Retrospective Evaluation of Cases with the Pre-diagnosis of Cystic Echinococcosis Admitted to the Microbiology Laboratory of Diyarbakir Health Sciences Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital Between 2014 and 2017.

OBJECTIVE: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease, which leads to morbidity and mortality worldwide. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the presence of anti-Echinococcus granulosus immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies, which were detected by indirect fluorescent antibody test in the samples that were transferred to the Microbiology Laboratory of University of Health Sciences Turkey, Diyarbakir Gazi Yasargil Training and Research Hospital with the pre-diagnosis of CE. Moreover, gender differences with respect to positivity rates of anti-E. granulosus IgG antibodies were investigated. METHODS: Anti-E. granulosus IgG antibodies, which were detected in the samples of cases with the pre-diagnosis of CE between January 2014 and December 2017, were retrospectively evaluated. Gender difference with respect to positivity rates was investigated by applying the chi-square test in cases with positive anti-E. granulosus IgG antibodies. RESULTS: Out of the 829 serum samples, 222 (26.7%) were found to be positive for E. granulosus IgG antibodies, among which 40 (27.2%), 56 (25.5%), 51 (23.3%) and 75 (30.6%) were found to be positive in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively. No significant difference was found between genders amongst the cases with positive anti-E. granulosus IgG antibodies (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Since CE is a major public health problem, evaluation of the presence of anti-E. granulosus IgG antibodies would be important to understand the positivity rate at the regional level.

[The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in women from Sanliurfa, a province with a high raw meatball consumption]. / Cig köftenin yaygin tüketildigi Sanliurfa ilinde kadinlarda Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalansi.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular protozoan that can infect all kind of birds and all mammals including humans and is common throughout the world. The prevalence varies according to social and cultural habits, pet cats in homes and geographic factors. Domestic cats are considered to be an important source of Toxoplasma gondii infection. From January to June 2006, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis was retrospectively monitored from blood samples that had been sent to our laboratory in order to determine the levels of IgM and IgG. All the subjects were women and 2,586 blood samples were investigated with the chemiluminescence immunoassay method. The rates of Toxoplasma gondii IgM antibodies were found to be 3.0% (78/2,586) and that of Toxoplasma gondii IgG antibodies, 69.5% (1.798/2,586). The total rate of positivity of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies was 69.6% (1,801/2,586) and the negativity, 30.4% (785/2,586). The highest positive rates have been reported in the southeastern region of Turkey and the 69.6% detected in our study seems to be the highest rate. Raw meatball consumption is common in our region and raw meat has a high risk of Toxoplasma gondii infection by direct ingestion of tissue cysts. As a result we consider that the high frequency of Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity in this region is due to raw meatball consumption.

[Short communication: hepatitis B, hepatitis C and human immunodeficiency virus seropositivities in women admitted to Sanliurfa Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital]. / Kisa bildiri: sanliurfa kadin hastaliklari ve dogum hastanesine basvuran kadinlarda hepatit B, hepatit C ve insan immün yetmezlik virusu seropozitifligi.

The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and immune deficiency virus (HIV) in women who were admitted to Sanliurfa Gynecology and Obstetrics Hospital clinics and to compare the results with the previous seropositivity rates reported from different regions of Turkey. The serum samples were screened for HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV markers by a commercial chemiluminescence method (UniCel Dxl 800, Beckman Coulter, USA), during a six months period (January 1st to June 30th, 2006). As a result the seropositivity rates of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV were found as 5.1% (119/2335), 0.9% (18/2066) and 0.1% (3/2548), respectively. While anti-HCV seropositive results were approved by confirmation tests, three of anti-HIV positive results were not confirmed and accepted as false positivities. HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV seropositivities detected in our study were similar to the rates previously reported in other studies in Turkey. However, HBsAg positivity was found slightly higher than the rates that were reported from western parts of our country. This result may be related to the lower socioeconomical status of Sanliurfa (which is located in Southeast Anatolia), and indicates that HBV should be considered as a serious public health problem in East and Southeast parts of Turkey.