Potential Mosquito Vectors of Dirofilaria immitis and Dirofilaira repens (Spirurida: Onchocercidae) in Aras Valley, Turkey.

Dirofilaria immitis (Leidy, 1856) and Dirofilaria repens (Railliet & Henry, 1911) are mosquito-borne filarial nematodes that primarily affect dogs, causing heartworm disease and subcutaneous dirofilariosis. The canine heartworm is reported in different provinces in Turkey. However, studies about the transmitting mosquito species are limited. Hence, this study aimed to investigate potential vectors of D. immitis and D. repens in Aras Valley, Turkey. In total, 17,995 female mosquitoes were collected from eight villages during three mosquito seasons (2012-2014) in Aras Valley, located in north-eastern Turkey. A total of 1,054 DNA pools (527 abdomen and 527 head-thorax) were tested with Dirofilaria primers by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Aedes caspius was the most abundant species in collection sites with 90%; this was followed by Culex theileri Theobald, 1903 (Diptera: Culicidae) (7.31%), Anopheles maculipennis Meigen 1818 (Diptera: Culicidae) (1.28%), Culex pipiens Linnaeus, 1758 (Diptera: Culicidae) (0.43%), (Anopheles) hyrcanus (Pallas, 1771) (Diptera: Culicidae) (0.37%), Aedes vexans (Meigen, 1830) (Diptera: Culicidae) (0.25%), and Culiseta annulata Schrank, 1776 (Diptera:Culicidae) (0.02%). Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens were detected in mosquito pools from five villages. The total Dirofilaria spp. estimated infection rate was 1.33%. The highest estimated infection rate was found in Ae. vexans (6.66%) and the lowest was in Ae. caspius (1.26%). The results show that An. maculipennis sl, Ae. caspius, Ae. vexans, Cx. theileri and Cx. pipiens are potential vectors of D. immitis and D. repens with DNA in head-thorax pools; An. hyrcanus is also a likely vector, but Dirofilaria DNA was found only in abdomen pools for the study area. This study revealed new potential vector species for D. immitis. Mosquitoes with natural infections of D. repens were reported for the first time in Turkey.

Prevalence of Liver Trematode Infections in Cattle in the Province of Agri in Turkey

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of distomatosis in cattle in the Agri province in Turkey. Methods: The livers and bile ducts of 200 slaughtered cattle were examined macroscopically, and the gall bladders were examined by sedimentation. The presence of Fasciola hepatica eggs and antigens in 188 cattle were investigated using sedimentation and coproantigen ELISA, respectively. Egg counts per gram of faeces (EPG) was determined using the modified McMaster sedimentation method. Results: Adult Fasciola hepatica and Dicrocoelium dendriticum were found in the bile ducts of 47 and 25 cattle, respectively. Examination of the gall bladders of cattle revealed the presence of eggs of Fasciola hepatica and D. dendriticum in 63 and 48 cattle, respectively. The coproantigens of Fasciola hepatica were found in 148 (78.7%) cattle using ELISA. Additionally, the eggs of F. hepatica were found in 63 (33.5%) cattle by sedimentation, with the value of EPG between 17 and 83. The prevalence of D. dendriticum was determined as 25.5%, with the value of EPG between 17 and 67. Conclusion: In this study, distomatosis was detected in cattle in Agri province using coproantigen ELISA and sedimentation methods along with macroscopic examination. The findings necessitate an urgent implementation of an effective prevention and control program, which can increase the awareness of cattle breeders regarding these diseases. Furthermore, there is also a need for more detailed studies on these diseases.