Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi最新文献

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of commonly available culture media in routine microbiology laboratories for the cultivation of Leishmania tropica (L. tropica) promastigotes.

Methods: Various media including yeast extract agar, tryptic soy broth, sabouraud dextrose agar, brucella agar, and Columbia agar were tested. A total of sixteen media were prepared: eight blood-free (BY1-BY8) and eight supplemented with erythrocyte suspension blood-containing medium (KBY1-KBY8). Each medium was inoculated with L. tropica promastigotes at a concentration of 10⁵ promastigotes/mL and incubated for 12 days. Daily promastigote counts were performed to monitor growth.

Results: Among the tested media, BY7, BY8, KBY7, and KBY8 showed the most favorable growth patterns. In BY7 and BY8, the promastigote count increased from 10³/mL on day 1 to 10⁴/mL by day 5. BY7 supported continuous growth, reaching 10⁷ promastigotes/mL by day 8 and maintaining this level until day 12. BY8 peaked at 10⁵/mL on day 8 but declined to 10³/mL by day 12. KBY7 and KBY8 both demonstrated rapid growth, reaching 10⁷/mL by day 8 and sustaining this level through the end of incubation.

Conclusion: The presence of Columbia agar in BY7, BY8, KBY7, and KBY8 media significantly enhanced L. tropica promastigote proliferation. Due to its low cost, ease of preparation, and availability in routine laboratories, Columbia agar is proposed as a practical and effective alternative to the conventional Novy-McNeal-Nicolle medium for promastigote culture.

Objective: Scabies is a common skin disease, especially prevalent in densely populated environments such as a boarding school. This study assesses knowledge and practices related to scabies among students in a non-formal education boarding school.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in a non-formal boarding school Daarul Ishlah in South Jakarta, Indonesia, in December 2023. The population was all male students (127 respondents) who were recruited using consecutive sampling. Data were collected through a semi-structured and self-administered questionnaire to assess students' knowledge and personal hygiene practices. The collected data were analyzed descriptively using SPSS version 20.

Results: The respondents' levels of knowledge were categorized as follows: 59.1% had good knowledge, 34.6% had moderate knowledge, and 6.3% showed poor knowledge. However, their hygiene practices indicated a different trend, with only 22% exhibiting good practices, 72.4% showing moderate practices, and 5.5% demonstrating poor practices. Most respondents (88.2%) were unaware of the etiology of scabies. Regarding personal hygiene practices for preventing scabies, 78% used personal towels, and 74.8% slept on their own mattresses. Yet, only 18.9% maintained the cleanliness of their bed linens.

Conclusion: While most respondents demonstrated good knowledge about scabies, their hygiene practices were generally at a moderate level. To address this gap, knowledge and behavior can be enhanced through regular health education, the provision of adequate facilities, and the enforcement of internal regulations to foster better student discipline.

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) is a type of vasculitis that affects small vessels and is commonly associated with infections, malignancies, drugs, and autoimmune diseases. In this case, a 75-year-old female patient presented with clinical signs of LCV, and after ruling out common etiologies, hydatid disease (HD) emerged as a potential cause. This case highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections, particularly HD, in the differential diagnosis of LCV, especially in regions where these infections are endemic and in patients exposed to relevant environmental risk factors.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of intestinal protozoa in disabled patients attending a rehabilitation center, thereby highlighting the significance of intestinal protozoa in individuals with disabilities.

Methods: The study included a total of 300 individuals, comprising 200 disabled patients and 100 non-disabled individuals. Stool samples were collected from all participants and examined using the native-Lugol and modified acid-fast methods.

Results: In the study, intestinal protozoa were detected in 41% of disabled individuals and in 9% of individuals in the control group (p=0.001). Blastocystis was detected in 18% of patients, Cryptosporidium spp. in 15%, Giardia intestinalis in 9%, Cyclospora cayetanensis in 5%, and Entamoeba coli in 4%. Among the subgroups, spina bifida patients had a protozoan infection rate of 83.3%, while the rates in other groups were lower. A significant relationship was detected between the presence of parasites and diarrhea, constipation, and loss of appetite (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Disabled individuals, especially those with spina bifida, are at risk for intestinal protozoa, and regular screening for opportunistic protozoa is essential for these patients.

