Browsing by Author "Ertabaklar H."

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    Effectiveness of peptone-yeast extract (P-Y) medium in the cultivation and isolation of Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar in Turkish patients
    (2003) Dagci H.; Balcioglu I.C.; Ertabaklar H.; Kurt O.; Atambay M.
    Amebiasis is a common protozoan infection worldwide, causing serious health problems in both children and adults. Today, almost 10% of the world population is infected with Entamoeba histolytica/Entamoeba dispar. The aims of this study were both the comparison of the reproduction rates and densities of E. histolytica/E. dispar in Robinson, Dobell-Laidlaw and P-Y culture media and isolation of E. histolytica/E. dispar from stool samples in Peptone-Yeast (P-Y) medium. Trophozoites and cysts of E. histolytica/E. dispar, maintained in Robinson medium, and stool samples of patients with amebiasis were inoculated into P-Y, Robinson and Dobell-Laidlaw culture media. Reproduction rates reached their peak levels 48 h after the inoculation in all culture media. Reproduction rates in P-Y and Robinson media were found similar; however, they were higher than the reproduction rate in Dobell-Laidlaw medium (p < 0.01); there was no statistically significant difference between the reproduction rates of P-Y and Robinson media (p > 0.05). Twelve isolates from 12 patients were cultivated in P-Y medium and checked for reproduction everyday for 7 days. Twelve of the 12 (100%) isolates were cultivated in P-Y medium, indicating that the P-Y was an effective medium for the isolation of E. histolytica/E. dispar in stool samples. According to these results, P-Y medium could be preferred in immunologic, serologic and molecular studies and, thus the definitive diagnosis of amebiasis due to its low cost and simple formula. © 2003 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.
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    Serological and entomological survey in a zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis focus of North Central Anatolia, Turkey: Corum province
    (Elsevier, 2005) Ertabaklar H.; Toz S.O.; Ozkan A.T.; Rastgeldi S.; Balcioglu I.C.; Ozbel Y.
    In the present study, we aimed to carry out an epidemiological and entomological survey on a visceral leishmaniasis (VL) focus located on the northern central part of Anatolia, Turkey. Five villages of Corum province, where five confirmed cases of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) (one patient/village) were reported between June 1998 and August 2001 were included in the study. A total of 625 children and 131 dogs were sampled and the physical examination was carried out by authorized physicians and veterinarians. An indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was performed by standard procedures for human and dog sera, while the direct agglutination test (DAT) was only performed for dog sera. Sand fly collection was performed in three villages by CDC miniature light traps. Hepatosplenomegaly and hepatomegaly were detected in two and eight children, respectively. The seropositivity rate among children was found to be 0.16% (1/625) in the region. The seroprevalence of canine infection in these five villages ranged between 0.0% and 28.26%. In two villages, named Ahlatcik and Asagifindikli, no seropositive dogs were found. A total of 1218 sand flies were collected throughout the study. Six species of Phlebotomus were identified: P. transcaucasicus, P. neglectus, P. halepensis, P. tobbi, P. papatasi, and P. jacusieli. P. transcaucasicus was found to be the predominant species in Cevizli (47.44%; 343/723) and Ucoluk (79.95%; 351/439) villages, while P. tobbi was abundant in Kucukerikli (42.85%; 24/56). © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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    Seroprevalence of canine visceral leishmaniasis in Kuşadasi, Turkey
    (TUBITAK, 2005) Özensoy Töz S.; Ertabaklar H.; Özbel Y.; Cüneyt Balcioǧlu I.; Yildizli N.; Alkan M.Z.
    Human and canine visceral leishmaniasis cases have been reported from Kuşadasi, a town in western Turkey, since 1993. In orcer to better understand the epidemiology of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanVL) in the region, we aimed: (i) to determine the prevalence of CanVL in Kuşadasi using a randomly selected dog population and (ii) to measure the effect of case control on the prevalence of the disease. In this study, all 109 dogs kept at the dog shelter of Kuşadasi Municipality (reflecting random selectivity) were screened serologically using IFAT and rK39 ELISA in 1999. Ten dogs (9.1%) were seropositive or borderline in 1 of the 2 tests. Seropositive dogs (8) died spontaneously or were euthanized, while borderline dogs (2) underwent monthly serological examinations. One year later, in a second sampling, a total of 85 dogs were examined (27 previously tested and 58 new). Four dogs 4.7%) showed seropositivity. Seropositive dogs (2) were euthanized while borderline dogs (2) underwent monthly serological examinations. The reduction in the prevalence of the disease (from 9.1% to 4.7%) appears to be the result of culling CanVL positive dogs from the general population. © TÜBİTAK.
