Ozgur Celebi

During construction of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railroad between Kars City in Türkiye and Tbilisi in Georgia, blasting operations in an anthrax-endemic region disrupted a burial pit containing carcasses of cattle that had died of anthrax. Railroad workers expressed concerns that release of this material could result in them developing anthrax infection. We therefore undertook a seroprevalence study six months later to seek evidence of exposure to Bacillus anthracis spores. We used an optimised Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) to screen serum for antigen-specific IgG antibodies to the anthrax toxin subunits Protective Antigen (PA) and Lethal Factor (LF). Stepwise linear regressions and t-tests were performed to compare results from railroad workers (n = 64) with a group of long-term Kars City residents (urban dwellers, n = 16), who had no history of possible contact with anthrax antigens. Anti-PA IgG concentrations were higher (p = 0.038) in railroad workers than in urban dwellers, but anti-LF IgG concentrations did not differ (p = 0.932) between the two groups. The anti-PA response is known to be dominant, and the difference was small. The lack of LF response did not preclude an antibody response to B. anthracis. Following the blasting operations, no cases of anthrax infection occurred in either railroad workers or villagers living nearby, suggesting that the spore exposure (evidenced by higher antibody titres) was at levels insufficient to initiate clinical infection. The elevated PA-specific antibody responses in railroad workers compared with urban dwellers might be consistent with the former having had previous subclinical exposure to B. anthracis. In anthrax-endemic regions, therefore, construction activities that involve blasting or large-scale excavation may pose risks of occupational exposure to Bacillus anthracis spores.

Background: Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause serious health problems. While measles can be eradicated through vaccination in our country and worldwide, in recent years, vaccine refusal, difficulties in accessing vaccines during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and insufficient immunity in young adults have brought the “measles virus” back into the spotlight. The aim of this study was to compare ELISA results for measles IgM and IgG in samples from patients examined at our hospital in in 2024 who were suspected of having measles, with respect to variables such as age, gender, and season. Methods: In serum samples taken from patients with suspected measles who came to Kars Kafkas University Faculty of Medicine Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Measles IgG, measles IgM tests (Anti-Measles Virus IgM, Anti-Measles Virus IgG) were studied with kits of the same device in the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method, and the results were evaluated in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. Results: In our study, 30 (63.8%) of 47 patients tested were seropositive for measles IgG antibodies. Measles IgM antibodies were detected in 2 (4.3%) of the 47 patients tested. One patient had intermediate values for both measles IgG and IgM. Conclusion: In our study, no significant relationships were found between age, gender, and season and the Measles IgG and IgM tests. In our study, 34% of the patients in Kars province with measles antibody responses were found to be susceptible to measles infection. Cite this article as: Balkan Bozlak ÇE, Uçar M, Çelebi ., Yılmaz A. Seropositivity status in patients with suspected measles: are we going back to the beginning with measles? 2026, 58(3), 1203, doi: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2026.251181.

The aim of the this study was to isolate Bacillus anthracis-specific lytic bacteriophages from soil samples collected from the burial sites of animals that died from anthrax and stored by our department within the scope of previous studies and routine analyses and to determine the host susceptibility of the isolated phages. Eleven soil samples culture negative for B. anthracis were used for this. The logarithmic culture of B. anthracis Sterne 34F2 strain was used as host bacteria and the Gamma phage was used as reference phage. The host specificity of the phages obtained was determined using an in-house bacterial collection consisting of 112 virulent B. anthracis isolates (104 animal and 8 soil field isolates) and 5 reference strains of Bacillus group (B. anthracis Sterne 34F2, B. megaterium Pasteur Inst. 5117, B. subtilis ATCC 6633, B. cereus ATCC 11778, B. thuringiensis RSCC 380). As a result, 18 field phages were isolated specific to B. anthracis. Gamma phage and all the field phages showed complete lytic activity on B. anthracis Sterne 34F2 strain and 112 field B. anthracis strains; 16 of the field phages did not show any lytic activity on the Bacillus group strains other than the Sterne 34F2, while two phages coded SS and PB caused partial lysis on B. megaterium Pasteur Inst. 5117. This study is important as it involves the isolation of lytic phages with a narrow host specificity. Considering that lytic phages are more advantageous as therapeutic agents due to their self-replication and self-limiting properties that reveal automatic dosing patterns while lysing the host bacteria, the phages obtained from the current study may have the potential to be used as alternative diagnostic tools, therapeutic agents or environmentally friendly decontaminants in this regard.

Environmental contamination with Bacillus anthracis spores poses clear threats to livestock that play key roles in the economies of pastoral communities. Regular monitoring of contaminated sites is particularly important in anthrax-endemic parts of the world, such as Kars province in eastern Türkiye, where the Veterinary Microbiology Department of Kafkas University has conducted an anthrax surveillance programme for over 30 years. We reviewed the microbiological results of 232 soil samples collected during 2009–2023, from sites known to be contaminated with B. anthracis spores following burial or butchering of infected animal carcasses. Twenty-five contaminated sites in 16 villages were studied. Samples were taken from a total of 61 different positions within these sites and viable spores were detected in 136 (58.6%) of the samples examined. Of the 96 samples from which spores were not recovered, subsequent samples from the same positions proved positive on 21 occasions. Using a standardised sampling plan, it was discovered that samples taken 1–2 m on a downward slope from the centre-point of contamination had higher (p < 0.001) spore concentrations than those taken from other positions. Although spore concentrations at some sampling positions varied over time, the overall values remained stable. This finding contrasts with observations in other parts of the world where spore concentrations tend to decline with time and may reflect regional differences in soil composition that permit more prolonged spore persistence. Concentrations of >100 spores/g soil were found in 10 (66.7%) of the 15 samples taken 10–13 years following a contamination event. These results demonstrate the longevity of viable anthrax spores in the soil of agricultural environments following decomposition of infected animal carcasses, and therefore the need for prolonged bacteriological monitoring of contaminated sites. Furthermore, they underline the importance of appropriate decontamination, as burial on its own does not eliminate all spores.

