Presence of Neospora caninum DNA of Wild Birds from Turkey

OBJECTIVE

Neospora caninum is a protozoon parasite that has a worldwide distribution and mainly causes abortion in cattle and current serological evidence shows that the disease may be also zoonotic. Wild birds play a role as a reservoir of the disease in nature. The study aimed to determine the prensence of N. caninum in wild birds.

METHODS

In this study, the presence of neosporosis in wild birds (n=55) including 22 different species found in the western side of Turkey, was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, PCR positive samples were confirmed by sequencing, BLAST, and phylogenetic analysis using MEGA7.

RESULTS

Obtained results showed that the presence of N. caninum DNA was 5.45% (3/55) in brain-heart homogenates wild birds. The bird species which were found positive for N. caninum were little owl (Athene noctua), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), and little tern (Sternula albifrons). According to phylogenetic analysis and BLAST, all samples were compatible with reference N. caninum isolates.

CONCLUSION

To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first study detecting N. caninum in little tern. In future studies, it may be interesting to investigate the prevalence of N. caninum in other wild animals to elucidate the transmission properties.

Protozoan and Microbial Pathogens of House Cats in the Province of Tekirdag in Western Turkey

Domestic felines’ re-emerging infectious and neglected zoonotic diseases are a significant focus of global “One Health” efforts. This study aimed to rapidly diagnose 14 pathogens, including zoonoses by using PCR primers in 167 client-owned symptomatic cats, routinely accepted to the Veterinary Clinics of Tekirdag. The prevalence of pathogens investigated were as follows: Babesia canis canis (24%), Babesia microti (2.4%), Hepatozoon felis (10.8%), Cytauxzoon felis (6.6%), Bartonella henselae (40.1%), Anaplasma platys (30.5%), Anaplasma phagocytophilum (7.2%), Rickettsia felis (26.3%), Borrelia burgdorferi (21%), and hemotropic Mycoplasma sp. (11.4%). There was a significant difference between the prevalence of the pathogens (χ² = 152.26, df = 9, p < 0.001). There was also a statistical difference between the gender of the cats in terms of the prevalence of all pathogens considered together (χ² = 4.80, df = 1, p = 0.028), where the female cats showed a higher prevalence. This was not the case for the different age groups (χ² = 2.92, df = 1, p = 0.088). The lowest infection was observed for B. microti (p < 0.001), while the highest infection was observed for B. henselae (p < 0.01). Leishmania donovani, Plasmodium spp., Ehrlichia chaffeensis, and Neoehrlichia mikurensis PCR test results were negative in all samples. In conclusion, house cats of Tekirdag are apparently highly susceptible to some neglected zoonoses important for “One Health”, and their prevalence in the region is most probably underestimated. Hence, applying PCR tests to assist fast clinic diagnosis in routine, may be an efficient option to protect the public as well as the cats from severe diseases.

The molecular and serological investigation of Feline immunodeficiency virus and Feline leukemia virus in stray cats of Western Turkey

This study aimed to investigate the Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) / Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection prevalence among looking healthy stray cats in Western Turkey by serologic and molecular-based tests. A total of 1008 blood samples from the stray cats were used in this study. All samples were tested for FIV antibodies / proviral DNA and FeLV antibodies / antigens / proviral DNA. The genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of FeLV and FIV were carried out in this study. These cats also tested for Leishmaniasis and Toxoplasmosis previously. FIV Ab and proviral DNA detected in 25.2 % and 25.5 % of samples, respectively. FeLV Ab, Ag, proviral DNA positivity was in 45.2 %, in 3.3 %, in 69.7 %, respectively. The molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of the current FeLV pol gene and FIV gag gene performed. The molecular characterization for the pol gene of FeLV (enFeLV and exFeLV) among Turkey's cat population was reported for the first time. The exFeLV pol sequences closer to the FeLV-A genotype, and the enFeLV pol sequences overlapped with other enFeLV. The current FIV gag sequences were clustered within the subtypes A, B, and C. The findings revealed FeLV subtype A and FIV subtype-A, subtype-B, subtype-C circulate among Turkish stray cats. Single and multiple co-infection positivity was found higher compared to previous reports.

[Treatment of Linognathus vituli and Bovicola bovis infestations of calves with cypermethrin]

This study has been conducted to determine the efficacy level of cypermethrin on the 14 calves that were naturally infested by Linognathus vituli and Bovicola bovis. A 10% solution of cypermethrin was diluted to 0.1% and applied to infested animals twice. All L. vituli were found to be dead after the fourth day of the first application and the second day of the second application. After the first day of application, all of the B. bovis were found dead at the end of each treatment. This study confirmed the protective efficacy of cypermethrin against L. vituli and B. bovis showing that infestation is prevented for a period of about 24-35 days following administration of cypermethrin at this dose.

[Investigation of helminth infections of cats and dogs in the Hatay province]

In this study autopsies and fecal examinations of 8 cats and 6 dogs were performed. The helminth infection rate was founded to be 50.0% in cats and dogs after the fecal examinations. Trichuris sp. eggs were found in feces of one dog, and Ancylostoma sp. eggs in feces of one cat and one dog. Seven (87.5%) cats and 2 (33.4%) dogs were found to be infected with various helminths according to the results of the autopsies. The helminth species and their rates were Toxocara cati (62.5%), Joyeuxiella pasqualei (50.0%), Hydatigera taeniaformis (25.0%), Mesocestoides sp. (12.5%) and Dipylidium caninum (12.5%) in cats; T. canis (16.7%) and D. caninum (16.7%) in dogs during the autopsies. Numerous tetrathyridium larvae of the Mesocestoides sp. were found in the abdominal cavity of one cat. In conclusion, the high prevalence of ascarid infections in cats and dogs may be important for human health.