Detection and identification of cutaneous leishmaniasis isolates by culture, Polymerase chain reaction and sequence analyses in Syrian and Central Anatolia patients.

OBJECTIVES: To characterize the cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) isolates of Syrian and Central Anatolia patients at species levels. Methods: Skin scrapings of 3 patients (2 Syrian, 1 Turkish) were taken and examined by direct examination, culture in Novy-MacNeal-Nicole (NNN) medium, internal transcribed spacer polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis (PCR). Results:According to microscopic examination, culture and PCR methods, 3 samples were detected positive. The sequencing results of all isolates in the study were identified as Leishmania tropica. The same genotypes were detected in the 3 isolates and nucleotide sequence submitted into GenBank with the accession number: KP689599. Conclusion: This finding could give information about the transmission of CL between Turkey and Syria. Because of the Syrian civil war, most of the Syrian citizens circulating in Turkey and different part of Europe, this can be increase the risk of spreading the disease. So, prevention measurements must be taken urgently.

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Pediatric Patients in a Single Tertiary Hospital in Ankara.

OBJECTIVE: Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease that is caused by a protozoan parasite of the Leishmania genus and that occurs worldwide. Leishmaniasis is endemic in southeastern Turkey and the neighboring Middle Eastern countries. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of patients admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). METHODS: A total of 16 CL patients [11 (69%) boys and five (31%) girls] were admitted between January 2014 and December 2015. The data of the patients were retrospectively recorded from their medical records. RESULTS: Their mean age was 74.3±32.3 months (range: 1-10.5 years). Double lesions were most commonly seen in eight (50%) patients. The face and neck was the most commonly involved site (87.5% of the patients). Skin smears for a parasitological examination were positive in nine (56%) patients. Two patients (12.5%) with limb lesions were treated with intralesional meglumine antimoniate. Fourteen patients were treated with systemic agents. CONCLUSION: We felt that the increase in human movement that include travels and forced migration due to the war might make it possible for CL to appear in non-endemic provinces such as Ankara. In particular, in patients with painless cutaneous lesion(s) who came from endemic areas such as Syria, CL should be kept in mind by the clinicians that residing in even non-endemic areas .

Seroprevalance of Leishmaniasis in Dogs from Hatay and Burdur Provinces of Turkey and Northern Cyprus.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalance of leishmaniasis in dogs from Hatay and Burdur provinces of Turkey and Northern Cyprus. METHODS: Blood was collected from a total of 278 dogs, including 124 from Hatay, 49 from Burdur, and 105 from Northern Cyprus. Dilutions of serum samples were prepared, and the presence of anti-Leishmania antibodies was investigated by indirect fluorescent antibody technique (IFAT). RESULTS: A total of three dogs were found to be seropositive (1.1%), one from Hatay (0.8%) and two from Northern Cyprus (1.9%). Also, one dog (0.4%) from Northern Cyprus was found to be borderline positive. All dogs from Burdur have been identified as seronegative. CONCLUSION: This is the first research on the seroprevalence of the parasite in dogs from Hatay and Burdur. The seropositivity detected in dogs from Hatay and Northern Cyprus demonstrates the presence of the parasite in these regions, and obtained results contribute data on the prevalence of the disease in an epidemiological manner. To obtain more reliable data, it will be useful to conduct studies on wider dog populations and vector sandflies.

[Three Pediatric Cases of Leishmaniasis with Different Clinical Forms and Treatment Regimens]. / Klinik Formlari ve Tedavi Rejimleri Farkli Üç Pediyatrik Leishmaniasis Olgusu.

Several clinical syndromes caused by an obligate intracellular parasite Leishmania spp. subsumed under the term leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is endemic in Turkey and the neighboring countries Iran, Iraq, and Syria. Leishmania spp. causes three main clinical forms: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral disease. The clinical forms may vary by species and/or region of acquisition. Two forms are observed in Turkey; visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. Two cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis with different treatment regimens and a case of visseral leishmaniasis associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis are presented in this report.

[Evaluation of Cystic Echinococcosis Suspected Patients Applied to National Parasitology Reference Laboratory of Public Health Institution of Turkey Between 2009-2013]. / Gaziantep Üniversitesi Tip Fakültesi Leishmaniasis Tani ve Tedavi Merkezine Basvuran Kutanöz Leishmaniasis Olgularinin Degerlendirilmesi.

OBJECTIVE: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by the metacestode form of Echinococcus granulosus is an important public health problem common in our country. In this study, anti-E. granulosus antibodies were aimed to investigate in the serum samples of CE suspected patients who applied to the National Parasitology Reference Laboratory of Public Health Institution of Turkey. METHODS: In the study, serum samples of 2921 patients which were sent to our laboratories from different hospitals between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013 were evaluated with at least one of the following tests: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Indirect Hemaglutination Assay (IHA) and Western Blot (WB) techniques. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty nine (15.03%) of inspected 2921 samples were determined seropositive with at least one of the methods. When the results analyzed by gender, 13% of males and 16.40% of females were found positive. Examined the distribution of the results by years, with a maximum of 25% positivity was observed in 2009. Compatibility was determined at the rate of 91.4% among ELISA and IHA results; also 89.7% among WB and the other tests results. CONCLUSION: Despite the gradual decreases the CE in Ankara and its surroundings, it is still continues to be a major public health problem. Essential prevention and control measures should be taken to reduce the prevalence of the disease. Also in the diagnosis of the disease, more reliable results can obtained with applying two tests (ELISA/IHA) together and confirm the positivity with WB.

[Amblyomma spp. case related to overseas travel]. / Yurtdisi seyahat iliskili Amblyomma spp. olgusu.

Ticks are a threat to human health by blood sucking and vectoring many disease agents. Tick-borne diseases are seen all over the world and play an important role in the dissemination of diseases. Although many of the tick species are present in Turkey, Amblyomma genus is seen more in South America and Africa. In this case,a person returning to the country after travelling to Africa who presented to the hospital complaining of tick bites and brought ticks to the parasitology laboratory was identified as Ablyomma spp. nymph. This case is a report concerning care of tick bites when travelling abroad and shows that these ticks can transmit disease agents from abroad.

Heat shock protein 40-Gok1 isolation from Toxoplasma gondii RH strain.

Toxoplasma gondii is ubiquitous obligate intracellular parasite and is one of the most important pathogen for humans and animals. In humans, T. gondii has two life forms: tachyzoites and bradyzoites. Tachyzoites form of T. gondii can cause acute infection, and it is called toxoplasmosis. The development of latent bradyzoites from rapidly growing tachyzoites has been linked to cellular and environmental stresses which are associated with heat shock proteins (Hsps). Hsps play a protective role against stressors. Hsp40 is an important member of Hsp family and T. gondii has 36 predicted Hsp40 family members. Therefore, we studied the cloning and biochemical characterization of the T. gondii RH strain Hsp40 protein-Gok1. Hsp40 prevents protein aggregation and induce refolding. Consequently, Hsp40s may play essential roles in the mechanisms of bradyzoite development and survival in the host organism. Hsp40-Gok1 functional and structural properties may facilitate drug design and protein targeting against toxoplasmosis.