Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important zoonotic parasitic diseases caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Based on molecular studies and DNA sequencing, E. granulosus has been classified into 10 different genotypes (G1 to G10). Two neighboring countries, Turkey and Iran, are considered the two main foci of CE in the Middle East. The current study is aimed at examining the genotype diversity of E. granulosus isolated from human clinical samples in Turkey and Iran. Surgically removed human hydatid cysts were collected from East Azerbaijan and Fars provinces in Iran and Van province in Turkey. After extracting DNA, performing PCR, targeting the cox1 gene, the PCR products were purified from the gel and were sequenced from both directions. The sequences were aligned and compared, using BioEdit and also the BLAST program of GenBank. The maximum likelihood tree was constructed based on the Tamura‐Nei model, using the MEGAX software. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the human isolated samples were classified into two major clades: G1 (from Iran and Turkey) and G3 (5 samples from northwestern Iran and one sample from Turkey). The mean and degree of genetic divergence (K2P) between the two major clades, G1 and G3, were 0.2% and 0.7 ± 0.4%, respectively. The findings of the current study revealed that the sheep strain (G1) and the less important strain G3 have major roles in the transmission cycle of CE in two neighboring countries, Iran and Turkey. Therefore, it is necessary to interpose the life cycle of this parasite and reduce the disease burden in livestock and humans by adopting common regional preventive and control policies.

Background: We aimed to determine the prevalence of Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in patients who admitted hospital with diarrhea and to gain information about the transmission of these parasites in Ağrı, Türkiye. Methods: This study included 184 patients who applied to Ağrı-Diyadin State Hospital, Türkiye in 2022. The immunochromatographic card test was used for detection of the G. intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. Nested PCR-RFLP analysis of the COWP gene and sequence analysis of the gp60 gene were used to genotype and subtype Cryptosporidium spp., whereas Nested PCR and sequence analyses of β-giardin gene were used genotype G. intestinalis. Results: Of the 184 stool specimens examined, 12 (14.29%) and 7 (3.80%) were positive for G. intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp., respectively. The Cryptosporidium species were identified as C. parvum belonging to the IId subtype family. The G. intestinalis were identified assemblages A. Conclusion: Assemblage A, which is associated with diarrhea, is responsible for giardiasis and C. parvum IId subtype, often found in sheep, goats and cattle, is responsible for cryptosporidiosis in Ağrı, Türkiye.

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the physical and chemical properties of different spring waters and parasitic factors with different methods. This study was carried out on 69 water samples collected from different spring waters in and around Iğdır Province in April and June 2021. The samples were analyzed by native-Lugol, modified acid-fast staining, and nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR). In addition, altitude (meter) and pressure (mmHg) measurements were made at the point where the water samples were taken. One or more parasites were detected in 27.5% of the 69 water samples examined. Only C. cayetanensis was found in 13% of the samples, only Cryptosporidium spp. in 10.1%, only Giardia spp. in 1.4%, only C. cayetanensis and Giardia spp. in 1.4%, only C. cayetanensis, Cryptosporidium spp., and Giardia spp. in 1.4%. Only Giardia spp. cyst (4.3%) was detected by the direct examination method. While C. cayetanensis and Cryptosporidium spp. oocysts were detected in 8.7% and 7.2% of the samples by the modified acid-fast staining method, C. cayetanensis was detected in 15.9% and Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in 11.6% of the samples by nPCR. When the C. cayetanensis and Cryptosporidium spp. positivity rates were compared according to the characteristics of the water, there was no statistical difference between the altitude, salinity, pH, mmHg, and temperature (kelvin) values, but a significant correlation was found between the amount of dissolved oxygen and Cryptosporidium spp. positivity (p=0.047). Cryptosporidium spp., C. cayetanensis, and G. intestinalis are important waterborne pathogens that can cause epidemics. It is our belief that in order to reduce the risk of contamination of these parasitic factors with spring waters, public awareness should be raised, infrastructures should be improved, and new water treatment techniques, such as ultraviolet, ozonation and monitoring systems, should be used.

