In this study, we compared the microbiota and volatile organic compounds (VOC) present in the milk obtained from 3 different sheep breeds, namely Merino, Lacaune, and Assaf. Udder milk was collected from 21 animals, 7 from each breed. Bacterial microflora was determined metagenomically by extracting the DNA from the milk and analyzing the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. Headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method was used to analyze VOC. The metagenomic analysis revealed (for Merino, Lacaune, and Assaf milk, respectively) Firmicutes (66.32, 69.36, and 57.08%), Actinobacteria (19.09, 7.67, and 19.40%), Proteobacteria (13.76, 21.06, and 22.19%), and Bacteroidetes (0.84, 1.91, and 1.33%) phyla in the milk samples. Lactobacillus was highly abundant in the milk of 3 breeds (29.64, 43.50, and 18.70%). The genera constituting more than 2% of all bacteria in all groups were Jeotgalicoccus (7.19, 5.34, and 10.77%), Enterococcus (5.18, 9.78, and 3.64%), and Corynebacterium (4.08, 3.00, and 13.44%). A total of 32 different VOC were identified by headspace solid-phase microextration analysis with 9, 30, and 24 different compounds from Merino, Lacaune, and Assaf breeds, respectively. Although ketone was the most abundant compound in Merino milk (71.84%), hydrocarbons were the most detected in Lacaune and Assaf milk (37.18% and 55.42%, respectively). A positive correlation was found between acetone, which was detected at the highest level in all groups, with Salinicoccus, Alloiococcus, Psychrobacter, and Dietzia. In addition, a negative correlation was found between the Lactobacillus genus, detected at the highest level in all groups, with methyl cyclopentane, 3-methylheptane, octane, decane, 3,3-dimethyloctane, and dodecane. Thus, differences were observed in the bacterial microflora and VOC in the sheep milk from different breeds under different feeding and breeding conditions.

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the bacterial diversity of chicken carcasses and their surrounding environment at various stages along a poultry slaughter line. Material and Methods: Amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was employed to assess the shifts in bacterial community diversity at both phylum and genus levels. Samples were collected from September to November 2021, targeting carcass surfaces at various operational stages (post-defeathering, post-evisceration, post-water chilling, and post-cooling), as well as from the internal environments and air of these units. The study took place in a vertically integrated poultry slaughterhouse in Konya, Turkey. Results: Microbial diversity increased after the chilling and storage stages as a result of redistribution of the microorganisms after the physical effect of the slaughtering stages. The final product sample taken after storage had the highest bacterial abundance. The abundance at this stage was found to be strongly correlated with that at other slaughtering stages, as well as with the abundance in chilling water and on the personnel’s hands. The common genera in chicken carcasses during slaughter stages were Macrococcus, Acinetobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia-Shigella, Psychrobacter, Streptococcus, Lactococcus and Ligilactobacillus. Microbiome data in environmental samples indicated that the genera in highest relative abundance were Bacillus, Anoxybacillus, Acinetobacter and Psychrobacter. In air samples, the storage room had the highest diversity and in this place Bacillus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were in the majority. Conclusion: This study may provide some useful information to pinpoint the critical contamination sources in the poultry slaughtering process.

The aim of this study was to investigate equine piroplasms of wild horses (Equus ferus caballus) in Konya province of Turkey in November-December 2017. For this aim, blood samples were collected from 36 wild horses and examined for equine piroplasms by microscopy and multiplex PCR. Some of the PCR products from positive samples were also sequenced. Five (13.89%) out of the 36 horses were infected with either Theileria equi, Babesia caballi or both in the microscopical examination. Single infections with T. equi and B. caballi were detected in three (8.33%) and one horses (2.78%), respectively. Prevalence of T. equi, B. caballi and mix infections was determined as 50%, 38.8% and 38.8% by multiplex PCR, respectively. Multiplex PCR was found more sensitive than microscopical examination to detect the piroplasms of horses. The results of sequence analysis showed 99.25-100% and 98.23-99.59% nucleotide sequence identity to the previously reported T. equi and B. caballi 18S rRNA gene sequences, respectively. Consequently, the existence of equine piroplasmosis in wild horses was reported for the first time in Turkey, and high molecular prevalences of T. equi and B. caballi were reported with this study.

