Blastocystis hominis is one of the most common eukaryotic organisms in the intestinal tract of humans, while its pathogenic potential is still controversial. A total of 286 stool samples obtained from adult and pediatric patients with or without gastrointestinal symptoms in two hospitals in Manisa, Turkey, were cultured to detect B. hominis infection. Forty-one and 51 isolates were obtained from the adults and children, respectively, and these isolates were subjected to subtyping by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the known sequence-tagged site primers. The correlation between the genotype and the symptoms was evaluated. PCR subtyping indicated that subtype 3 was the most common genotype in both symptomatic and asymptomatic groups, and the second common genotype was subtypes 1 and 2 in symptomatic and asymptomatic groups, respectively. A significant correlation between subtype 2 and the asymptomatic groups was found among both in pediatric and adult patients (chi(2) (cal) = 4.38, df = 1, p = 0.044). However, there were no significant differences between the other genotypes and the symptomatic or asymptomatic groups, as well as both the age and sex of the patients. The present study suggests that subtype 2 is a non-pathogenic genotype of B. hominis.

Stool samples of a total of 2,047 people in Izmir province were examined by wet mount, formalin ethyl acetate concentration, and trichrome staining methods with an aim to reveal the prevalence of intestinal parasites in Izmir together with related personal and environmental risk factors. Geographical mapping showing the density and variation of the species of intestinal parasites in Izmir was done after all maps were scaled, and the coordinates were determined with GeoMedia5.0. The prevalence of the intestinal parasites was found to be 25.6% in Izmir, with a variation between the districts. Blastocystis hominis was the leading parasite, and the prevalence of parasites was higher in children compared to adults; however, the difference was statistically insignificant. There was also no significant difference between the parasite prevalence and sex, marital status, education, income, frequent eating outside, and habitual raw meat eating. Significant differences were found between the parasite prevalence and crowded families, early immigrants, individuals with no social security, and people living in close contact with their livestock. The parasites were found to be less common among individuals who had been drinking bottled water and living in a house with a sewage system. The results demonstrated a correlation between the intestinal parasites and environmental conditions in our study group. We further plan to expand the study group to cover all regions of Turkey.

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ÖzetPlevral Nocardiosis nadir bir plevral tutulumdur ve genellikle akciğer parankim tutulumu ile birliktedir. Sunulan hasta temporal arterit nedeniyle uzun süreli sistemik kortikosteroid tedavisi almıştır. Tedavisi halen sürerken plevral sıvının teşhisi için kliniğimize yönlen-dirilmiştir. Plevral sıvının kültüründe Nocardia üremesi üzerine trimetoprim-sulfametaksazol tedavisi başlan-mıştır. Tedavi ile klinik ve radyolojik iyileşme gözlen-miştir. Plevral Nocardiozis, immünsüprese hastalarda nedeni açıklanamayan plevral sıvıların ayırıcı tanısın-da akla getirilmelidir.Anahtar Sözcükler: Plevral nocardiozis, plevral sıvı, kortikosteroid, immünsüpresyon. AbstractPleural involvement in nocardiosis is rare and usually accompanies pulmonary paranchymal involvement. In the case presented here, the patient had been treated with a systemic corticosteroid for a long time for temporal arteritis. He was continuing the treatment when he was referred to our clinic for a diagnosis of the pleural disease. Following a positive pleural culture result for Nocardia, trimethoprim / sulfamethoxazole treatment was initiated. Clinical and radiological improvement was observed with treatment. Pleural nocardiosis should be kept in mind in the differential diagnosis of cases of pleural effusion with an unknown origin, particularly among immunosuppressed patients.