Objective: Drug resistance in Acanthamoeba poses a significant challenge, prompting the need for alternative treatments. This research aimed to explore the combined treatment of chemical or phytomedicines and microwaves radiation.

Methods: The Acanthamoeba strain was cultivated on non-nutrient agar. Black tea extracts were prepared using the maceration method. Final concentrations of 0.75 mg/mL and 0.375 mg/mL of gentamicin and tea, respectively, were used in this study. The samples were divided into 12 groups based on drug incubation time and repeated radiation exposure, either before or after incubation. The effects of combining gentamicin and black tea extracts with microwave exposure were then evaluated on the parasite.

Results: Our results showed that the growth inhibition of Acanthamoeba was significantly higher in the combined treatment groups compared to gentamicin, black tea, or microwave radiation alone (p<0.0001-p<0.04). It seems that the microwave radiation led to an increasing trend in growth inhibition within 72 hours.

Conclusion: Microwave radiation can play a significant complementary role in the treatment of Acanthamoeba cysts by gentamicin and black tea extracts. This effect was more significant on the irradiated cysts incubated with gentamicin and also depended on the increase in incubation time and the repetition of radiation.

Objective: Leishmaniasis, caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania spp., presents significant global health challenges, with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis forms causing severe morbidity and mortality. Macrophages serve as primary host cells, where Leishmania spp. modulate immune 30 responses to ensure survival. Our study investigated gene expression changes in THP1-derived macrophages infected with L. infantum and L. tropica to elucidate host-pathogen interactions.

Methods: Macrophages were infected with stationary-phase promastigotes, and infection rates were confirmed via Giemsa staining. RNA was extracted, and real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to analyze the expression of immune-related genes (STAT1, STAT2, CCL4, IL23A, IL1R1, IL1RN).

Results: Results demonstrated significant upregulation of STAT1 and STAT2, key mediators of the JAK-STAT pathway, in both infections, aligning with prior in vivo and in vitro studies. CCL4, a chemokine linked to macrophage recruitment, was also elevated, consistent with findings in VL and canine leishmaniasis. IL23A, associated with Th17 responses, showed increased expression, supporting its role in leishmanial immune modulation. Notably, IL1RN, an anti-inflammatory mediator, was upregulated, 40 suggesting a balancing mechanism to prevent excessive inflammation.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the complex interplay between pro- and anti-inflammatory responses during Leishmania infection and underscore potential targets for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Objective: Hirudotherapy (HT), the therapeutic use of medicinal leeches, has been practised for centuries, and the interest in modern medicine has recently been renewed. This study evaluates the clinical outcomes of HT at Herba Medical Center in Azerbaijan between 2020 and 2024, focusing on its efficacy across 11 medical conditions.

Methods: A total of 181 patients were treated using disposable medicinal leeches (Hirudo orientalis) sourced from hygienic farms approved by Azerbaijan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. Treatment protocols were tailored to disease severity, with sessions scheduled daily, every 3 days, or weekly, depending on the condition. Success rates were calculated based on post-treatment examinations, patient feedback, and physician evaluations. Statistical analyses, including Pearson correlation analysis and paired t-test, were used to compare treatment success rates between conditions.

Results: The overall success rate of HT was found to be 82.68±29.25%. 100% success was achieved in the treatment of osteoarthritis pain (n=50), lipoma (n=8), Raynaud disease (n=3) and scleroderma (n=2). High success rates were also observed in thyroiditis (94.44%, n=18), Baker's cyst (80%, n=25), ear diseases (80%, n=10) and diabetic foot ulcers (80%, n=5). Moderate success was achieved in eye diseases (75%, n=20), and the lowest efficacy was observed in the treatment of varicose veins (33.33%, n=30). HT effectively relieved pain and improved symptoms. However, it was limited in reversing structural deformities (e.g., hallux valgus) or tissue loss (e.g., diabetic foot ulcers).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that HT may have broader indications. We propose that HT can effectively relieve pain, regulate blood circulation, and treat some chronic diseases with fewer side effects. Further and more detailed research is needed to understand the mechanism of this treatment method better.

