Burçak Aslan Çelik

Blastocystis, insan ve birçok hayvan türünün gastrointestinal sisteminde bulunan, fekal-oral yolla bulaşan anaerobik bir enterik protisttir. Kozmopolit dağılım gösteren etkenin prevalansı coğrafi bölge, sanitasyon koşulları ve hayvanlarla temas gibi faktörlere göre değişmektedir. Moleküler çalışmalarda SSU rRNA gen bölgesi kullanılarak çok sayıda alt tip tanımlanmış olup çiftlik hayvanları potansiyel rezervuarlar arasında değerlendirilmektedir. Türkiye'de sığır ve mandalarda yapılan çalışmalarda farklı prevalans oranları bildirilmiş, ST10 başta olmak üzere ST1, ST3, ST5, ST12, ST13, ST14, ST25 ve ST26 gibi çeşitli alt tipler saptanmıştır. Blastocystis enfeksiyonlarının patojenitesi halen tartışmalı olup asemptomatik taşıyıcılık yaygındır. Tanıda mikroskobik inceleme kullanılabilmekle birlikte moleküler yöntemler daha yüksek duyarlılık sağlaması ve alt tiplerin belirlenmesine olanak vermesi açısından önem taşımaktadır. Hayvanlarda ve insanlarda çeşitli alt tiplerin bulunması, etkenin olası zoonotik ve halk sağlığı öneminin araştırılmasını gerekli kılmaktadır. Korunmada güvenli su ve gıda tüketimi, kişisel hijyen, çiftlik biyogüvenliği, uygun gübre ve atık yönetimi ile fekal-oral bulaşın önlenmesi temel yaklaşımlardır. İnsan, hayvan ve çevre arasındaki etkileşim dikkate alındığında, Blastocystis enfeksiyonlarının kontrolünde Tek Sağlık yaklaşımı önem taşımaktadır

Cryptosporidium spp. is an important enteric protozoan with zoonotic potential that infects both humans and animals. Data on the incidence and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. in dogs in Türkiye remain limited. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and molecular characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in owned dogs in Iğdır Province. Fecal samples were collected from 146 owned dogs. The fecal samples were analyzed using nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. Samples positive for Cryptosporidium spp. were sequenced using the Sanger sequencing method, and phylogenetic analyses were performed. Microscopy detected oocysts in 2.05% (3/146) of samples, whereas nested PCR detected positivity in 4.11% (6/146) of samples. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. was 4.41% in females and 3.85% in males (P > 0.05). The infection rate in dogs younger than one year (6.90%) was higher than that in dogs older than one year (2.27%), although the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). All four successfully sequenced isolates were identified as Cryptosporidium parvum (100% identity to GenBank references) and clustered within the C. parvum lineage in the phylogenetic analysis. The detection of zoonotic C. parvum suggests that dogs in Iğdır may serve as potential reservoirs of infection for humans, particularly in areas where close contact is frequent. This study provides valuable molecular epidemiological data on Cryptosporidium species.

This study aimed to investigate the molecular prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in minced sheep meat samples collected from retail stores in Aksaray province, Türkiye. A total of 100 samples were analyzed using PCR, and only parasite DNA was detected, with an overall prevalence rate of 15%. No statistically significant difference was observed between districts or retail sources (p>0.05). Sequencing results confirmed that the isolates showed a high level of similarity with T. gondii reference sequences. These findings suggest a potential food safety concern related to the consumption of undercooked sheep meat; however, the detection of parasite DNA alone does not confirm parasite viability or infectivity.

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan protozoan commonly found in both humans and animals worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the presence of T. gondii in minced beef samples collected from butcher shops and supermarkets in Aksaray Province, Türkiye. A total of 100 samples were analyzed by PCR, of which 3 (3%) tested positive. The prevalence was 4% in butcher samples and 2.67% in supermarket samples. Sequencing analysis of three isolates revealed high genetic similarity to previously reported T. gondii strains deposited in GenBank. This study provides the first molecular evidence of T. gondii in minced beef from Aksaray, highlighting potential public health concerns regarding foodborne transmission.

