Browsing by Author "Erkunt Alak S."

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    Molecular prevalence of Blastocystis sp. and subtype diversity in fecal samples collected from cattle in dairy farms in Turkey
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2022) Öncü Öner T.; Karakavuk M.; Değirmenci Döşkaya A.; Güvendi M.; Gül A.; Köseoğlu A.E.; Erkunt Alak S.; Gürüz A.Y.; Ün C.; Döşkaya M.; Can H.
    Close contact with infected animals is one of the main risk factors for zoonotic transmission of enteric protozoan parasite Blastocystis and thus, several animal species are being screened for the detection of the zoonotic subtypes. For this purpose, 22 fecal samples were collected from healthy cattle aged > 2 months and 39 fecal samples were also collected from cattle (aged <2 months) which are treated with TMP-SMX due to diarrhea. Later, Blastocystis sp. and subtypes were investigated by a PCR targeting the SSU rRNA gene and subsequently by sequencing. Among the 22 fecal samples collected from healthy cattle, Blastocystis was detected in 12 of them with a prevalence rate of 54.5 %. Among Blastocystis-positive samples, five different subtypes (ST3, ST5, ST10, ST12, and ST13) were detected. The predominant subtype was ST10 (allele 152) with a prevalence rate of 50 % (6/12). In the other group treated with TMP-SMX due to diarrhea, Blastocystis was detected in only one (2.56 %;1/39) fecal sample and its subtype was ST1 (allele 2). High prevalence of Blastocystis as well as predominance of ST10 (allele 152) were detected in healthy cattle. The identification of zoonotic ST1, ST3, ST5 and ST12 subtypes among the detected subtypes with a high prevalence (46.1 %; 6/13) showed the importance of cattle as a source for transmission of Blastocystis to humans. It was observed that the efficiency of TMP-SMX on the clearance of Blastocystis in cattle was very strong. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first study detecting Blastocystis ST13 subtype in the cattle. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd
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    Molecular prevalence and genotypes of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in cancer patients under chemotherapy in Aegean region of Türkiye
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2024) Aksoy Gökmen A.; Öncü Öner T.; Erkunt Alak S.; Koçkaya E.S.; Güvendi M.; Karabey M.; Alacacıoğlu A.; Pektaş B.; Değirmenci Döşkaya A.; Karakavuk M.; Döşkaya M.; Ün C.; Gürüz A.Y.; Kaya S.; Can H.
    Background: Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common species found in humans. Although E. bieneusi has been investigated in humans, genotype profile of E. bieneusi is not known in Türkiye. Methods: In this study, we screened E. bieneusi in patients (n = 94) with different types of malignant solid tumors by Real Time PCR and then sequenced E. bieneusi positive samples. All cancer patients were undergoing chemotherapy and had diarrhea. Moreover, as control groups, we also screened E. bieneusi in patients with diarrhea (n = 50) and without diarrhea (n = 50). Results: Among all patients analyzed, 33 (17%) were found to be E. bieneusi-positive. As the patients were categorized, the molecular prevalence of E. bieneusi increased to 25.5% among cancer patients with diarrhea. However, the molecular prevalence of E. bieneusi was found to be lower in patients with presenting only diarrhea (8%) and patients without diarrhea (10%). The high molecular prevalence value detected among cancer patients with diarrhea was also statistically significant compared to other patient groups (P = 0.00112 and P = 0.0269). Among the 33 Real Time PCR positive samples, 10 of them were amplified by nested PCR and among these 10 samples, 6 of them were successfully genotyped. The phylogenetic tree showed the presence of D and Type IV which were also identified in stray cats living in İzmir in our previous study. Conclusions: High molecular prevalence value indicates the importance of screening stool samples of cancer patients with diarrhea for E. bieneusi and genotyping results indicate that D and Type IV are circulating between humans and cats. © The Author(s) 2024.
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    Molecular prevalence and genetic characterization of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in cattle in a dairy farm in Türkiye
    (BioMed Central Ltd, 2025) Öncü Öner T.; Can H.; Değirmenci Döşkaya A.; Güvendi M.; Erkunt Alak S.; Sürgeç E.; Ün C.; Döşkaya M.; Gürüz A.Y.; Karakavuk M.
    Background: Microsporidia, which are unicellular and obligate intracellular eukaryotic pathogens, can infect many animal species and humans. Cattle are known to be an important source for the spread of Enterocytozoon bieneusi (E. bieneusi) to humans and animals. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate E. bieneusi in fecal samples collected from cattle and environmental samples within a dairy farm and to genotype E. bieneusi-positive samples. For this purpose, a Nested PCR targeting a region of the E. bieneusi ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) was applied to the DNA samples extracted from fecal (n = 47) or environmental samples (n = 41). Later, sequencing data belonging to E. bieneusi-positive samples were analyzed by BLAST and phylogenetic analysis for genotyping. Results: Nested PCR screening detected 15 E. bieneusi-positive samples and among them six (12.8%; 6/47) were detected in fecal samples while nine (21.9%; 9/41) were detected in environmental samples (including drinking water containers, mangers, feeding bottle, milk heating tank and towel). When cattle were categorized by their age, the molecular prevalence of E. bieneusi for cattle < 2 months old was detected as 19.2% (5/26). However, in cattle group > 2 months old, the molecular prevalence of E. bieneusi was 10% (1/10). Surprisingly, remaining cattle > 2 years old (n = 11) were found to be E. bieneusi-negative. BLAST and phylogenetic analyses revealed type IV as well as 11 new genotypes designated as NG1 to NG11. Conclusion: These findings point out that cattle and farms are important sources for the transmission of E. bieneusi spores to humans or animals. © The Author(s) 2025.