The aim of this study was to determine the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the patients infected with Fasciola hepatica and establish whether these parameters differ among the patients with fascioliasis. The patient group consisted of 140 individuals with F. hepatica seropositive; the control group consisted of 140 healthy individuals who tested negative for this parasite and had no other diseases. The patient group consisted of individuals with no chronic diseases other than fascioliasis; in both the patient and the control groups, the subjects had no unhealthy habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption, etc. The blood samples taken to diagnose fascioliasis were evaluated by the ELISA method. The samples were studied according to the kit procedures for SOD, CAT, GPx and MDA markers. In this study, 43.6% of 140 individuals in the patient group infected with F. hepatica had CAT (p=0.001), 35% had GPx (p=0.001), 12.9% had SOD (p=0.002), 90.7% had MDA (p=0.001). There was found a statistically significant difference between the patient and the control group in terms of the positivity of these four parameters. As a result, a statistically significant relationship was found between the increase in the SOD, GPx, CAT, and MDA levels and fascioliasis. The high rate of MDA revealed that oxidative stress occurred in patients with fascioliasis, resulting in an increased activity of SOD, GPx, and CAT. Bu çalışmanın amacı, Fasciola hepatica ile enfekte hastalarda süperoksit dismutaz (SOD), glutatyon peroksidaz (GPx), katalaz (CAT) ve malondialdehit (MDA) düzeylerini belirlemek ve fascioliasisli hastalarda bu parametrelerde farklılık meydana gelip gelmediğini ortaya koymaktır. Hasta grubu, F. hepatica pozitif olan 140 hastadan; kontrol grubu ise bu parazit yönünden negatif bulunan ve başka herhangi bir hastalığı bulunmayan 140 sağlıklı kişiden oluşturuldu. Hasta grubuna fascioliasis dışında herhangi bir kronik hastalığı olmayan ve hem hasta hem de kontrol grubuna sigara, alkol kullanımı olmayan kişiler dahil edildi. Hastalarda fascioliasis pozitifliğini belirlemek için alınan kan örnekleri ELISA yöntemi ile çalışıldı. Serum SOD, CAT, GPx ve MDA düzeyleri ELISA yöntemi ile değerlendirildi. Bu çalışmada F. hepatica ile enfekte hasta grubundaki 140 kişinin %43,6’sında CAT (p=0,001), %35’inde GPx (p=0,001), %12,9’unda SOD (p=0,002) ve %90,7 MDA pozitifliği saptandı. Bu dört parametrenin pozitifliği açısından hasta ve kontrol grubu arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulundu (p=0,001). Sonuç olarak SOD, GPx, CAT ve MDA düzeyindeki artış ile fascioliasis arasında istatistik olarak anlamlı bir ilişki saptanmıştır. Çalışmamızda MDA’nın yüksek oranda saptanmış olması fascioliasisli hastalarda oksidatif stres oluştuğunu ve SOD, GPx ve CAT aktivitelerinde artış olduğunu ortaya koymuştur.

5-bromo-2-(prop-2-yn-1-yloxy)benzaldehyde (compound 3) and 3,5-di-tert-butyl-2-(prop-2- yn-1-yloxy)benzaldehyde (compound 5) were synthesized via nucleophilic substitution reactions. Compound 5 showed higher antioxidant capacity with respect to compound 3 in all the four different antioxidant activity methods used. Moreover, in phosphomolybdenum assay, compound 5, with 1.1 proportion value, showed almost the same total antioxidant capacity compared to universal trolox standard. Furthermore, Broth microdilution method and agar disc diffusion tests demonstrated that the same compound also exhibited good antibacterial activity towards the bacteria Bacillus subtilis. Finally, both of the benzaldehyde compounds showed high antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger. In this study, compound 5 (IC50: 54.3 µg/ml) showed significant cytotoxic activity against breast adenocarcinoma cell line MCF-7 with respect to compound 3 (IC50: 173.4 µg/ml).