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    In vitro and in vivo activities of Haplophyllum myrtifolium against Leishmania tropica
    (2007) Östan I.; Saǧlam H.; Limoncu M.E.; Ertabaklar H.; Toz S.Ö.; Özbel Y.; Özbilgin A.
    This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo leishmanicidal activity of an endemic Turkish plant and compare its efficacy with a reference drug. In addition to the in vitro activities of the ethanol, acidified and alkaloid extracts and furoquinoline alkaloids skimmianine and γ-fagarine, in vivo antileishmanial activitiy of the acidified extract of HaplophyUum myrtifolium Boiss. (Rutaceae) were investigated against Leishmania tropica (L. tropica), a causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis. All the extracts and pure compounds showed in vitro inhibitory activity against the promastigotes of. L tropica. The in vitro 50% inhibitory concentrations of γ-fagarine, acidified extract, ethanol extract, skimmianine and alkaloid extract against promastigotes were determined as 8.7,9.4,10.9,25.7 and 25.8 μ/ml respectively. In vivo results of HaplophyUum myrtifolium acidified extract showed that this plant has a limited effect on decreasing the lesion size of experimental mice infected with Leishmania tropica. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time both the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activity of HaplophyUum mrytifolium have been reported in the same research.
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    Investigating the seroprevalance of leishmaniasis in four dog shelters in Antalya and its districts; [Antalya Ili ve Ilçelerindeki Dört Köpek Barinaǧinda Leishmaniasis Seroprevalansinin Araştirilmasi.]
    (2009) Balcioǧlu I.C.; Ertabaklar H.; Paşa S.; Ozbel Y.; Toz S.O.
    Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) is endemic along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, while it occurs sporadically in other regions of Turkey. A relationship between canine leishmaniasis (CanL) and HVL has been detected and dogs have been found to be the reservoir of Leishmania infantum. In this epidemiologic study, the seroprevalence of CanL was investigated in dog shelters of four districts (Kepez, Kemer, Alanya and Gazipasa) of Antalya, in which visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis were observed according to the official records of The Ministry of Health of Turkey. Blood specimens of 176 dogs were examined and seropositive, borderline, seropositive, and negative results were detected in 14 (7.95%), 24 (13.63%), and 138 (78.4%) dogs, respectively. Weight and alopecia, onychogryphosis, and skin ulcers around the nose were observed in only two (14.2 %) dogs of seropositive cases. In conclusion, our data indicate that there is a potential danger for humans because L. infantum carrying dogs were detected in four districts of Antalya in the present study and also the appropriate vector spp. for this parasite has been reported in a previous one. Therefore, it would be advisable to perform new studies in order to determine the seroprevalence of CanL in dogs and the population size of vector spp. of L. infantum in other districts of Antalya.
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    Spatial distribution of phlebotomine sand flies in the Aydin Mountains and surroundings: The main focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in western Turkey
    (2011) Özbel Y.; Balcioǧlu I.C.; Ölgen M.K.; Şimsek F.M.; Töz S.O.; Ertabaklar H.; Demir S.; Alkan M.Z.
    An entomological survey was conducted to determine the spatial distribution of phlebotomine fauna and understand the effect of environmental factors. The entomological survey was carried out during 2006-2007 in a study area in the rural area of Aydin province, near the Kusadasi town where VL, CL, and canine leishmaniasis (CanL) are endemic. In 2006 and 2007, 132 locations were sampled using sticky traps mainly on embankments. Detailed environmental and meteorological information was also collected for each location. The results of entomological studies indicated that the probable vectors are Phlebotomus tobbi and P. neglectus for VL and CanL, and P. similis for CL in this western leishmaniasis focus. The data revealed a correlation between their presence and spatial variables such as altitude, sampling site location, and humidity. The distribution areas of probable vector species in this study area allowed the identification of risk levels, which may provide useful information to guide the leishmaniasis research in endemic regions. © 2011 The Society for Vector Ecology.
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    A new approach for determining the spatial risk levels for visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis related with the distribution of vector species in western part of turkey using geographical information systems and remote sensing; [Coğrafi bilgi sistemleri ve uzaktan algılama kullanılarak türkiye’nin batısında visseral ve kutanöz leishmaniasisde vektör türlerin dağılımı ile ilişkili mekansal risk düzeylerinin saptanması için yeni bir yaklaşım]
    (Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi, 2012) Ölgen M.K.; Özbel Y.; Balcioğlu I.C.; Demir S.; Şimşek F.; Özensoy Töz S.; Ertabaklar H.; Alkan M.Z.
