Research on Laying Trichostrongylid Nematode Eggs in Cows in the Periparturient Period.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to comparatively determine the prevalence of trichostrongylid nematodes and egg excretions in cows that are in the periparturient period (PPP) and pregnant cows in the non-periparturient period (NPPP). METHODS: Animal materials are constituted by cows in PPP and NPPP in 10 ranches in Kars and surrounding areas. Stool samples were collected from the rectum of 125 pregnant cows, which were in NPPP during November 2010 - January 2011 and from the same cows in PPP during April-May 2011. Stool samples were analyzed for the presence of nematode eggs by the flotation method. EPG was determined by the McMaster method. RESULTS: Trichostrongylid nematode eggs were detected in seven of 10 dairy cattle ranches (70%). The prevalence rates of trichostrongylid nematodes were 16.8% (21/125) during NPPP and 27.2% (34/125) during PPP. Nineteen of 21 (90.5%) positive samples during NPPP were positive during PPP. Fifteen negative samples during NPPP were positive during PPP with respect to trichostrongylid nematode eggs. The egg count of trichostrongylid during PPP (total, 4350; mean, 34.8; n, 125) was greater than that during NPPP (total, 1250; mean, 10; n, 125). CONCLUSION: Cows had nematode eggs during PPP and played an important role in transmission.

Infections of Ligula intestinalis on Freshwater Fish in Kars Plateau of North-Eastern Anatolia, Turkey.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of Ligula intestinalis and infections caused by these on freshwater fish in rivers and streams in the Kars plateau of north-eastern Anatolia, Turkey. METHODS: This research was conducted between April and July 2011. Fish samples were caught via a casting net and an electro-shocker. The samples were immediately examined to determine the prevalence of L. intestinalis plerocercoids. RESULTS: In this research, 310 stream fishes were studied to determine the prevalence of L. intestinalis plerocercoids. Detected fishes included 55.8% Capoeta capoeta, 24.2% Squalius cephalus, 11.0% Alburnus filippii, 5.8% Barbus plebejus lacerta, and 3.2% Alburnoides bipunctatus. L. intestinalis plerocercoids were found in 2.6% (8/310) of the examined fishes. The percentage of this parasite was found to be 38.9% (7/18) on B. plebejus lacerta and 0.6% (1/173) on C. capoeta. L. intestinalis plerocercoids were not observed on the other three fish species (S. cephalus, A. filippii, and Al. bipunctatus). CONCLUSION: In this study, L. intestinalis plerocercoids were reported for the first time in the Kars stream and its distributaries on the Kars plateau in north-eastern Anatolia, Turkey.

Seroepidemiological and entomological survey in a new focus of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in Kars province, Northeastern Turkey.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has now been recorded from 38 provinces of Turkey. Twenty-one VL cases were reported within six years from settlements located in most northeastern Turkey and we therefore aimed to carry out an entomological and seroepidemiological survey in this new focus for clarifying risk factors. Blood samples from 290 children and 165 dogs were collected. Sera samples were investigated for anti-Leishmania antibodies using indirect fluorescent antibody test. Sand fly collection for determining the fauna and seasonal activity was performed in all settlements by CDC light traps between June and September 2006. Although no seropositive child was detected during the survey the overall seroprevalence rate of canine leishmaniasis was found as 7.2%. A total of 4154 sand flies were collected and 10 species of genus Phlebotomus were identified belonging to Adlerius, Larroussius, Paraphlebotomus and Phlebotomus subgenera. Among them Phlebotomus kandelakii s.l. (55.44%), Phlebotomus balcanicus (12.62%) and Phlebotomus neglectus (4.40%) was detected as probable vector species for this new focus. The poor sanitation, very high population size of sand flies, probably because of very short season, no control measures for sand flies as well as dogs, and presence of microclimate suitable for sand flies were considered as main risk factors in the area.

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in diarrhoeic lambs in Kars province and potential risk factors.

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species in diarrhoeic lambs and investigate some risk factors in Kars province (Northeastern region of Anatolia) in Turkey. Four hundred faecal samples were taken from the rectums of clinically diarrhoeic and aged to 1-month-old lambs from 34 sheep farms in 20 villages in March-April 2007 and examined by using the modified acid-fast staining technique. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species was found as 38.8% (155/400). Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 90.0% (18/20) of villages and in 76.5% (26/34) of the sheep farms. Infection rates were detected as: 44.4% (67/151) in 1-week-old lambs, 37.5% (39/104) in 2-week-old lambs, 40.0% (38/95) in 3-week-old lambs, and 22.0% (11/50) in 4-week-old lambs. Farms classified according to their zoohygienic conditions and fine, average and bad conditioned farms were contaminated with Cryptosporidium with the percentages of 14.7%, 20.6% and 41.2%, respectively. Clinical cryptosporidiosis was determined in 35.0% of the villages (7/20) and in 29.4% of the sheep farms (10/34), Cryptosporidium oocysts were found in 81.3% of the lambs (91/112) in these farms. Cryptosporidiosis may be a major epidemiological significance in lambs in Kars province, and suggests that naturally infected lambs may be reservoirs of Cryptosporidiosis infections for calves even for humans too.