Seasonal prevalence of Toxocara ova in soil samples from public parks in Ankara, Turkey.

This survey was conducted to determine prevalence of Toxocara spp. eggs and seasonal variation of this prevalence in public parks in Ankara, Turkey. A total of 259 sand samples were collected from May 2005 to April 2006 in 40 public parks for determining prevalence. To attain seasonal variation, a total of 696 sand samples were collected from five public parks regularly throughout year. Prevalence of Toxocara spp. and combination of Toxascaris leonina and Taenia spp. was 15.05% and 0.38%. Overall, 45% of public parks were contaminated. There was a seasonal variation in prevalence. Prevalence of Toxocara spp., Toxascaris leonina, and Taenia spp. eggs during summer (4.21%) was lower than during spring (12.64%), autumn (13.21%), and winter (9.77%; p < 0.05). Average number of Toxocara spp. eggs was 2.57 per 50 g of sand, with average dimension of 70.1 mum. In conclusion, prevalence data are consistent with international data reported in other metropolitans. Our results indicate that the public parks in surveyed areas may be a source of toxocariasis. Effective preventive measures should be established.

Ascaridia numidae (Leiper, 1908; Travassos, 1913) in Rock Partridge (Alectoris chukar) in Turkey.

This report present first case of Ascaridia numidae isolated from three dead rock partridges (Alectoris chukar) with stressing morphological characteristics and its responsiveness to the medical treatment. A. numidae was confirmed by presence of one papilla on the posterior region of the preanal sucker and a total of 10 pairs of the caudal papillae. In necropsy, a total of 680 (282 male and 3,988 female) A. numidae and 289 (147 male and 142 female) Heterakis dispar were isolated from all partridges. Females were 11.20 mm longer and 0.22 mm wider than males. There was no difference in length of oesophagus (2.27 mm). Lengths of the spikules were equals and ranged from 2.08 to 2.93 according to the body size. Vulva was located in medial line and the mean egg size was 0.10 x 0.06 mm. Faecal samples from live birds from the same farm contained Ascaridia spp. and Heterakis spp. eggs. No eggs were encountered 1 week after oral administration of a single dose of levamisole (30 mg/kg), but 3 months post-medication. In conclusion, this is the first case reporting A. numidae in exotic birds in Turkey. A. numidae has unique papillae that are distinguishable from the other ascarids and is responsive to medical treatment as long as hygienic conditions are maintained.

Effects of immunization with purified specific proteins on the formation of secondary hydatid cysts in mice.

In this study, immunoreactive proteins (8, 68 and 116 kDa) of Echinococcus granulosus metacestode stages were partially purified using isoelectrical focusing by a Rotofor cell device. Sixty Swiss albino mice were separated into three experimental and three control groups (n = 10). The mice of the three experimental groups were immunized with 8, 68 and 116 kDa purified proteins, respectively. 25 days after immunization, serum samples from each group were examined to assess immunization status by Western blotting. Protoscolices were applied intraperitoneally to control and immunized groups. By necropsy, mice were examined for cyst formation, size, number and fertility 2, 5, 8, and 10 months after experimental infection, respectively. Immunization with all three proteins was found to have a significant inhibitory effect on the metacestode formation of in mice (p < 0.001).

Application of western blotting procedure for the immunodiagnosis of visceral larva migrans in mice by using excretory/secretory antigens.

A Western blotting procedure with excretory/secretory antigens from Toxocara canis larvae was developed for immunodiagnosis of visceral larva migrans in mice. In this study, eighty Swiss albino mice were allotted into two groups of 40 each as control and experimental groups, and T. canis ova containing infective larvae were given to mice in the latter group to form visceral larva migrans. Blood samples were taken from 5 infected and 5 control mice on days 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, and 60 after infection. After bleeding, the mice were necropsied. Slides were prepared from their brain tissues and examined for visceral larva migrans. Following this procedure, their guts were also examined for intestinal parasites. Protein bands of excretory/secretory antigens of 2nd stage larvae of Toxocara canis were determined by using SDS-PAGE. Sera from the mice were tested by Western blotting and results were compared to the protein bands obtained by SDS-PAGE to determine specific bands. Specific protein bands for visceral larva migrans were determined as 24, 28, and 48 kDa according to our test results.