The Van cat is a domestic landrace found in the Van province of eastern Turkey. In this study, we aimed to determine the seasonal carriage of dermatophytes in Van cats without clinical lesions. A total of 264 hair specimens were collected from clinically healthy cats in and around the Van Province. Of these samples, 30.3% were obtained in spring, 30.6% in summer, 16.6% in autumn, and 22.3% in winter; 45.1% of samples were from male cats and the rest from female ones. Of the studied cats, 118 were younger than 1 year, 78 were 1–3 years old, and 68 were older than 3 years. The specimens were subjected to direct microscopic examination with 15% potassium hydroxide and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar and dermatophyte test medium supplemented with cycloheximide and chloramphenicol. Dermatophyte identification was carried out based on macroscopic and microscopic colony morphology, urease activities, in vitro hair perforation test, growth at 37 °C, and pigmentation on corn meal agar. Dermatophytes were isolated from 19 (7.1%) of the 264 specimens examined. The most frequently isolated fungi were Trichophyton terrestre (4.1%), followed by Microsporum gypseum (1.1%), M. nanum (1.1%), and T. mentagrophytes (0.7%), and these fungi may represent a health risk for humans in contact with clinically healthy Van cats. M. canis was not isolated from any of the specimens. Our results show no significant (p > 0.05) association between carriage of dermatophytes and the gender of cats. The carriage rate of dermatophytes was high in spring and winter, and the only possible risk factor for infection was age of the animal.

Aims:  To compare the culture and PCR methods for detection of Brucella melitensis in blood and lymphoid tissue samples obtained from slaughtered sheep (n = 162) testing positive/negative in serological tests (Rose Bengal test and serum agglutination test). Methods and Results:  Of 162 sheep examined, 45 were positive and 117 negative in serological tests. A PCR assay based on a pair of Br. melitensis‐specific primers was used to detect DNA in blood and lymphoid tissue. Brucella melitensis was isolated from 1·2% (2/162) and 17·2% (28/162) of the blood and lymphoid tissue samples respectively. Positive PCR products with a molecular size of 731 bp were obtained from 27·7% (45/162) of blood and 29·0% (47/162) of lymphoid tissue samples. Conclusions:  The species‐specific PCR assay detected a higher number of Br. melitensis DNA both from serologically positive (P < 0·01 in blood PCR, P < 0·001 in tissue PCR) and serologically negative (P < 0·001 in both blood PCR and tissue PCR) sheep compared with classical bacteriological culture methods. Significance and Impact of the Study:  The results emphasize the importance of using more than one type of diagnostic technique for the detection of animals positive for brucellosis, especially with epidemiological purposes.

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ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to assess in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of Brucella melitensis isolates isolated from naturally infected sheep cases in an area where human brucellosis is endemic, focusing on rifampin (RIF), streptomycin (SM), ciprofloxacin (CPFX), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMZ), gentamicin (GM) and tetracycline (TC) and on 11 other antimicrobials. The identification and typing of Brucella isolates were carried out using standard classification tests and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out on Mueller-Hilton agar. The resistance to SM, CPFX and GM was determined at the rate of 7.3% and to RIF at the rate of 9.7%. The highest (46.3%) resistance was determined against TMP/SMZ. All strains were found to be sensitive to TC at the rate of 100.0%. In conclusion, ovine origin B. melitensis strains evaluated in this study were resistant to at least one antimicrobial (51.2%) that is commonly used in human clinical medicine against brucellosis.

In the study, group B streptococci (GBS) isolated from bovines and humans in and around Van, eastern Turkey, were serotyped, and their haemagglutination and lectin-agglutination properties were also determined. This study is the first epidemiological survey of GBS serotypes performed in Turkey. A total of 148 GBS isolates, 76 from bovine milk and 72 from women attending a maternity polyclinic, were examined by co-agglutination, slide haemagglutination and slide lectin-agglutination tests. By the co-agglutination test, 34 (44?7 %) of bovine isolates and 49 (68 %) of human isolates could be serotyped. In bovine isolates, type VII (11?8 %), III (10?5 %), Ic (6?5 %) and VIII (3?9 %) were the most frequently detected serotypes. The most frequent human serotypes were Ic (33?3 %), IV (8?3 %), VIII (6?9 %), V (5?5 %) and R (5?5 %). In the haemagglutination test using rabbit erythrocytes, 23 (33?3 %) bovine and 15 (23?4 %) human isolates were found to be positive. The bovine GBS isolates showed a significant positive agglutination reaction with Dolichos biflorus lectin (30?4 %), whereas the human GBS isolates were found to be positive for Arachis hypogea (18?8 %) and Canavalia ensiformis (37?5 %) lectins. The treatment of GBS with trypsin was also found to be important for the demonstration of the haemagglutination and lectin-agglutination properties of GBS. The results of the study provide data on serotype distribution and the formulation of a possible GBS vaccine in Turkey, and the lectin-agglutination tests may also be useful for differentiating bovine and human GBS strains.