Cryptosporidium spp. are important enteric protozoa capable of infecting a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including cats. Although feline cryptosporidiosis is often subclinical, certain species such as Cryptosporidium felis possess zoonotic potential. Data on the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium infections in cats in Türkiye remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, species distribution, and zoonotic relevance of Cryptosporidium spp. in cats from the Iğdır region. Fecal samples collected from 100 cats were examined microscopically using the Kinyoun acid-fast staining method and molecularly by nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene. PCR-positive samples were sequenced using the Sanger method, and phylogenetic analyses were performed with MEGA 12 software. Microscopy detected oocysts in 1% (1/100) of samples, while nested PCR identified 3% (3/100) positivity. Higher prevalence was observed in females and in cats younger than one year; however, these differences were not statistically significant (P>0.05). All three sequenced isolates were identified as C. felis, showing 99.75% identity to reference sequences in GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed that all isolates clustered within the C. felis lineage. The presence of C. felis in cats in the Iğdır region highlights their potential role as reservoirs of zoonotic Cryptosporidium species. These findings underscore the importance of continued surveillance and molecular characterization of feline cryptosporidiosis in Türkiye, particularly due to the close human–cat interaction in domestic environments.

Sarcocystis spp. are apicomplexan zoonotic coccidian parasites with an obligate two-host life cycle. In this study, the presence of Sarcocystis spp. was investigated in 100 minced sheep meat samples collected from butcher shops and markets in Aksaray province and its districts, located in the Central Anatolia region of Türkiye, by conventional PCR targeting the 18S rDNA gene. A positivity rate of 65% was detected in the samples, with the highest prevalence found in Güzelyurt district (75%) and the lowest prevalence in Ortaköy district (58.33%). Molecular analyses based on conventional PCR targeting the 18S rDNA gene identified Sarcocystis gigantea and Sarcocystis tenella species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that these isolates exhibited high similarity with corresponding species from different regions of the world. Two representative PCR-positive isolates were subjected to bidirectional sequencing, and sequence editing and alignment were performed using BioEdit, while phylogenetic analysis was conducted in MEGA 12 using the Maximum Likelihood methodThe study demonstrates that Sarcocystis infections are prevalent in sheep in the region and may pose a potential risk to public health, highlighting the importance of molecular surveillance, hygienic meat production, and proper cooking practices for food safety.

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in ground beef sold in Aksaray province using molecular methods. A total of 100 ground beef samples were collected from butcher shops and markets in different districts of Aksaray. Following DNA extraction, analyses were performed using conventional PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene region. Sarcocystis spp. positivity was detected in 38% of the samples. The highest prevalence was observed in the Gülağaç and Ağaçören districts (50%), while the lowest was in Güzelyurt (25%). The positivity rate was 40% in samples from butcher shops and 37.33% in those from markets. This study analyzed 100 samples, and statistical significance between variables was evaluated using the Chi-square test. The findings reveal that Sarcocystis infection is common in ground beef in Aksaray and may pose a public health risk. Avoiding the consumption of raw or undercooked meat is recommended.

