Dientamoeba fragilis (D. fragilis) is a flagellated protozoan with an amoeba-like morphology, located in the gastrointestinal tract. The hypothesis was that the parasite was transported by Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis) eggs. This study aimed to determine the association of D. fragilis and E. vermicularis with the genotypes of the identified strain of D. fragilis. Results of trichrome staining were compared with those of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is widely used in the diagnosis of D. fragilis. A total of 391 samples were obtained. The stool and cellophane slide samples were sent together to the Parasitology Department Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Aydın Adnan Menderes University, between 1 October 2017 and 1 October 2018. Stool samples of all patients with E. vermicularis (n=74) and without E. vermicularis (n=74) infection were used. All samples were examined for the presence of D. fragilis by trichrome staining and PCR. The 18S ribosomal RNA region of D. fragilis isolates was sequenced. Demographic characteristics and clinical findings of the patients were evaluated. D. fragilis was detected in 42 (28.37%) of 148 samples; 28 (66.6%) of them were detected in patients with E. vermicularis infection. The coexistence of two parasites was significant (p0.05). D. fragilis is frequently associated with E. vermicularis, so the presence of D. fragilis should be also considered in affected patients. The use of high-sensitivity molecular methods such as PCR is important in preventing false results. Dientamoeba fragilis (D. fragilis), amip benzeri morfolojiye sahip, gastrointestinal yerleşimli, kamçılı bir protozoondur. Parazitin Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis) yumurtalarıyla taşındığı hipotezi kabul görmektedir. Çalışmamızda D. fragilis ve E. vermicularis birlikteliğini incelemek, bulunan D. fragilis’lerin genotiplerini belirlemek ve D. fragilis tanısında yaygın olarak kullanılan trikrom boyama ile polimeraz zincir reaksiyon (PZR) yöntemlerini karşılaştırmak amaçlanmıştır. Çalışmamızda Aydın Adnan Menderes Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, Parazitoloji Laboratuvarı’na 1 Ekim 2017-1 Ekim 2018 tarihleri arasında dışkı ve selofan lam örneği birlikte gönderilmiş toplam 391 olgu örneği incelenmiştir. Selofanlı lam örneklerinde E. vermicularis saptanan tüm gönüllü olguların (74 olgu) dışkı örneği ile E. vermicularis negatif 74 olgunun dışkı örneği çalışılmıştır. Tüm dışkılar trikrom boyama ve PZR yöntemleri ile D. fragilis varlığı açısından incelenmiştir. Saptanan D. fragilis izolatlarının 18S ribozomal RNA bölgesi sekanslanmıştır. Olguların demografik özellikleri ve kliniği değerlendirilmiştir. Toplam 148 olgunun 42’sinde (%28,37) D. fragilis saptanmıştır. D. fragilis pozitif olan 42 olgunun %66,6’sını E. vermicularis pozitif olgular oluşturmuş ve iki parazitin birlikteliği anlamlı bulunmuştur (p0,05). Araştırmamızda D. fragilis’in sıklıkla E. vermicularis ile birliktelik gösterdiği ve bu olgularda D. fragilis varlığına ayrıca dikkat edilmesi gerektiği vurgulanmıştır. Yanlış sonuçları engellemede, yüksek duyarlılığa sahip PZR gibi yöntemlerin önemi bir kez daha görülmüştür.

Echinococcus granulosus is the causative helminth of cystic echinococcosis (CE). The parasite is known to form fluid-filled cysts that grow slowly in the internal organs, particularly the liver and/or lungs. This disease is still important in terms of public health and economically in Turkey and other countries where animal husbandry is widespread. The aim of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the cases that were admitted to the Adnan Menderes University, Training and Research Hospital Parasitology laboratory on suspicion of CE between January 2005 and January 2017. Totally, 3446 sera (from 2019 female and 1427 male) were tested with an in-house ELISA for the presence of E. granulosus specific IgG antibodies at the timeswhen they were sent. Socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, residence, and dog ownership), positivity titers, and cyst locations of pathologically confirmed CE patients were analyzed retrospectively. The ages of patients varied between 4-87 years. It was found that 1104 (32%) of the 3446 sera were positive, and of them, 642 (58.1%) were female and 462 (41.9%) were male. Patients who had pathologically confirmed CE diagnosis constituted 247 (22.3%) of the total seropositive sera. Liver was the most commonly affected organ (81.8%), followed by lungs (6.1%). CE remains an important public health problem in our city; therefore, it is once again emphasized that preventive studies should be planned.

Toxoplasma gondii is a common apicomplexan parasite of humans and can cause significant morbidity and mortality due to congenital transmission and in patients with immune deficiency. The aim of this study was to evaluate T. gondii serology results of 11 years and to determine compatibility of serologic diagnosis methods. The study was conducted between 2007 and 2017, and anti-T. gondii IgG antibodies were investigated by an in-house Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Indirect Fluorescence Antibody (IFA) methods. Moreover, T. gondii-specific IgM antibodies were also studied by ELISA and a commercial kit. In our study, compatibility of ELISA and IFA methods was also investigated statistically. Serology of T. gondii was studied in 8095 individuals including 1123 (13.9%) males and 6972 (86.1%) females. The overall rate of anti-T. gondii IgG positivity was 31.5% (n=2550) and anti-T. gondii IgM positivity was 1.6% (n=127). There was no significant relationship between sex and seropositivity. A high degree of correlation was found between ELISA and IFA. The current findings reveal that toxoplasmosis is still an important public health disease and that the seropositivity rate is consistent with the region in general. Moreover, using IFA and ELISA methods together in the laboratory seems to be effective.