Environmental contamination with Bacillus anthracis spores poses uncertain threats to human health. We undertook a study to determine whether inhabitants of the anthrax-endemic region of Kars in eastern Türkiye could develop immune responses to anthrax toxins without recognised clinical infection. We measured anti-PA and anti-LF IgG antibody concentrations by ELISA in serum from 279 volunteers, 105 of whom had previously diagnosed anthrax infection (100 cutaneous, 5 gastrointestinal). Of the 174 without history of infection, 72 had prior contact with anthrax-contaminated material. Individuals were classified according to demographic parameters, daily working environment, and residence type. All villages in this study had recorded previous animal or human anthrax cases. Stepwise regression analyses showed that prior clinical infection correlated strongly with concentrations at the upper end of the ranges observed for both antibodies. For anti-PA, being a butcher and duration of continuous exposure risk correlated with high concentrations, while being a veterinarian or shepherd, time since infection, and town residence correlated with low concentrations. For anti-LF, village residence correlated with high concentrations, while infection limited to fingers or thumbs correlated with low concentrations. Linear discriminant analysis identified antibody concentration profiles associated with known prior infection. Profiles least typical of prior infection were observed in urban dwellers with known previous infection and in veterinarians without history of infection. Four individuals without history of infection (two butchers, two rural dwellers) had profiles suggesting unrecognised prior infection. Healthy humans therefore appear able to tolerate low-level exposure to environmental B. anthracis spores without ill effect, but it remains to be determined whether this exposure is protective. These findings have implications for authorities tasked with reducing the risk posed to human health by spore-contaminated materials and environments.

Listeria genus are Gram positive facultative intracellular bacteria that are found in the soil as saprophytes but also contain species that have pathogenic effects in their last host. Listeria monocytogenes is the major pathogen in Listeria species that is responsible for the majority of Listeriosis cases in humans and animals. In this study, it was aimed to investigate L. monocytogenes with histopathological and immunofluorescence methods in brain and liver tissues taken from sheep and cattle with clinical signs of suspicious Listeriosis. In the study, isolation and identification of L. monocytogenes with cultural methods were also applied. The material of the study consisted of 16 sheep and 2 bovine tissue samples. As a result of cultural analysis, L. monocytogenes was identified from 12 (66.6%) of the samples. Within the framework of histopathological and macroscopic findings, 16 (88.8%) of 18 cases with suspected Listeriosis were positive with the immunofluorescence method. These findings reveal that the immunofluorescent staining method is a reliable and sensitive method in the diagnosis of Listeriosis.

Bu çalışmada, Türkiye'nin Kars ilinde ekonomik olarak yetiştirilen kazlarda pulmoner aspergilloz varlığının histopatolojik ve mikrobiyolojik yöntemlerle belirlenmesini amaçladık. Çalışma bölümümüze getirilen ve 2013-2020 yılları arasında ölen yaş ortalaması 9 hafta olan kazlardan toplam 150 akciğer dokusu örneğinden oluştu. Sistemik nekropsilerini takiben doku örneklerinden parafin blokları hazırlanmış ve histopatolojik değişiklikleri saptamak için Hematoksilen & Eozin (H&E) boyaması yapıldı. Aspergillus mantarlarının varlığını ortaya çıkarmak için Facepath firmasının önerdiği kesitlere Periyodik asit-Schiff (PAS) boyası uygulandı. Doku örneklerinin mikrobiyolojik incelemesi, Sabouraud Dekstroz Agar üzerinde standart mikolojik kültür tekniği ve ortaya çıkan kültürlerin fenotipik karakterizasyonu ile gerçekleştirildi. Kazlarda nefes almada zorluk, hırıltılı solunum, halsizlik, iştahsızlık, depresyon, ishal ve sinirsel bulgular gibi çeşitli klinik belirtiler kaydedildi. Makroskopik olarak akciğerlerde ve hava keselerinde irili ufaklı çok odaklı sarımsı beyaz nodüler yapılar gözlemledik. Akciğer dokularının histopatolojik incelemesinde değişen sayı ve büyüklükte granülomatöz yapılar tespit ettik. PAS boyaması ile granülomatöz yapıların ortasında tipik ağaç dallarına benzeyen yapıları tespit ederek doku örneklerinin 20'sinde (% 13.33) Aspergillus etkenlerini teşhis ettik. Mikrobiyolojik yöntemle özdeş bir pozitiflik elde edilmiş ve ortaya çıkan ajan, büyüme paterni ve makroskopik ve mikroskobik morfolojik özellikleri ile sadece Aspergillus fumigatus olarak tanımlanmıştır. Sonuç olarak 2013-2020 yılları arasında bölümümüze getirilen kazlarda histopatolojik ve mikrobiyolojik yöntemlerle aspergilloz varlığını % 13.33 olarak bulduk. Bu verilere dayanarak, Türkiye'nin Kars bölgesindeki kaz ölümleri arasında en önemli enfeksiyöz hastalıklarından birinin aspergilloz olduğu sonucuna vardık.