Objective: Endoparasitic diseases continue to cause significant morbidity and economic losses in small ruminants across diverse climatic and geographical regions worldwide. This study was conducted to determine the current prevalence of endoparasitic infections affecting small ruminant production in the province of Siirt, to identify interspecies differences, and to evaluate the region-specific epidemiological profile. Materials and Methods: The study was carried out between September and December 2024 in livestock enterprises located in the Siirt city center and six surrounding districts. Fecal samples from a total of 500 small ruminants (250 sheep and 250 goats) were collected under sterile conditions and examined using the Fülleborn’s flotation, Modified Benedek sedimentation, and Baermann–Wetzel techniques. Species, age, sex, and location data for each animal were recorded, and the results were evaluated statistically. Results: Overall endoparasite positivity was 38.8% in sheep and 62.40% in goats. Trichostrongylidae spp. infection was significantly higher in goats (50%) than in sheep (p<0.001). Eimeria spp. and Metastrongylidae spp. infections were also detected more frequently in goats (21.60%), and the differences between species were statistically significant (p<0.001). Trichuris spp. was identified only in sheep (2.00%), representing a significant interspecies difference (p<0.05). Age-based evaluation revealed that Trichostrongylidae spp. and Metastrongylidae spp. infections were more prevalent in animals aged ≥2 years (p<0.001). According to sex, both Trichostrongylidae spp. and Metastrongylidae spp. infections were significantly more common in females (p<0.05). Location-based analysis indicated significant variation in the distribution of Trichostrongylidae spp., Eimeria spp., and Metastrongylidae spp. (p<0.001). Additionally, the prevalence of mixed infections involving two or three parasite species varied significantly by species and location (p<0.01). Conclusion: Endoparasitic infections in small ruminants in Siirt province were found to be highly prevalent and exhibited significant variation according to species, age, sex, and location. These findings emphasize the need for targeted and sustainable parasite control strategies in the region. Furthermore, regulating antiparasitic drug use and supporting studies focused on monitoring therapeutic efficacy and resistance development are considered essential.

Background: Theileriosis is a haemoparasitic disease of domestic and wild ruminants, caused by Theileria species, transmitted by Ixodid tick species, particularly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of Theileria ovis and Theileria lestoquardi in sheep and goats in Siirt province using molecular methods and to analyse their evolutionary relationships with published sequences.Materials and Methods: The animal material of the study consisted of 350 sheep and 350 goats in Siirt province and its districts. Blood samples were collected from the jugular veins of the animals and put into EDTA tubes. DNA extraction, PCR amplification and sequence analyses were performed on the collected samples.Results: According to the analysis results, the prevalence of T. ovis was found to be 5.43% (19/350, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.50%–8.32%) in sheep, 4.57% (16/350, 95% CI = 2.83%–7.30%) in goats and 5% (35/700) in total. A higher prevalence was determined in females (5.20%) and in the 2–3 age group (5.52%). Among sheep breeds, the highest prevalence was detected in Hamdani sheep (8.26%), while in goats, it was detected in Aleppo goats (7.27%). Among locations, the highest prevalence was determined in the Tillo district (10.34%). As a result of the research, Theileria lestoquardi was not found in either sheep or goats.Conclusion: This research confirmed the presence of T. ovis in sheep and goats in Siirt province, but T. lestoquardi was not detected. In future studies, a more detailed investigation of the presence of vector ticks and the development of regional control strategies is recommended.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and parasite burdens of Coeunurus cerebralis and Oestrus ovis in sheep in Siirt province, Türkiye. Between December 2022 and November 2023, a total of 520 sheep (260 male, 260 female) heads (10 heads per week) were randomly sampled from a butcher. The total prevalence of C. cerebralis was determined to be 12.9%. The prevalence was higher in males, in the Morkaraman breed, in animals younger than two years of age, in dark-coloured ones, in October, and in the right brain hemisphere. The total prevalence of O. ovis was determined to be 38.3%. The prevalence was higher in females, in the Akkaraman breed, in dark-coloured breeds, in age groups older than two years, and in December. In terms of larvae, L ₁ was detected in 108 sheep, L ₂ in 106 sheep, and L ₃ in 139 sheep. A total of 1,039 larvae (278 L ₁ , 321 L ₂ , and 440 L ₃ ) were detected. The significant presence of O. ovis found in the sheep in this study indicates that Siirt province has suitable climatic conditions for O. ovis and larval development. It is recommended to include more animals in a future study in order to determine the exact seasonal prevalence of O. ovis infestation in the region, and to use an antiparasitic drug effective against O. ovis in the routine treatment of sheep to reduce the incidence of this disease.