The aim of this study was to determine knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of farmers dealing with animal husbandry in eastern Turkey with regard to antibiotic knowledge, use, and resistance. A face to face questionnaire survey, consisting of five sections with 42 questions in total, was applied to 360 farmers located in the region. The questions in the first and fifth sections were closed-ended while those in other sections were prepared using the Likert scale. It was determined that knowledge of the farmers about antibiotic use, duration, storage, and resistance was well below desired levels. This was particularly remarkable in the participants with a low level of education, living in rural areas, and those at 48 years of age or over. In contrast, younger and highly educated participants living in urban areas were more knowledgeable about antibiotic use and they were well aware of the fact that resistance might pose a great risk for public health. Providing appropriate antibiotic use in animals through systematic training of livestock farmers is crucial in tackling the resistance problem.

Aims: To investigate the presence of Arcobacter spp. in minced beef meat (n = 97) and rectal faecal samples (n = 200) collected from cattle immediately after slaughter at a local abattoir in Turkey. Methods and Results: Meat samples were examined using three different isolation procedures (CAT‐supplemented media, de Boer arcobacter isolation method and membrane filtration method), but only one method (CAT‐supplemented media) was employed for faecal samples. The isolated Arcobacter strains were identified by genus‐ and species‐(multiplex) specific PCR assays. Arcobacter spp. were isolated from 5 and 9·5% of meat and faecal samples respectively. Although the only Arcobacter sp. found in meat samples was Arcobacter butzleri, all three pathogenic species –A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus and A. skirrowii– were detected in the rectal swabs. No Arcobacter was isolated when the de Boer method was used for minced meat samples but the same five meat samples were found positive for arcobacters when CAT‐supplemented media and membrane filtration method were used. Conclusions: The membrane filtration method was found to be superior to the CAT‐supplemented media, because it led to a reduction in competing microflora. However, the necessity for one filter and medium for each sample makes this method somewhat expensive. The multiplex‐PCR (m‐PCR) assay shortened significantly the time required for the identification of Arcobacter spp. and also removed the possibility of false positive results due to other campylobacteria. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study reports the isolation of Arcobacter spp. in cattle for the first time in Turkey. The m‐PCR assay enables the identification and differentiation of all arcobacters simultaneously in one‐step PCR.

Background: The aim of this study was to obtain quantitative data about the frequency, genotypic characterization and antibiotic resistance profiling ofSalmonellaagents in chicken flocks located in eastern Turkey.Results: Feces samples representing at least 20% of the flock area were collected via sock swabs from commercial poultry flocks in the study region in addition to internal organs (liver, spleen, intestine) collected at necropsy of suspected chickens belonging to small family enterprises. The samples were analyzed by conventional bacteriological methods (ISO 6579:2002/A1:2007) for isolation, and genus specific (invA) PCR for the identification ofSalmonellaspp. Then, two mPCR were set up to determineSalmonellaserotypes and genotypic resistance status of the field isolates against ampicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and chloramphenicol antibiotics. In the PCR analysis of the suspected colonies, 98.5% were confirmed asSalmonellaspp., and, the most prevalent serotype was identified asS. Infantis with the proportion of 26.6% (17/64), followed byS.Enteritidis with 21.9% (14/64) andS.Typhimurium with 9.4% (6/64). The findings related to antibiotic resistance genes revealed that the most frequently determined gene wassul1with approximately 58%, while theblaTEMgene was detected at the lowest proportion with 20%, amongSalmonellaisolates.Conclusions: The results indicated thatSalmonellainfections constitute a potential risk for chicken flocks in the country and that genotypic resistance rates against various antibiotics should draw particular attention in terms of both human and animal health.

A study was implemented to investigate the presence of contagious caprine pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in East Turkey. This study was based on clinical surveillance in the field, surveillance at regional slaughterhouses and regular submission of suspected lesions to regional laboratories. The results showed that the agent of CCPP, Mycoplasma capricolum subspecies capripneumoniae (Mccp), could be detected by culture and specific polymerase chain reaction from 37.5% (12/32) of lung samples taken from goats of ten different herds. This agent was also isolated from two of 13 sheep samples (one from the lung and the other from a nasal swab). Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capripneumoniae was isolated in pure culture and characterised at a finer molecular level. The East Turkish isolate was found to be closely related to another strain of Turkish origin, as well as to Mccp strains isolated in Tunisia. The isolation of Mccp from sheep lung lesions brings the strict host-specificity of this pathogen into question. It may also indicate that Mccp presents a risk for wildlife in the region. Such results, the authors believe, demonstrate that adequate risk assessments should be undertaken in Turkey and neighbouring countries.

SUMMARY The avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (AvCoV-IBV) is recognized as an important global pathogen because new variants are a continuous threat to the poultry industry worldwide. This study investigates the genetic origin and diversity of AvCoV-IBV by analysis of the S1 sequence derived from 49 broiler flocks and 14 layer flocks in different regions of Turkey. AvCoV-IBV RNA was detected in 41 (83.6%) broiler flocks and nine (64.2%) of the layer flocks by TaqMan real-time RT-PCR. In addition, AvCoV-IBV RNA was detected in the tracheas 27/30 (90%), lungs 31/49 (62.2%), caecal tonsils 7/22 (31.8%), and kidneys 4/49 (8.1%) of broiler flocks examined. Pathologic lesions, hemorrhages, and mononuclear infiltrations were predominantly observed in tracheas and to a lesser extent in the lungs and a few in kidneys. A phylogenetic tree based on partial S1 sequences of the detected AvCoV-IBVs (including isolates) revealed that 1) viruses detected in five broiler flocks were similar to the IBV vaccines... RESUMEN Análisis filogenético y variación del gene S1 de virus de la bronquitis infecciosa detectados en pollos y gallinas de postura en Turquía. El coronavirus aviar conocido como el virus de la bronquitis infecciosa aviar (AvCoV-IBV), es reconocido como un patógeno global importante debido a que las nuevas variantes son una amenaza continua para la industria avícola en todo el mundo. En este estudio se investigó el origen genético y la diversidad de los virus de bronquitis de bronquitis mediante el análisis de la secuencia del gene S1 de virus derivados de 49 lotes de pollos y de14 lotes de ponedoras en diferentes regiones de Turquía. Se detectó ARN del virus de la bronquitis infecciosa en 41 (83.6%) lotes de pollos y en nueve (64.2%) de los lotes de ponedoras por un método de transcripción reversa y PCR en tiempo con sondas TaqMan. Además, se detectó ARN de virus de la bronquitis infecciosa en las tráqueas 27/30 (90%), los pulmones 31/49 (62.2%), las tonsilas cecales 7/22 (31.8%), y riñones 4/49 (8.1%)...

Even though gas gangrene caused by Clostridium septicum in goats is mentioned in the classical textbooks, we have not managed to find any case description in the literature. Clinical signs resembling gas gangrene such as subcutaneous bloating, edema and crepitation were detected at various body parts of nine pregnant animals at the ages of 2–3 years on a hair goat farm (n = 170) located in Bingol province, Eastern Turkey. Five of these suspected animals with severe clinical symptoms died within 2 days. Various samples such as internal organs, edematous skin and edema fluid collected from dead and live animals were analyzed for the presence of clostridial agents by histopathological and microbiological methods. As a result of macroscopic and microscopic examination, lesions of gas gangrene were detected. The suspected isolates were identified and confirmed as C. septicum by bacteriological and molecular methods. The present study was the first to report identification of C. septicum as primary agent in the gas gangrene of goats.