Bartonella henselae seroprevalence in cattle breeders and veterinarians in the rural areas of Aydin and Denizli, Turkey

Bartonella henselae infections are usually detected among people who have close contact with animals. Veterinarians and cattle breeders, in particular, are considered as the risk groups for B. henselae infections. In this study, the seroprevalence of antibodies to B. henselae was investigated in these two groups of subjects in the two cities of Aydin and Denizli, which are located in the same region in the southwest of Turkey. Total antibodies to B. henselae were evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence assay in serum samples taken from 63 cattle breeders and 27 veterinarians. Twenty samples (22.2%) were found to react on 1/64 titre with B. henselae antigens. Bartonella henselae seroprevalence was found to be significantly related to age (P = 0.033) and higher in those living in Aydin (P = 0.047). Age was the only independent factor in multivariate analysis (P = 0.008). Seroprevalence was found to be 2-fold higher in those people who had had tick contact (P = 0.093). In conclusion, the physicians in the region should consider B. henselae infection among veterinarians and breeders in their differential diagnosis list of fever of unknown origin.

Anticandidal activity of endemic Salvia potentillifolia Boiss. and Heldr . ex Bentham and Origanum hypericifolium Schwartz and P.H. Davis in Turkey

This study established baseline data on lytic anticandidal activities of endemic species Origanum hypericifolium and Salvia potentillifolia naturally distributed in Denizli and its environment. Stream distillation was used to isolate the unfatty polar part and clinical isolated Candida spp. strains were subcultured to sabouraud dextrose agar. Lytic anticandidal activities of unfatty polar parts were evaluated by enzyme-linked calorimetric method against 93 clinical isolates belonging to Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. Kefyr, and C. parapsilosis. As a result, two (2.15%) strains of C. glabrata among tested pathogenic 93 clinical isolates of Candida strains were found to be sensitive to S. potentillifolai. However, each strain of C. albicans and C. tropicalis was found to be sensitive to O. hypericifolium. Results indicated that O. hypericifolium and S. potentillifolia had a potential of being used in food and medicine because of their anticandidal activity.

An experience from an outbreak of tinea capitis gladiatorum due to Trichophyton tonsurans

'Tinea corporis gladiatorum' describes a dermatophytosis transmitted mainly from close skin contact among wrestlers. Although tinea corporis is well recognized, no data are available for tinea capitis infections in wrestlers. After finding tinea capitis infection in a student wrestler, we aimed to search for possible ringworm infections among wrestlers in a wrestling boarding-school. Of the 32 wrestlers, 29, aged 12-18 years, were affected, of whom 22 had scalp involvement. Trichophyton tonsurans was isolated from 20 of the patients, and T. mentagrophytes from the remaining two. Isolated strains of dermatophytes were susceptible to terbinafine and itraconazole. The patients with tinea capitis received oral terbinafine for 4 weeks, and patients with more than two lesions but without scalp involvement received oral terbinafine for 2 weeks. Overall clinical and mycological cure rate was 72.4% and 70%, respectively, at assessment at week 6. The asymptomatic dermatophyte carrier rate was negative 1 year after control of the epidemic. Terbinafine seems to be an alternative drug for the treatment of tinea capitis caused by T. tonsurans; however, control of an outbreak may be very difficult and effective preventive measures should be considered.

The prevalence, aetiological agents and therapy of onychomycosis in patients with psoriasis: a prospective controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Nail involvement morphologically resembling onychomycosis frequently accompanies psoriatic lesions. The role of psoriasis as a predisposing factor for onychomycosis and the possible influence of psoriasis on responsiveness of onychomycosis to treatment are controversial.

AIM

To investigate the frequency of onychomycosis, the aetiological agents responsible for it, and the efficacy of terbinafine 250 mg/day in patients with psoriasis compared with controls in order to reveal the role of psoriatic process on fungal growth.

METHODS

Over a 1-year period, 168 patients with psoriasis and 164 nonpsoriatic controls were recruited. In the case of clinically suspected of fungal infection, further mycological investigations were performed. Systemic terbinafine therapy 250 mg daily for 12 weeks was administered to the patients with onychomycosis. Patients were followed up clinically and mycologically for 24 weeks.

RESULTS

Onychomycosis was diagnosed in 22 patients with psoriasis (13.1% of the psoriasis group, which constituted 28.6% of patients with suspicion of onychomycosis) and 13 controls (7.9% of control group; 40.6% of controls with suspicion of onychomycosis). The prevalence rates of onychomycosis were similar in both groups. The most commonly isolated fungi were dermatophytes in the psoriasis group and nondermatophytic moulds in controls. Dermatophytes were more common in psoriatic than control nails (P = 0.02). All patients in each group were cured at the end of the therapy.

CONCLUSION

It seems that nail psoriasis constitutes a risk factor not for onychomycosis, but specifically for dermatophytic nail infections. Because of the similar therapeutic results in each group, different antifungal treatment protocols may not be needed in psoriasis. However, to confirm this, new comprehensive studies are necessary.

Detection of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies. Nachweis von Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii in Stocken der Honigbiene (Apis mellifera)

The plant flora has an important role in the ecology of Cryptococcus neoformans. It is estimated that the environmental spreading and contamination of human beings with this yeast occurs via contaminated particles of plants. Cultivation of canopy parts of plants in selective media is the most widely used isolation method of this yeast. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii was isolated from honeybee colonies in Eucalyptus forests but was not isolated from the places where this flora did not exist. Our results indicate that the occurrence of C. neoformans in honeybee colonies during the flowering season of Eucalyptus spp. trees can be an important bioindicator for environmental yeast presence. The screening of honeybee colonies is a practical and a rapid method for the monitoring of the C. neoformans presence in flowering plants.

Resuscitation with modified gelatin causes higher bacterial translocation in experimental sublethal hemorrhagic shock

The effect of colloidal solutions on bacterial translocation was studied. Sublethal hemorrhagic shock was established by blood withdrawal until the mean arterial pressure fell to 40 mmHg within 15 min on 36 adult Wistar Albino rats. Resuscitation was performed using four different solutions with the same amount of blood. Group I (n = 9) 0.9% NaCl, Group II (n = 9) 10% dextran 40, Group III (n = 9) 6% hydroxyethyl starch, Group IV (n = 9) 4% modified fluid gelatin. Before resuscitation and after anesthesia blood samples were drawn to analyze pH, PCO2, PO2, SaO2, HCO3 and ABE values. Twenty-four hours after anesthesia laparotomy was performed to obtain tissue samples of the liver, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes. Samples were cultured on EMB and blood agar media. Results were analyzed with the one-way ANOVA and Post-hoc test (Tukey's HSD). The translocated bacteria were mainly Eschericia coli and three grew in Group I, two in Group II, three in Group III and six in Group IV. Although there was a trend in difference in bacterial translocation rates among groups, statistical analyses revealed no difference among groups (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that resuscitation with modified gelatin causes higher bacterial translocation in an experimental sublethal hemorrhagic shock model.

Investigation of Rickettsia conorii antibodies in the Antalya area

Mediterranean spotted fever, caused by Rickettsia conorii, is a tick-borne infection. Serum samples for screening R. conorii antibodies of professionally exposed persons in the Antalya region, on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey, were analyzed. R. conorii IgG antibodies were detected in 13 of 98 (13.3%) serum samples. Mediterranean spotted fever antibodies were found to be positive in 9.4% of the men and 15.2% of the women (a total of 13 cases). Only three cases had a history of fever and rash.