Tick-borne diseases (TBDs) indulge in severe economic losses in the livestock industry by adversely affecting the small ruminant breeding in tropical and subtropical zone countries, including Turkey. Turkey encompasses a wide land area representing diverse climatic conditions. The present study explored the presence and distribution of Babesia ovis, Theileria ovis, Theileria lestoquardi, Anaplasma ovis, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and the co-occurrence status of these pathogens. A total of 299 sheep blood samples were collected from fifteen provinces located in six different geographical regions in Turkey. PCR analyses were executed using species-specific primers based on Babesia ovis BoSSU rRNA, Theileria ovis ToSSU rRNA, Theileria lestoquardi 18S rRNA, Anaplasma ovis Major Surface Protein (AoMSP4), and Anaplasma phagocytophilum 16S rRNA genes. Overall, 219 (73.24%) sheep were found to be infected with at least one of the following protozoan and rickettsial pathogens; B. ovis, A. ovis,T. ovis, and A. phagocytophilum. Theileria lestoquardi was not detected in any blood sample. The global prevalence of B. ovis, A. ovis, T. ovis, and A. phagocytophilum was estimated to be 2.68%, 16.05%, 41.47%, and 57.19%, respectively. Besides this, dual (24.41%), triple (9.03%), and quadruple (0.67%) co-infections were detected in the study. Phylogenetic analysis revealed significant nucleotide sequence identities between the sequences obtained in this study and the sequences registered in the GenBank. This study provides relevant data regarding the predominance of ovine tick-borne protozoan and rickettsial agents in Turkey. A high molecular prevalence of tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) was identified in the study. This situation indicates that TBPs should be screened continuously, and necessary control measures should be taken to prevent diseases caused by tick-borne protozoan and rickettsial agents.

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.

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.

Bu çalışma Konya ilinde 2-6 aylık 121 adet yavru sokak köpeğinin gastro-intestinal helmint ve protozoon enfeksiyonlarının yaygınlığını belirlemek amacıyla yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla toplanan gaita örnekleri Fulleborn flotasyon ve sedimantasyon yöntemleri ile incelenmiştir. Mikroskobik muayenede tespit edilen helmint yumurtası ile protozoon kist, ookist ve sporokistleri ilgilili teratürler yardımıyla teşhis edilmiştir. Toplamda 121 adet gaita numunesinin 92’si (%76.03) helmint ve protozoon enfeksiyonları açısından pozitif bulunmuştur. Gaita örneklerinde protozon parazitlerden Giardia spp. kistleri (%2.48), Sarcocystis spp. sporokistleri (%2.48) ve Isospora spp. ookistlerine (%26.45) rastlanmıştır. Gastrointestinal helmintlerden ise cestod ve nematode enfeksiyonlarına rastlanmış, ancak herhangi bir trematod enfeksiyonu belirlenmemiştir. Çalışmada helmintlerden Joyeuxiella spp. (%1.65), Dipylidium caninum (%10.74), Taenia/Echinococcus spp. (%0.83), Toxascaris leonina (%33.06), Toxacara canis (%38.84) ve Physaloptera spp. (%6,61) yumurtalarının varlığı tespitedilmiştir. Bu çalışmada ayrıca bazı köpeklerde tekli ve miks parazit enfeksiyonlarının varlığı tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmada %47.82 tekli, %43.48 ikili ve %7.61 üçlü miks enfeksiyonlar tespit edilmiştir. Bir dışkı örneğinde ise biri protozoon kisti ve üçü de farklı helmint yumurtası olmak üzere (Isospora spp., T. leonina, T. cati ve D. caninum) dört farklı parasite rastlanmıştır. Bu çalışma Türkiye’de köpeklerde Physaloptera spp. enfeksiyonunun bildirildiği ilk çalışmadır.