Sero-epidemological survey on canine visceral leishmaniasis and the distribution of sandfly vectors in northwestern Turkey: Prevention strategies for childhood visceral leishmaniasis
ABSTRACT Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum, is an endemic disease in Aegean and Mediterranean Regions among humans and dogs. In this study, a sero-epidemiological survey for VL and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), which both are sporadically reported in the region, were carried out in the villages of Eskisehir, Afyon, and Bilecik cities. The study was designed according to the location of the sporadic cases of VL and CL, and blood samples of 111 dogs were randomly collected. Lymph node aspiration samples were taken from dogs that have popliteal lymphadenopathy. Sand flies were also collected using CDC light traps in the several localities. The sera samples were screened using IFAT, ELISA, rk39 ELISA and dip-stick tests for anti-Leishmania antibodies. A total of 15 (13.51 per cent) dogs out of 111 were found to be seropositive by at least one of the tests. The seropositivity ratios among dogs were found to be 27.5 per cent (8/29), 9.09 per cent (4/44) and 7.8 per cent (3/38) in Afyon, Bilecik and Eskisehir cities respectively. Leishmania amastigotes were detected in 4 of the 14 lymph node aspiration samples (eight seronegative, six seropositive), and all of them were seropositive dogs. One year later, two of the dogs were found to be dead and the other two were severely ill. Among the 179 collected Phlebotomus specimens from, Phlebotomus major was found to be abundant (35.7 per cent) and the other species were P. simici (28.5 per cent), P. similis (34.7 per cent) and P. alexandri (1.1 per cent). In the study area, canine VL is more spread than human VL. Because dogs are playing an important role for VL in Mediterranean Basin, and development of appropriate control measures will be necessary for childhood VL.
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- "In addition, the actual number of members of the " major group " and their taxonomic status in Turkey is still unclear. In spite of the fact that the species status of P. syriacus has already been confirmed and P. major is believed to be an Indian species, P. major syriacus (Daldal et al., 1998) and P. major (Dogan et al., 2006) were still recorded as probable vector species in surveys concerning human and canine leishmaniasis in different parts of Turkey. Together with these inconsistent data, as seen in several vector species complexes, the difficulty of specific identification due to the blurriness of morphological characters further complicates an exact delineation of the distribution of " major group " members in Turkey. "
ABSTRACT: The taxonomic status and distribution of the morphologically similar members of the Phlebotomus major complex in Turkey are unclear. To examine the utility of traditional morphological characters and molecular markers, sand flies were sampled from 90 localities in eleven different provinces covering a wide geographical range throughout Turkey. The morphometric variability was analyzed using multivariate analyses of twelve characters, while mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cyt b) and nuclear Elongation Factor 1α (EF 1-α) genes were used for molecular discrimination. Three distinct monophyletic lineages were identified based on the phylogenetic analysis of the combined data set of mitochondrial and nuclear gene regions, which were also supported by parsimony haplotype network analysis and AMOVA of Cyt b. The first lineage is restricted to south eastern Turkey and represents the species Phlebotomus syriacus, the second is present mostly in the westernmost and the easternmost localities and represents P. neglectus, and the third member of this complex is distributed across the mid-northern and mid-southern regions. None of the studied morphological characters were found to be sufficient to discriminate between these three members of the P. major s.l. complex; however their presence sympatrically in several localities supports their status as species rather than inter-population variability.Acta tropica 05/2013; 127(3). DOI:10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.05.001 · 2.52 Impact Factor
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- "Therefore, there are still more extensive surveys needed to determine the sand fly fauna there. The entomological surveys for leishmaniasis were mainly carried out in endemic areas (Dogan et al. 2006, Ertabaklar et al. 2005b, Ozensoy Toz et al. 2009), but there is limited information about the sand fly fauna in new foci, as in Aydin province. Cases of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis have been reported from Kusadasi, a town in Aydin province, in western Turkey, since 1993. "
ABSTRACT: An entomological survey was conducted to determine the spatial distribution of phlebotomine fauna and understand the effect of environmental factors. The entomological survey was carried out during 2006-2007 in a study area in the rural area of Aydin province, near the Kusadasi town where VL, CL, and canine leishmaniasis (CanL) are endemic. In 2006 and 2007, 132 locations were sampled using sticky traps mainly on embankments. Detailed environmental and meteorological information was also collected for each location. The results of entomological studies indicated that the probable vectors are Phlebotomus tobbi and P. neglectus for VL and CanL, and P. similis for CL in this western leishmaniasis focus. The data revealed a correlation between their presence and spatial variables such as altitude, sampling site location, and humidity. The distribution areas of probable vector species in this study area allowed the identification of risk levels, which may provide useful information to guide the leishmaniasis research in endemic regions.Journal of Vector Ecology 03/2011; 36 Suppl 1:S99-S105. DOI:10.1111/j.1948-7134.2011.00118.x · 1.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to assess and model supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO2) extraction kinetics of pre-pelletized Jalapeño peppers (Capsicum annuum L.). Pepper flakes were conditioned to low moisture, ground finely and pelletized at high pressure, and pellets were subsequently ground and size classified. The effects of average sample particle size (Dp=0.28–3.19 mm) and superficial solvent velocity (Us=0.14–2.62 mm s−1) were evaluated at 40°C and 120 or 320 bar. Extraction rate increased as a result of a decrease in Dp. It also increased as a result of an increase in Us at 120 bar, but the effect was almost negligible at 320 bar. Integral extraction yields of capsicum oleoresin and capsaicinoids were ≈0.102 g g−1 and ≈240 mg kg−1, respectively, independent of extraction conditions. External mass transfer coefficients (kf) increased with Us, but this effect was less pronounced than commonly reported in the literature. Values of kf increased as Dp or process pressure decreased, due respectively to increments in specific area and improvements in transport properties. Internal mass transfer coefficients, on the other hand, were 5.3×10−8 m s−1 at 40°C and 120 bar, and 34.7×10−8 m s−1 at 40°C and 320 bar. Solutes were effectively liberated from the original matrix with our multistage pretreatment, so that the fraction of free solute did not depend on Dp (α=0.46). Pseudosolubilities for capsicum oleoresin in ScCO2 (≈2100 mg l−1 at 40°C and 120 bar; ≈13,700 mg l−1 solute/CO2 at 40°C and 320 bar) were of the same order of magnitude as corresponding true solubilities of capsaicin (5600 and 11,800 mg l−1, respectively). Estimated true solubilities of chlorophyll-a in ScCO2 (2 mg l−1 at 40°C and 120 bar; 18 mg l−1 at 40°C and 320 bar), on the other hand, were orders of magnitude smaller, which justifies a much slower extraction rate for green pigments than pungent compounds. Thus, oleoresin obtained after 4 h at 40°C and 120 bar had a very attractive light yellow tinge.Journal of Supercritical Fluids The 01/2003; 25(1):33-44. DOI:10.1016/S0896-8446(02)00090-6 · 2.57 Impact Factor