Background: Echinococcosis is a common parasite with zoonotic character created by a small cestode, Echinococcus spp., and is an important public health problem in Turkey as well as all over the world. We aimed to investigate antibodies in serum samples of suspected Echinococcosis patients sent to the National Parasitology Reference Laboratories of the General Directorate of Public Health. Methods: Serum samples of 2390 patients sent to our laboratory between January 1, 2014 and May 01, 2019, evaluated by ELISA, Indirect Hemagglutination Test (IHA) and Western Blot (WB) methods are presented. Our laboratory is the national reference laboratory. All kinds of tests requested from suspected patients can be performed Results: Overall, 1199 (50.2%) of 2390 serum samples were female and 1191 (49.8%) were male. It was observed that 178 (14.9%) of men and 210 (17.5%) of women were seropositive. There was no statistical difference between the sexes in terms of seropositivity. Of all samples, 1941 (81.2%) were negative, 388 (16.2%) were positive, and 61 (2.6%) were borderline. Results determined as borderline are considered suspicious and a recommendation is made to repeat the test after 15 days. A statistical difference was found in the distribution of seropositivity by years. While seropositivity was lowest in 2014, it was found to be highest in 2018 and 2019. Conclusion: Despite all the precautions taken, it is seen that echinococcosis still continues to exist in Turkey as a zoonotic disease. Hence, CE has been involved in Turkey Zoonotic Diseases Action Plan (2019-2023) and decided to carry out studies for the protection and prevention of the disease.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is an obligate intracellular, zoonotic protozoan parasite of interest to physicians and veterinarians with its highly complex structure. It is known to infect about one-third of the world's population. Since it is a zoonotic disease, it is necessary to keep the animal population under control in order to prevent human exposure. Many studies have been conducted on the detection of T. gondii and it has been determined that there are three clonal groups consisting of types 1, 2, 3. Developments in molecular studies have led to changes in the taxonomy and new developments in parasitic diseases. It has helped in diagnosis, treatment, development of antiparasitic drugs and research on resistance. They also provided research on vaccine studies, genetic typing and phylogenetics of parasitic diseases. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR), real-time PCR and genotyping studies conducted today increase our knowledge about T. gondii. Methods such as B1, SAG1, SAG2, GRA1, 529-bp repeat element, OWP genes and 18S rRNAs are mostly used in PCR, and methods such as MS, MLST, PCR-RFLP, RAPD-PCR and HRM are used in genotyping. Toxoplasmosis is a disease that is within the framework of the concept of one health and must attract attention, has not yet been eradicated in the world and needs joint studies for humans, animals and ecosystems to be eradicated. This can only be possible by establishing interdisciplinary groups, conducting surveys and training.

Background: Canin leishmaniasis (CanL), mostly caused by Leishmania infantum, is one of the most important vector-borne diseases in dogs in the Mediterranean region. In this study, we aimed to determine the disease profile in this region by firstly making microscopic and then molecular analyzes in the samples taken from the dogs. Methods: Overall, 112 whole blood samples taken from dogs for clinical applications by a veterinarian in Cankırı between December 2021 and November 2022 were used. After blood collection, both thin and thick drop blood smear preparations were prepared and evaluated for Giemsa staining. L. infantum was investigated by Real time-PCR (RT-PCR) method from all blood samples. Sequence analysis and phylogenetic tree study were performed on positive samples. Results: Both microscopic and RT-PCR analyzes were performed. In both studies, 3 of the 112 samples were positive. Because of the sequence analysis, they were L. infantum. Sequence analysis was performed from the samples found 3 positive. The phylogenetic tree was drawn by making NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology) data entries of the positive samples (Accession numbers: OQ184728, OQ184729, OQ184730). Conclusion: Dogs are important, as they are reservoir of this disease. In this study, 3 (2.7%) positive Leishmaniasis was detected in dogs in Cankırı. Ultimately, this should prompt discussion about new strategies going forward to combat infection caused by Leishmania.

Purpose: Toxoplasmosis is a multisystemic disease of Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan that can affect all vertebral organisms. The aim of this study is to determine the distribution rate histopathologically, immunohistochemically and molecularly with mouse experiments. Methods: In our study, T. gondii TR01 tachyzoites were injected intraperitoneally into Specific Pathogen Free, 3-4 weeks old, 17-18 gr healthy white male Swiss-Albino mice. Two mice were euthanized daily and the distribution of the parasite was determined in daily concentrations in blood, peritoneal fluid, liver, kidney, heart, lung, intestine and central nervous system sections. Results: As a result of the histopathological analyzes, mild necrosis and degeneration of hepatocytes were observed in the liver on the 1st day. Tachyzoites are common in central regions. Degeneration was observed in the cortical and corticomedullary tubular epithelium in the kidney. Slightly degeneration of cardiomyocytes was observed in the heart. Regional hyperemic capillaries were found in the lung. Degeneration of intestinal epithelial cells was observed, and necrosis was not observed in villi and glandular epithelium. In the CNS, cerebral cortical neurons were observed to be affected by degeneration and necrosis. On the 2nd day, degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes in the liver were observed moderately compared to the previous day. Degeneration of cortical and medullary tubules was more common in the kidney. Mild necrosis and degeneration were observed in some villi epithelium in the intestine. Lesions on day 3th were as on day 2th of the experiment. Degeneration and necrosis were detected in the renal tubules. The lung was more hyperemic. Degeneration and necrosis were more prominent in the cortical neurons of the brain. Lesions on day 4th were the same as on days 2th and 3th of the experiment. On the 5th day, the parasite was found to be less than the degeneration and necrosis of the tubules in the kidney tissue. In immunohistochemical staining, reactions were mostly found in liver, kidney, and intestine, while relatively low levels were found in lung, heart, and brain. RT-PCR targeting the T. gondii B1 gene region molecularly was used. All tests were positive except day zero in RT-PCR. The CT value and the lower values indicate the areas with the highest density. On the first day and on the last day, it is mostly found in the liver, lung and peritoneal fluid. At least, it spread to the brain and heart. Conclusion: Factors such as host cell type, infection rate, susceptibility, route of administration, and host and tissue selection of the parasite affect the virulence of the T. gondii strain. Knowing which strain caused the infection may be useful in predicting the outcome of organ involvement and virulence. The death of all mice within 6 days in our study indicates that the T. gondii TR 01 strain is a highly aggressive and lethal agent for mice. Histopathological, immunological and PCR spread to the CNS was found to be minimal. This is thought to be because the infective agent is less able to cross the CSF barrier. Tissue cysts were not found in all tissues. T. gondii infects the liver first in all three studies and remains in high concentration until death. Low spread to the heart is also similar to other studies. Desquamation and leukocytosis were not observed in the lung alveoli in our study. The liver, kidney and peritoneal fluid are most affected, and the brain is the least affected. This situation informs us that the parasite invasion in the liver is intense and is in parallel with other studies. Necrosis was detected in all tissues except the intestine. Toxoplasma gondii has the potential to develop changes by spreading in tissues. In today's world where drug and vaccine studies are increasing rapidly, it is important to know the distribution of the parasite in the tissues and the changes it makes. In this context, it is a parasite that still needs to be investigated together with the parasite strains, which is mandatory and difficult to diagnose and treat.