Objective: Juniperus communis (J. communis) (common juniper) is a plant that has been used for medicinal purposes for centuries. This study aims to evaluate the antiparasitic effects of ethanol, methanol, chloroform, and water extracts of J. communis fruits against Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania tropica, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Blastocystis.

Methods: The antiparasitic activities of fruit extracts prepared at room temperature using the shaking maceration method were tested against Plasmodium falciparum using the ring stage survival test, and against Leishmania tropica, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Blastocystis using the broth microdilution method.

Results: The chloroform extract of J. communis fruits was found to be effective on Plasmodium falciparum, Leishmania tropica, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Blastocystis parasites at concentrations of 15, 10, 30 and 30 µg/mL, respectively.

Conclusion: The chloroform extract of J. communis fruits has shown strong antiparasitic activity against the investigated parasite species. These findings support the plant's antiparasitic potential and hold promise for future medical applications. Especially its effectiveness against metronidazole-resistant Trichomonas vaginalis strains is important for the development of alternative treatment options. This study highlights the potential use of J. communis as a medicinal plant and will contribute to the literature on research related to the isolation and structural determination of its active compounds.

Objective: Present study aimed to determine the demographic, epidemiological and pathological features of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) cases using patients' hospital based clinical history from 2012-2023.

Methods: The current retrospective study was conducted from June-December and aimed to investigate the incidence of human CE in Pakistan. A total of 74 surgically confirmed patients' data was retrieved from the hospital records. All epidemiological, radiological, histopathological and treatment characteristics of the patients were recorded.

Results: The results showed that the highest number of CE cases were recorded in 2019 (15/74, 20.2%), followed by 2018 (11/74, 14.8%). In age categories, the highest frequency of CE cases was recorded in the age group 11-20 (19/74, 25.7%), followed by 31-40 (18/74, 24.3%), 41-50, and 51-60 (9/74, 12.1%), respectively. Gender-wise findings showed that females were more infected (46/74, 62.2%) as compared to males (28/74, 37.83%). Among reported cases, most infected organs were liver (24/74, 32.4%) and the lungs (14/74, 18.9%), followed by the bone, bladder, and abdominal cavity (3/74, 4.1%), kidney, chest (2/74, 2.7%), while and others. Surgery was performed after echinococcal cyst detection by diagnostic imaging methods such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or ultrasound. All patients received albendazole anthelminthic medication after their surgical procedures.

Conclusion: The present research reveals that CE is persistently endemic in Pakistan. Lack of knowledge and dedicated work on behalf of public healthcare and veterinarians to control CE pose a challenge in Pakistan. A lot of research and strong management programs are required to combat the disease.

Objective: Fascioliasis is a trematode infection caused by Fasciola hepatica or Fasciola gigantica. Diagnosis of fascioliasis is often delayed. This study aims to contribute to reducing the incidence of the disease by determining regional epidemiology and guiding public health measures, as well as increasing awareness among physicians through the examination of clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with fascioliasis at the Infectious Diseases Clinic and Gastroenterology Clinic of Fırat University Hospital between 2011 and 2022 were included in the study. Demographic information, clinical findings, complete blood count, biochemical parameters, radiological imaging reports, treatment, and prognosis were examined. Patient data were obtained from the hospital automation system, files, and epicrisis.

Results: Of the 19 patients followed, 15 (78.9%) were female. The mean age was 62.36±12.30 years. Fifteen patients (78.9%) lived in rural areas. Seven patients (36.8%) were involved in animal husbandry. Twelve patients (63.2%) had a history of consuming watercress. The most commonly observed symptoms were loss of appetite, right upper quadrant pain, nausea-vomiting, and night sweats. All patients were treated with triclabendazole without any side effects. Statistically significant differences were found in the levels of eosinophilia, alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin between the beginning of treatment and 1 month in our patients (p<0.05). One patient was lost due to intervening cardiac problems.

Conclusion: Fascioliasis is also present in our region, and a significant history of watercress consumption is noteworthy epidemiologically. Fasciola hepatica should be considered in patients presenting with abdominal pain accompanied by peripheral eosinophilia. Increasing awareness among physicians will contribute to preventing delays in diagnosis and treatment.