    Leishmaniases are present in two clinical forms, as visceral and cutaneous, in Turkey showing a tendency of spreading throughout the country. The aim of the present study was to produce a new model for determining the spatial risk levels using the data in a selected study site in the western part of Turkey. The results of entomological studies in this leishmaniasis focus indicated the presence of suspected vector species Phlebotomus (Larroussius) tobbi and P. (Larroussius) neglectus for the visceral, P. (Paraphlebotomus) similis for cutaneous forms of the disease. The new risk model was developed based on univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses of geographical variables as altitude, aspect, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) values related to the distribution of these three species. The results of the new model were used to produce the risk maps and the potential distribution areas of the incriminated vector species with the use of geographical technologies which allowed the identification of the leishmaniasis risk levels that may provide useful information to guide the control program interventions. © 2012, Veteriner Fakultesi Dergisi. All rights reserved.
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    Antileishmanial activity of selected Turkish medicinal plants
    (University of Benin, 2014) Ozbilgin A.; Durmuskahya C.; Kayalar H.; Ertabaklar H.; Gunduz C.; Ural I.O.; Zeyrek F.; Kurt O.; Cavus I.; Balcıoglu C.; Toz S.O.; Ozbel Y.
    Purpose: To determine the in vitro and in vivo anti-leishmanial activities of extracts obtained from Centaurea calolepis, Phlomis lycia, Eryngium thorifolium, Origanum sipyleum and Galium incanum ssp. centrale.; Methods: To estimate the cytotoxicity of plant extracts, WST-1 assay was used. Parasite inhibition in the presence of plant extracts (25-500 μg/ml) in comparision with control group and reference group (glucantime, 25 μg/ml) at 12-72 h were determined in vitro on L. tropica promastigotes. The in vivo leishmanicidal activity of the extracts was evaluated against L. tropica-infected mice with glucantime as reference drug.; Results: The chloroform extract of Galium incanum ssp. centrale showed the highest cytotoxicity with IC50 value of 0.0316 ± 0.005 μg/ml. In vitro parasite inhibition by the plant extracts ranged between 16.7 ± 0.01 % and 100 ± 0.00 % at 25 μg/ml concentration. The methanol extract of Eryngium thorifolium possessed the highest activity on promastigotes of L. tropica with 100 % inhibition at 25 μg/ml. The water and chloroform extracts of C. calolepis and water and methanol extracts of E. thorifolium at a dose of 100 mg/kg reduced parasitaemia in L. tropica infected mice.; Conclusion: Parasite viability results suggest that the methanol extract of Eryngium thorifolium, regarded as non-cytotoxic, is a promising candidate drug for treating L. tropica infection. © Pharmacotherapy Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Benin, Benin City, 300001 Nigeria. All rights reserved.
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    Evaluation of conjunctival swab sampling in the diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis: A two-year follow-up study in Çukurova Plain, Turkey
    (Elsevier B.V., 2015) Karakuş M.; Töz S.; Ertabaklar H.; Paşa S.; Atasoy A.; Arserim S.K.; Ölgen M.K.; Ziya Alkan M.; Durrant C.; Özbel Y.
    The diagnosis of canine leishmaniasis (CanL) in symptomatic and asymptomatic dogs is a very important and problematic public health issue in Turkey. A longitudinal study was carried out on dogs in selected villages in the Çukurova Plain in Turkey, from July 2011 to June 2013, where cutaneous (CL) and visceral (VL) leishmaniasis is endemic. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of CanL and to evaluate the early diagnostic performance of the non-invasive conjunctival swab nested PCR (CS n-PCR) test in comparison with the Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). The consecutive blood and CS samples from a representative number of dogs (80-100 dogs/each survey) were collected in a cohort of 6 villages located in the area. Clinical symptoms, demographic and physical features about each dog were noted and lymph node aspiration samples were obtained from selected dogs with lymphadenopathy. In four surveys during the period, a total of 338 sets (blood and CS) of samples from 206 dogs were obtained, such that 83 dogs were sampled more than once. In the cross-sectional analysis, the CanL prevalence was found to be 27.18% (between 7.14% and 39.13%) by IFAT and 41.74% (between 29.03% and 46.66%) by CS n-PCR. The isolated strains were identified as Leishmania infantum MON-1 (n = 9) and MON-98 (n = 2) by MLEE analysis. Genetic studies targeting the Hsp70 and ITS1 regions performed on 11 dog isolates also showed two clear separate groups. According to IFAT results, 24 of the 83 dogs sampled more than once showed seroconversion (n = 19) or a four-fold increase in Ab titers (n = 5), while 17 were positive in the initial screening. Forty-two dogs stayed negative during the whole period. The natural Leishmania exposure rate was detected as 31.14% in the study area. CS n-PCR only detected Leishmania infection earlier than IFAT in 8 dogs. No statistical difference was found after the analysis of demographical and physical data. The results indicated that (i) circulation of the dog population is very common in settlements in the Çukurova Plain, but the disease prevalence is high and stable, (ii) the performance of CS n-PCR for detecting Leishmania-dog contact is higher than IFAT, (iii) and some of the parasites isolated from dogs have different zymodemes and/or genotypes from previous human and sand fly isolates; suggesting the probability of two different cycles of leishmaniasis in this particular area. This hypothesis should be supported by future studies targeting vectors and reservoirs. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.
