The aim of the present study was to determine tick species found on humans who suffered from tick bite in the Southwestern Anatolia Region, Turkey. Between January and October 2007, ticks were collected from people admitted to the city and/or town hospitals with complaints of tick bites in nine different provinces of Turkey. Genus and/or species of the ticks in adult, larva and nymph stages were identified microscopically. Identification was done using related taxonomic keys. A total of 2.610 ticks were collected from humans who were admitted to the hospitals with complaints of tick bites in the Southwestern Anatolia Region in the present study. Of these, 1.858 samples were collected from the Aegean Region and the remaining 752 from the Mediterranean Region of the country. The ticks were identified as Hyalomma spp. (78.58%), Rhipicehalus spp. (18.89%), Ixodes spp. (0.88%), Dermacentor spp. (0.77%), Haemaphysalis spp. (0.61%), Argas spp. (0.23%), and Ornithodoros spp. (0.04%). Results indicated that the majority of the ticks were nymphs of Hyalomma spp. (n=1.582). Nymphal stage was most commonly encountered from the Aegean Region and the Mediterranean Region with a prevalence of 46.13% (n=1.204) and 14.48% (n=378) respectively. Within the collected adult ticks (n=913), the majority of the samples were identified as H. marginatum (n=233, 26.09%). The results indicate the high diversity of tick species infesting humans in the Southwestern Anatolia Region, Turkey. So, it is crucial to publish information on tick bite prevention, which would play an important role in reducing the incidence of tick-borne diseases.

This study aimed to evaluate the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) results of suspected samples with canine leishmaniasis (CanL) that were sent to the Parasitology Department Laboratories of the Veterinary Faculty in Aydın Adnan Menderes University. The age, gender, and breed of the dogs to be evaluated for CanL were recorded, and IFAT was performed using 80 blood serum samples collected from them. Additionally, after the isolation of genomic DNA of 27 blood samples, PCR of these samples was performed using primers that amplify the 145 bp kDNA region of Leishmania species. Thirty-seven (46.25%) of the serum samples were seropositive in at least one dilution (1/64 or 1/128) according to IFAT. Five (18.5%) of the twenty-seven samples were positive for Leishmania DNA according to PCR. According to IFAT, 38.7% of male dogs and 59% of female dogs were positive. The highest number of seropositive samples were detected in dogs aged 3-5 years (11/27). Considering the zoonotic potential of leishmaniasis, which is considered endemic in the region, and the high positivity of the IFAT/PCR results, veterinarians should use advanced diagnostic methods, especially serological and molecular tests, in dogs with suspected CanL. The data obtained show that the risk of infection caused by Leishmania spp. is high in the region. Therefore, it is important to routinely ensure the control of CanL to protect both human and animal health.

Equine piroplasmosis (EP), caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi, is a tick-borne disease posing significant threats to equine health and the horse industry worldwide. Other vector-borne blood parasites, including Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Trypanosoma spp., and Leishmania spp., can also infect horses; however, their prevalence remains poorly characterized in Türkiye. This study aimed to determine the molecular prevalence of T. equi, B. caballi, A. phagocytophilum, Trypanosoma spp., and Leishmania spp. in equids from the Western Aegean Region of Türkiye. Blood samples were collected from 388 clinically healthy equines across İzmir, Aydın, Denizli, and Muğla provinces. Species-specific PCR assays were performed, and T. equi and B. caballi were detected in 24.74% (96/388) and 12.89% (50/388) of samples, respectively, with co-infections in 3.09%. T. equi and B. caballi infections were detected in horses from all four sampled provinces—Aydın, İzmir, Denizli, and Muğla—except for B. caballi, which was not found in any samples from Muğla. No samples tested positive for A. phagocytophilum, Trypanosoma spp., or Leishmania spp. Prevalence significantly varied by province, breed, age, and sex (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates the considerable prevalence of T. equi and B. caballi in Western Türkiye, underlining the need for routine screening and vector control programs. The absence of other parasites suggests limited circulation; however, continued surveillance remains crucial to safeguard equine health and prevent disease spread.

Çalışma Aydın ilinde meralarda beslenen atlarda dışkı muayenesi yapılarak sindirim sistemi parazitlerinin çeşitliliğinin ve yaygınlığının belirlenmesi amacıyla yapılmıştır. Bu amaçla farklı yaş, cinsiyet ve ırktan toplam 242 adet attan taze dışkı örnekleri alınmış ve Fülleborn’un doymuş tuzlu su flotasyon ve Benedect sedimentasyon yöntemleriyle muayene edilmiştir. Çalışmada farklı at ırklarına ait toplam 242 at dışkı örneği incelenmiş ve 182 hayvan (%75.20) sindirim sistemi parazitleri tarafından pozitif olarak değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular sonucunda örneklerin 150 tanesinde tekli, 32 tanesinde ikili miks enfeksiyonlar saptanmıştır. Örneklerin, 180 tanesinde (%74.38) Strongylid tip yumurta, 7’ sinde (%2.89) Anaplocephalidae sp, 4’ ünde (%1.65) Parascaris equorum, 7’ sinde (%2.89) Dicrocoelium dendriticum, 6’ sında (%2.47) Fasciola spp. yumurtaları tespit edilirken, 10’ unda (%4.13) ise Eimeria spp. ookistleri saptanmıştır. Aydın iline ait ilçelerde yetiştirilen atlarda mera kaynaklı gastrointestinal sistem enfeksiyonlarının oldukça yaygın olduğu görülmüş ve bu parazitlere karşı yetiştiricilerin bilgilendirilerek etkili mücadele programlarının oluşturulması gerektiği belirlenmiştir.