Süt ve süt ürünleri içerdikleri yüksek besin değeriyle günlük diyetin önemli bir parçasını oluşturmaktadır. Ancak bu önemli özelliklerinin yanı sıra en fazla hile yapılan gıdalar arasında yer almaktadır. Koyun-keçi sütü ve ürünlerine inek sütünün karıştırılması süt ve süt ürünlerinde en sık karşılaşılan hilelerin başında gelmektedir. Bu durum, tüketiciler tarafından tercih edilmeyen sosyo-ekonomik potansiyel risklere neden olmaktadır. Bu çalışmada koyun ve keçi sütlerine farklı oranlarda karıştırılan inek sütü miktarının TaqMan Real-Time PCR ile tespit edilmesi amaçlanmıştır. Bu amaçla %1, %5, %10, %25, %75 ve %90 oranlarında keçi ve koyun sütlerine inek sütü karıştırılmıştır. Ayrıca saf inek sütünden elde edilen DNA sulandırılarak PCR işleminin duyarlılığı araştırılmıştır. Bu çalışmanın sonucunda, koyun ve keçi sütlerine karıştırılan %1 inek sütü ve 0,003 ng DNA varlığı tespit edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda TaqMan Real-Time PCR’ın koyun ve keçi sütlerine karıştırılan düşük düzeydeki inek sütünün tespit edilmesinde güvenilir ve hassas bir yöntem olarak kullanılabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis is an emerging infectious disease in domestic cats caused by a group of hemotropic Mycoplasma species, including three main species: Mycoplasma hemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma hemominutum (CMhm), and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt). The primary objective of this investigation was to ascertain the molecular prevalence and characterization of hemotropic mycoplasmas in domestic cats from twenty-three districts of Konya province in Türkiye. For this purpose, 384 apparently healthy cats belonging to different breeds were enrolled in this study. The molecular prevalence of Mycoplasma spp. in cats was 9.4%, and the identified species included Mhf, Mycoplasma hemocanis (Mhc), CMt, and CMhm. The molecular prevalence was not significantly associated with district, breed, or gender (p > 0.05) but was significantly associated with age and ownership status (p < 0.05). The study found that all cats with Mycoplasma spp. were older than one year and that the infection had a higher prevalence in stray cats than in owned cats (p < 0.05). Although there are studies conducted in different provinces, data on the molecular and phylogenetic characterization of the species causing feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis are scarce in Türkiye. This study, which provides updated data concerning the molecular characterization and phylogeny of hemotropic Mycoplasma species of cats in Türkiye, revealed the Mycoplasma spp. molecular prevalence in Konya province for the first time and provided remarkable findings that will fill the scientific gap in the country. The molecular characterization of these hemotropic mycoplasmas is crucial for understanding their epidemiology and developing effective diagnostic and treatment strategies for feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis. It is anticipated that the data from the study will raise awareness among pet owners, veterinarians, and healthcare professionals of feline hemotropic Mycoplasma agents with zoonotic potential.

Hereditary diseases in cattle lead to economic losses across various breeds worldwide, with arachnomelia syndrome being one such disorder found in Simmental cattle. Arachnomelia results from a recessively inherited loss‐of‐function variant in the MOCS1 gene detected only in Simmentals. In Türkiye, prior research on hereditary cattle diseases has focused exclusively on dairy breeds, particularly Holstein. This study marks the first investigation in Türkiye of a genetic disease in a dual‐purpose breed that is also valued for its beef traits. For this purpose, blood samples were collected from 387 Simmental cattle in Yozgat, Türkiye. The variant MOCS1 allele was analysed, and the results revealed four heterozygous samples carrying the causal two‐nucleotide frameshift deletion, as confirmed by Sanger sequencing. This research provides the first detection of arachnomelia in Türkiye, with a prevalence of 1.03% heterozygous carriers in the population studied. To eliminate arachnomelia, screening of Simmental and Simmental‐cross cattle is recommended, with the avoidance of carrier matings to prevent the birth of affected calves.