Browsing by Author "Akar Ş.Ş."

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    Autochthonous transmission of Leishmania donovani and Leishmania major with all the components of infection cycle at Europe's doorstep
    (Elsevier B.V., 2022) Özbilgin A.; Tunalı V.; Akar Ş.Ş.; Yıldırım A.; Şen S.; Çavuş I.; Zorbozan O.; Gündüz C.; Turgay N.; İnanır I.
    Objectives: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease and dogs may act as urban reservoirs. Turkey and most of the Mediterranean basin countries are endemic for leishmaniasis. In this study, it is aimed to report the autochthonous leishmaniasis cases, with all the components of the infection cycle (reservoir, vector, and the host) in a region close to Europe. Methods: Nine human and four canine autochthonous leishmaniasis cases were included in the study. Direct microscopy, culture methods, serological, and molecular tests were applied to the samples obtained from the cases. Results: VL and CL patients consisted of 2 L.infantum, 1 L. donovani, 2 L. tropica, and 2 L. tropica,1 L. major,1 L. infantum infected patients respectively. CanL cases were infected with L. infantum, L. donovani, L. tropica, and L. major. Conclusions: All the cases were autochthonous cases located in Manisa province. As Greece and all the Mediterranean basin countries in Europe share competent vectors, it is concluded that the detection of all 4 species of Leishmania parasites in such proximity to Europe poses an important public health threat for Europe. This study reports all four species of Leishmania spp., including L. major and L.donovani in close proximity to continental Europe. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.
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    Unpleasant Souvenir: Imported Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in Türkiye; [Nahoş Hatıra: Türkiye’de Yurtdışı Kaynaklı Plasmodium falciparum Sıtması]
    (Galenos Publishing House, 2023) Özbilgin A.; Tunalı V.; Akar Ş.Ş.; Çavuş İ.; Zorbozan O.; Yıldırım A.; Turgay N.
    Objective: Each year, approximately 125 million people visit malaria-endemic countries. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections in Türkiye. Methods: The study included patients diagnosed with P. falciparum malaria between 1996 and 2022. A retrospective evaluation was conducted on whole blood samples and/or blood smears, as well as detailed medical histories, clinical manifestations, and laboratory findings. A total of 131 imported cases of P. falciparum were included in the study. Results: Among the patients, 121 were male. Of these, 101 had traveled to Africa, while 30 had visited Asia. Among the patients, 109 were returned travelers, and 22 were refugees/migrants. Early trophozoites were observed in all patients, while gametocytes were detected in 30 patients. Cerebral malaria developed in 15 patients, resulting in the death of two individuals. Additionally, 10 patients received preventive chemoprophylaxis. Conclusion: Turkey is situated on migration routes that connect two continents to Europe, where more than 95% of the global malaria burden exists. The importation of malaria through returned travelers poses a risk of malaria reintroduction in our country, given the presence of suitable vectors, climate conditions, and environmental factors. Importantly, 30 patients (22.9%) exhibited gametocyte forms of P. falciparum, which have the potential to infect Anopheles species, thus establishing a basis for local malaria transmission. © 2023 Turkish Society for Parasitology.