Investigation of resistance against to flumethrin using against Varroa destructor in Türkiye.

The honeybee ectoparasite Varroa destructor is a major threat to apiculture when evaluating bee diseases and pests. While attempting to control this mite, beekeepers often depend on a small selection of authorized synthetic acaricides, such as flumethrin, which is widely used in Türkiye and globally. However, resistance to flumethrin develops due to incorrect and excessive use. In this study conducted at Ordu Beekeeping Research Institute, trial group were established including an untreated control group and group where flumethrin-based pesticides were applied. Dead varroas collected from pollen traps and live varroas collected from bees were obtained from these trial groups for molecular analysis as positive-negative controls. Varroa samples were collected from provinces representing different regions with intensive beekeeping activities such as Adana, Ankara, Bingöl, Mugla, Ordu, Sanliurfa, Tekirdag. Molecular methods were employed to investigate the resistance gene region for pyrethroids (specifically flumethrin) against V. destructor. In our study, individual DNA extractions were performed on dead parasites from colonies subjected to pyrethroid application (resistance negative control) and live parasites (resistance positive control). The DNA samples obtained were used in PCR reactions targeting the region encoding the 925th amino acid of the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) gene, which is responsible for resistance formation. The DNA samples were subjected to gel electrophoresis to observe the amplification products of the expected target region. To examine the nucleotide sequence changes that encode leucine at the 925th amino acid, which is associated with resistance, DNA sequence analysis was applied to the amplification products. Out of 332 V. destructor parasites obtained from different provinces, 279 were analysed using molecular methods. It was observed that 31% of the samples showed sensitivity to flumethrin while 69% exhibited resistance to it. Among the resistant samples: 27% had homozygous isoleucine mutation; 28% had homozygous valine mutation; 2.8% had heterozygous isoleucine mutation; 8.5% had heterozygous valine mutation; and 2.8% had heterozygous methionine mutation, all of which were associated with flumethrin resistance. As a result, the rate of flumethrin resistance in parasites varied between 51% and 94% among different provinces.

Distribution and Ecotoxicological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Streams of Amanos Mountains from Southern Turkey.

Assessing the potential ecological risks of chemical pollutants like heavy metals is a key tool of a sustainable environment. With this goal, ecotoxicological significant metal (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) levels of the water (n = 32) and sediment (n = 32) samples of streams [rural (8 points) and urban (8 points) sides] on Amanos Mountains were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and ecotoxicological risk assessment was performed through the potential ecological risk index (RI). The study region with intense urban activities has also ecological importance with regards to wildlife. It is located on the migration route of birds, hosts loggerhead and green sea turtles, Mediterranean seals, and some terrestrial species like mountain gazelle and striped hyena. All calculated RI values were below the potential risk limits and the ecotoxicological risk was observed to be very low. Metal levels should be monitored periodically, and necessary measures should be taken before the reflection of the increase to be determined by the risk assessment on the ecosystem.

Pharmacokinetics of Conventional and Long-Acting Oxytetracycline Preparations in Kilis Goat.

The pharmacokinetics of conventional and long-acting (LA) oxytetracycline (OTC), widely used broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs in veterinary medicine, were evaluated in Kilis goats at single dosage of 20 mg/kg body weight (bw). A total of 21 goats were divided into three groups: intravenous (Group I) and intramuscular (IM) (Group II) administration of the conventional formulation and IM administration of the LA formulation (Group III). Blood samples were taken at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, and 96 h; and OTC analysis was performed by HPLC. For Group III and Group II, time to reach maximal plasma drug concentration (Tmax) was 0.6 ± 0.28 and 0.46 ± 0.09 h and maximal plasma drug concentrations (Cmax) were 8.72 ± 2.47 µg/ml and 13.57 ± 5.83 µg/ml, respectively. In Group I, C0 concentration was found to be 63.51 ± 11.59 µg/ml. The elimination times (T1/2) were 10.84 ± 3.20, 27.96 ± 11.66, and 10.47 ± 1.30 h; and AUC were 115 ± 29.12, 96.44 ± 9.49, and 80.86 ± 12.76 µg/ml/h for Group I; Group II, and Group III, respectively. Bioavailability by IM administration were 69.71% for the conventional OTC and 83.15% for the LA OTC.

A risk assessment of heavy metal concentrations in fish and an invertebrate from the Gulf of Antalya.

