Cats are susceptible to feline panleukopenia virus (FPV) and canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2). Therefore, coinfection and superinfection with multiple parvovirus strains may occur, resulting in high heterogeneity and recombination. Considering the importance of cats as a potential source of genetic diversity for parvoviruses, we investigated the frequency of parvovirus infection in cats using their blood and fecal samples and performed molecular characterization of parvovirus strains circulating in cat populations. Accordingly, the fecal and blood samples of 60 cats with gastroenteritis symptoms were collected from Turkey’s Burdur, Isparta, and Izmit provinces. Of these 15 fecal samples tested as parvovirus-positive by PCR, 14 were confirmed to have been infected with true FPV strains by sequencing analysis. Through the phylogeny analysis, those were located in the FPV cluster, closely related to CPV-2, and one was discriminated in the CPV-2b cluster. Additionally, sequence analysis of the VP2 gene of CPV and FPV revealed that the FPV strains detected in Turkey and the vaccine strains were highly related to each other, with a nucleotide identity of 97.7- 100%. Furthermore, 13 variable positions were detected in VP2 of the field and reference FPV strains. Three synonymous mutations were determined in the VP2 gene. Some amino acid mutations in the VP2 protein-affected sites were considered responsible for the virus’s biological and antigenic properties. The partial sequence analysis of the VP2 gene revealed that four FPV strains detected in Turkey have a single nucleotide change from T to G at the amino acid position 384 between the nucleotides 3939-3941, which was reported for the first time. Therefore, these four isolates formed a different branch in the phylogenetic tree. The results suggest that both FPV and CPV-2b strains are circulating in domestic cats in Turkey and cats should be considered as potential sources of new parvovirus variants for cats, dogs and other animals.

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Canine parvovirus (CPV) is a pathogen causing hemorrhagic enteritis in puppies and mainly transmitting via feco-oral route. In this study, stool samples were collected from a total of 35 animals suspected of CPV. The samples were examined by Conventional PCR, Nested PCR and Differential PCR tests. 20 out of 35 dogs (57.1%) were detected positive by conventional PCR, 31 (88.6%) by nested PCR and 30 (85.7%) by differential PCR. CPV 2a was stated as the most common antigenic type, male animals and 0–3-month-olds had a high rate of becoming sick and vaccinated animals might also catch the disease, rarely. Accordingly, it is recommended to focus on studies providing molecular epidemiology surveillance in order to detect the existing subtypes and develop reliable diagnosis and vaccination methods.

Goose parvovirus (GPV), also called Derzsy’s disease, is a viral pathogen that causes high morbidity and mortality in goslings and ducklings. In this study, we perform the molecular characterization of the GPV in Turkey. The definition of similarity to the world of GPV isolates in Turkey and construction of a phylogenetic tree was aimed. For this purpose, the presence of GPV in the liver, spleen, and intestine tissues of nine goslings with symptoms such as dysphagia, bilateral ocular swelling, eye discharge, diarrhea, and fatigue were investigated by real-time PCR method and all samples were detected as positive. According to the data obtained by molecular characterization, phylogenetic analysis of GPV has been presented in Turkey. As a result of this study, it was determined that the GPVs available in Turkey are virulent strains.

Bu çalışmada nar kabuğu (Punica granatum L.) ekstraktının in vitro olarak HSV-1 üzerine antiviral etkinliğinin belirlenmesi amaçlanmıştır. Antiviral etkinlik değerlendirilmeden önce, nar kabuğu ekstratının saf su ile dilue edilmiş farklı konsantrasyonlarının Vero hücre kültüründe sitotoksik aktivitesi belirlendi. Bu hücre kültüründe 0,87 mg/mL konsantrasyondan daha düşük konsantrasyonlarda sitotoksiteye neden olmadığı tespit edildi. Antiviral etkinlik MTT testi ve mikroskobik analizler sonrasında sitopatojenik etkinin (CPE) varlığıyla belirlendi. Nar kabuğu ekstratının 0,87 mg/mL ila 0,87x2-5mg/mL arasındaki konsantrasyonlarda HSV-1’e karşı önemli bir antiviral etkinliği olduğu belirlendi. Bu etkinin virusun hücreye girişine engel olmasıyla sağlamış olabilir. Nar kabuğu ekstraktının HSV-1’e karşı in vitro olarak antiviral etkinliğe sahip olduğu ve elde edilen sonuçlar doğrultusunda Punica granatum L. ekstratının antiviral etkinliğinin daha detaylı belirlenebilmesi için in vivo denemelere ihtiyaç olduğu düşünüldü. Ayrıca Punica granatum L. Ekstratının Herpes viruslar ve diğer viruslara karşı etkinliğinin detaylı bir şekilde belirlenmesi gelecekte antiviral ilaç denemelerine katkı sağlayacaktır.