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ABSTRACT:In this study, the presence of Arcobacter spp. was investigated in the faeces of cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and cloacal swab samples of chickens using the 16S rDNA-RFLP method. The prevalence of Arcobacter in these species was found to be 13%, 12%, 16%, 4% and 33%, respectively. On the other hand, Arcobacter spp. could not be isolated from rabbit faeces. A total of 78 (13%) Arcobacter spp. isolates were obtained from the 500 faecal samples and 100 cloacal swab samples examined in this study. From these 78 Arcobacter isolates, 24 (30.8%), 20 (25.6%), 11 (14.1%), 8 (10.7%), 4 (5.1%), 3 (3.9%) and 2 (2.6%) were identified by 16S rDNA-RLFP as A. cryaerophilus, A. butzleri, A. skirrowii, A. cloacae, A. cibarius, A. halophilus, and A. nitrofigilis, respectively. All A. cryaerophilus (n = 24) isolates were found to be resistant to cloxacillin; all A. butzleri (n = 20) and A. skirrowii isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin/novobiocin, cefoperazone, tetracycline and cloxacillin. It was determined in this study that clinically healthy cattle, sheep, goats, dogs and chickens are reservoirs of Arcobacter spp.

Brucellosis and Q fever, two zoonoses, are important causes of abortion in ruminants, as well as economically significant diseases caused by a gram-negative bacterium. Determination of these diseases is therefore of great importance. In this study, the organs of 35 naturally infected and aborted ovine fetuses were examined for the presence of changes resulting from infections by Brucella melitensis and Coxiella burnetii, according to macroscopic, bacteriological, histopathological and immunohistochemical methods. B. melitensis was observed in 21 cases, and C. burnetii was observed in 8 cases of the aborted ovine fetuses, and these were determined with immunohistochemical methods. Brucellosis was observed in 18 of the aborted ovine fetuses, and this was determined by microbiological methods. Negative (-) results were found for all of the other fetuses. The Brucella antigen was determined to be localized as intracytoplasmic in mainly alveolar macrophages, bronchi, bronchioles, glandular epithelial cells around bronchial glands, neutrophils, hepatocytes and Kupffer cells. The Coxiella antigen was found to be localized in the alveolar macrophages in the lungs, bronchi, bronchioles and alveolus, and in the cytoplasms of bronchial gland epithelial cells, and in the cytoplasms of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells in the liver. Immunohistochemical and microbiological diagnoses of brucellosis and coxiellosis were compared; it was concluded that immunohistochemical methods were more safely applied than microbiological methods.

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Background: Diarrhea induced by infectious factors may lead to significant health problems in dogs. Canine parvovirus (CPV), canine coronavirus (CCV), canine distemper virus (CDV), Giardia spp., Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Salmonella spp. are the important infectious agents that may induce diarrhea in dogs. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of CPV, CCV, CDV, Giardia spp., E. coli, and Salmonella spp. infections on the change in serum calprotectin (Calp) concentration.Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 30 dogs were enrolled in the study. The study dogs were divided into 3 groups. Healthy animals as confirmed by clinical examination and animals negative for the specified pathogens were placed in Group 1. Animals infected by one or more agents, including CPV, CCV, CDV, and Giardia spp., but negative for E. coli or Salmonella spp. were placed in Group 2. Finally, animals positive for E. coli or Salmonella spp. and infected or not infected by one or more agents, including CPV, CCV, CDV, and Giardia spp., were placed in Group 3. Stool samples and rectal and conjunctival swab samples were collected to investigate the etiologic agents that induced diarrhea. Blood samples were collected through vena cephalica antebrachii for hematological and biochemical examinations. The samples were obtained via routine clinical examinations at the Prof. Dr. Servet SEKİN outpatient clinic at Dicle University Veterinary Faculty. CPV, CCV, CDV, and Giardia spp. diagnoses were made based on immunochromatographic test kits. The bacteriological analysis of stool samples were used to diagnose E. coli and Salmonella spp. infection. Serum Calp concentrations were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The analysis of swab and stool samples by immunochromatographic rapid diagnosis kits and microbiological methods showed that 5 animals were infected with CPV, 10 with CCV, 6 with CDV, 3 with Giardia spp., 12 with E. coli, and 2 with none of the specified agents. Total leukocyte count (WBC), lymphocyte (Lym) (%), and granulocyte (Gra) (%) values were higher in the diarrheal dogs when compared with the control group.  In the biochemical examination of serum samples, TBIL and P levels were higher and Na levels were lower in Group 3 when compared to the control group (P = 0.025, 0.024, and 0.018, respectively). TP and Alb values were lower in Group 2 compared to Groups 1 and 3 (P = 0.001 and 0.019 for TP, P = 0.000 and 0.001 for Alb, respectively). There was a statistically significant difference in CK levels between Group 1 and Group 2 (P = 0.013). Serum Calp level was higher in the E. coli infected group (Group 3) compared to the other groups, no significant differences were noted between the groups (P > 0.05).Discussion: In conclusion, to the best of authors knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate serum Calp levels in dogs with diarrhea induced by viral, bacterial, and protozoan infections. The Calp level was higher in the sick dogs that were infected by at least one agent, including CPV, CCV, CDV, and Giardia spp., and were at the same time E. coli positive when compared with the control group and the group without E. coli infections. It was concluded that new studies could be useful to reveal the diagnostic importance of serum Calp concentration in dogs with diarrhea and that these results may contribute to future studies in this area.Keywords: calprotectin, diarrhea, dog, serum.