This study was conducted to determine the levels of Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb in the Red mullet (Mullus barbatus), Grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) and Green tiger prawn (Panaeus semisulcatus) species caught in the Gulf of Antalya and to assess the health risks associated with their consumption. The average values (mg/kg d.w.) were calculated to be Pb (0.29 ± 0.14), Cd (0.02 ± 0.03), Zn (5.64 ± 1.58) and Cu (1.64 ± 1.02) in M. barbatus; Pb (0.22 ± 0.12), Cd (0.02 ± 0.01), Zn (7.66 ± 2.29) and Cu (1.33 ± 0.82) in M. cephalus; Pb (0.25 ± 0.16), Cd (0.04 ± 0.05), Zn (13.33 ± 3.34) and Cu (5.15 ± 2.09) in P. semisulcatus. The detected levels of the studied metals were below the legal and daily intake limits according to national and international standards, although the mean Pb level in M. barbatus was close to the legal limit (0.30 mg/kg). Target hazard quotient values were also all below 1, meaning that there is no health risk.

Concentrations of essential and non-essential toxic trace elements in wild boar (Sus Scrofa L., 1758) tissues from southern Turkey.

Wild animals, including wild boars, are suitable for use as bioindicators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations of selected essential (Co, Cu, Fe, Se, Zn) and non-essential (As, Cd, Pb) potentially toxic trace elements in various tissues (hair and hoof) of wild boars hunted in the vicinity of Antalya province in Turkey, in relation to hunting seasons. Concentrations in mg/kg on dry weight basis were determined as 0.37 ± 0.27 mg/kg for As, 0.05 ± 0.04 mg/kg for Cd, 0.24 ± 0.33 mg/kg for Co, 4.84 ± 2.48 mg/kg for Cu, 289.94 ± 165.26 mg/kg for Fe, 8.71 ± 15.68 mg/kg for Pb, 0.24 ± 0.10 mg/kg for Se, and 28.99 ± 21.41 mg/kg for Zn in the hair samples; and as 0.11 ± 0.04 mg/kg for As, 0.01 ± 0.04 mg/kg for Cd, 0.01 ± 0.01 mg/kg for Co, 1.03 ± 0.25 mg/kg for Cu, 56.88 ± 18.68 mg/kg for Fe, 0.30 ± 0.18 mg/kg for Pb, 0.11 ± 0.05 mg/kg for Se, and 17.91 ± 10.98 mg/kg for Zn in the hoof samples.

Aflatoxin M1 levels in Surk samples, a traditional Turkish cheese from southern Turkey.

In this study, aflatoxin M(1) (AFM(1)) contamination was investigated in Surk cheese, a traditional Turkish cheese consumed particularly in southern Turkey. For this purpose, 120 Surk cheese samples were collected from different retail markets and analysed by enzyme-linked immunoassay. The level of AFM(1) varied from 16 to 1,043 ng/kg in 72 of the Surk samples (60%), 16 of which (13.3% of 120 samples) contained AFM(1) amounts exceeding the maximum tolerance limit (250 ng/kg) established in Turkey. The results indicated that the occurrence of AFM(1) in Surk cheese samples may be considered as a possible risk for consumer health.

Studies on antioxidant enzymes in mice exposed to pulsed electromagnetic fields.

In this study, 56 female albino mice weighing 30-35 g were used. The animals were divided into a control and an experimental group. The animals in the experimental group were subjected to a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) with a field magnitude of 50 Hz and 2 mT for 8h each day between 0900 and 1700 for 90 days. In both control and experimental groups, blood was sampled at 45, 60, and 90 days in heparinized tubes and erythrocyte malondialdehyde levels, and superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities were determined. The results revealed that the PEMF applied chronically within the given period and field magnitude does not cause oxidative damage.

Effects of short-term exposure to pulsed electromagnetic field on some biochemical parameters in mice.

Five-months-old male albino mice were subjected to an electromagnetic field (EMF) of 5 mT of magnitude with a frequency of 60 Hz for 8hr of single application. Analysis of blood sampled on hourly basis (up to 8 hr) for levels/activities of total protein, albumin, globulin, uric acid, creatinine, cholesterol, and alkaline phosphatase indicated no significant differences (p > 0.05) from that of the control group.

Aflatoxin M1 in white cheese and butter consumed in Istanbul, Turkey.

We studied the occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in 183 sample of white cheese and butter in Istanbul, Turkey in 2001. The incidence of AFM1 in white cheese and butter samples was as high as 65 and 81, respectively. The particularly high AFM,concentrations imply that more importance should be given to routine analysis of these dairy products.

Effects of deltamethrin on lipid peroxidation in mice.

Effects of deltamethrin on lipid peroxidation were investigated for subacute, subchronic and chronic periods. Deltamethrin was given to Swiss Albino mice at 1.5, 2.5, or 7.5 mg/kg. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by determining malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in plasma, and determining glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD) and catalase activities in erythrocytes on days 15, 45, and 60. MDA levels increased in deltamethrin dosed groups, especially for the subchronic and chronic periods. GSH-Px, Cu-Zn SOD and catalase activities in erythrocytes were decreased at high doses of deltamethrin, especially at the high dose (7.5 mg/kg) deltamethrin group.