therapeutic effects (5,6). Molecular methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) have been recommended for detecting and differentiating filaroid nematodes in dogs based on their supremacy in specificity and sensitivity (6). Dirofilaria immitis infections are widespread in tropical and subtropical regions. Turkey has intermediate hosts and suitable climatic conditions for the development of this parasite (1,7). In this regard, many studies from Turkey have been reported. In studies conducted with different diagnostic methods in various areas, the prevalence of D. immitis was between 1.5% and 46.2% (5,8-10). Territorial factors and diagnostic tests can cause distinctions among research results. In recent years, it is proposed to use an integration of serologic and parasitologic methods for the diagnosis of D. immitis (5,6). A postmortem study of street dogs has been the only report until today about the prevalence of D. immitis in dogs from Sivas (11). Our research was conducted to investigate the situation of D. immitis infection between stray and owned dogs of different ages and sexes by the methods of ELISA, PCR, and Knott. 2. Materials and methods 2.1. Sample collection The research was conducted in Sivas Province, an area of about 28,000 km 2 in the central part of Turkey (38°32′N to 40°16/N and 35°50′E to 38°14′E). Sivas is located at an
In this study, it was aimed to investigate the efficacy of chitosan oligosaccharide administrations in different doses of experimental infected lambs with Cryptosporidium parvum. 32 male lambs were used in the study and the lambs were divided into 4 groups with 8 lambs in each group. Groups 1, 2 and 3, twice a day, were administered chitosan oligosaccharide at a dose of 100, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for 7 days, respectively, with milk replacer. In group 4, lambs with cryptosporidiosis were subjected to normal feeding as control without drug administration. Clinical examinations of lambs were made before treatment (day 0) and on days 1, 3, 5 and 7 after treatment and 5 ml of blood was collected from vena jugularis for blood analysis of all lambs. Weight changes of lambs were recorded at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days. Stool specimens were collected pre-treatment (day 0) and on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14 and 21 post-treatment to determine oocyst excretion of lambs with cryptosporidiosis. Lambs with a mean oocyte counts > 10 after stool examination were included to the treatment. Changes in clinical hematology, blood gases and biochemical parameters were observed during the course of treatment, but these changes were limited. Weight loss was observed at 7th day according to 0th day the lambs with experimental cryptosporidiosis but gradually weight increase was observed at 14th and 21st days and these changes were similar in all groups. Oocyst excretion decreased in all groups during treatment. According to 0th day, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in oocyte excretions in the third day in group 1 and 2, and in day 5 in the group 3 and 4. Significant changes (p < 0.05) were observed in oocyst excretions on the third and fifth days among the groups. As a result, in lambs with experimental cryptosporidiosis, chitosan oligosaccharide improved in clinical signs and stool character shorter than the positive control group and the administration of chitosan oligosaccharide at doses of 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg for 7 days significantly reduced oocyst excretion but not enough to remove cryptosporidiosis completely.
Canine hemoplasmas are vector-borne bacterial pathogens having worldwide distribution. There are two hemoplasmas species that cause disease in dogs. These are Mycoplasma haemocanis and Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of canine hemoplasmas among apparently healthy 194 owned-dogs in Sivas Province using species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). According to our results, the overall prevalence of canine hemoplasmas was 14.94% (29/194). The molecular prevalence of M. haemocanis and Ca. M. haematoparvum was detected as 8.24% (16/194) and 10.82% (21/194) respectively while the prevalence of co-infections was 4.12% (8/194). In this study, Ca. M. haematoparvum which can infect humans was found more prevalent than M. haemocanis. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first molecular study on the determination of canine hemoplasmas in Sivas province in Turkey.
The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of intestinal parasites in patients admitted to our hospital with gastrointestinal complaints in our city harboring sociocultural and economic changes, and to show the relationship between these parasites and variables such as age, sex and year. Methods: The distribution of intestinal parasites in patients who suffered from gastrointestinal symptoms and were referred to our microbiology/parasitology laboratory from various clinics of the Sivas Cumhuriyet University Training and Research Hospital between January 2006 and December 2018 was determined. After macroscopic examination, 19,760 stool specimens were examined with Nativ-lugol, if necessary, flotation, sedimentation, trichrome and modified acid-fast, Certest Combo Card test Crypto + Giardia + Entamoeba (CerTest Biotec S.L., SPAIN) methods and 5,814 cellophane tape samples were examined with direct microscopy and the results were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Three protozoa and six helminth species were identified in the samples studied. The most frequent parasite was found to be Giardia intestinalis (6.9% n=1.363) from protozoa and Enterobius vermicularis (10.8% n=627) from helminths. Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (1.5% n=289), Cryptosporidium parvum (0.3% n=53), Ascaris lumbricoides (0.2% n=41), Trichuris trichiura (0.1% n=23), Hymenolepis nana (0.1% n=21), Taenia saginata (2.1% n=299) and Dicrocoelium dendriticum (0.01% n=1) were among other intestinal parasites. Conclusion: Between 2006-2018, while decreases in soil-borne parasitoses were observed, there was no statistically significant decrease in annual positive case rates. Despite the development of the infrastructure, parasitoses transmitted by lack of sanitation/ cleaning, are still important in our province.
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