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    Detection of Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica in domestic cats in the Ege Region of Turkey
    (Elsevier B.V., 2015) Paşa S.; Tetik Vardarli A.; Erol N.; Karakuş M.; Töz S.; Atasoy A.; Balcioğlu T.C.; Emek Tuna G.; Ermiş T.V.; Ertabaklar H.; Özbel Y.
    Leishmaniosis is a group of diseases caused by different species of Leishmania parasites in mammalian species. The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of Leishmania spp. DNA in cats using real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays targeting internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) and heat-shock protein 70 gene (Hsp70) regions with Leishmania species-specific primers and probes. Blood samples were collected from 147 cats (73 female; 74 male) in the endemic regions for zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in the western provinces of Turkey and analyzed using two RT-PCR assays. Additionally, Hsp70 RT-PCR products were sequenced. ELISA assays for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) were also carried out for 145 of the 147 samples.Overall, 13/147 (8.84%) cats were positive for Leishmania by RT-PCR (4 L. major and 9 L. tropica). FIV and FeLV antibody and/or antigen was detected in 4 and 5 cats among Leishmania DNA positives, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate and report the presence of L. major and L. tropica infections in a large group of domestic cats in Turkey. The results obtained indicate that species identification of Leishmania is essential for epidemiological understanding and that clinical signs alone are not indicative for leishmaniosis in cats, as it is in dogs. This study suggests that extensive research should be carried out in cat populations in order to fully understand the role of cats in the epidemiology of the disease. © 2015 Elsevier B.V.
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    Epidemiological analysis of Leishmania tropica strains and giemsa-stained smears from Syrian and Turkish leishmaniasis patients using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT)
    (Public Library of Science, 2017) Karakuş M.; Nasereddin A.; Onay H.; Karaca E.; Özkeklikçi A.; Jaffe C.L.; Kuhls K.; Özbilgin A.; Ertabaklar H.; Demir S.; Özbel Y.; Töz S.
    Turkey is located in an important geographical location, in terms of the epidemiology of vector-borne diseases, linking Asia and Europe. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the endemic diseases in a Turkey and according to the Ministry Health of Turkey, 45% of CL patients originate from Şanlıurfa province located in southeastern Turkey. Herein, the epidemiological status of CL, caused by L. tropica, in Turkey was examined using multilocus microsatellite typing (MLMT) of strains obtained from Turkish and Syrian patients. A total of 38 cryopreserved strains and 20 Giemsa-stained smears were included in the present study. MLMT was performed using 12 highly specific microsatellite markers. Delta K (ΔK) calculation and Bayesian statistics were used to determine the population structure. Three main populations (POP A, B and C) were identified and further examination revealed the presence of three subpopulations for POP B and C. Combined analysis was performed using the data of previously typed L. tropica strains and Mediterranean and Şanlıurfa populations were identified. This finding suggests that the epidemiological status of L. tropica is more complicated than expected when compared to previous studies. A new population, comprised of Syrian L. tropica samples, was reported for the first time in Turkey, and the data presented here will provide new epidemiological information for further studies. © 2017 Karakuş et al.
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    The current clinical and geographical situation of cutaneous leishmaniasis based on species identification in Turkey
    (Elsevier B.V., 2019) Özbilgin A.; Töz S.; Harman M.; Günaştı Topal S.; Uzun S.; Okudan F.; Güngör D.; Erat A.; Ertabaklar H.; Ertuğ S.; Gündüz C.; Çavuş İ.; Karakuş M.; Östan Ural İ.; Ölgen M.K.; Kayabaşı Ç.; Kurt Ö.; Özbel Y.
    Leishmaniases are a group of vector-borne diseases caused by the members of Leishmania genus, and there are three main clinical forms of the infection as visceral, cutaneous, and mucocutaneous. Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a growing public health problem in Turkey due to increasing detection of autochthonous cases caused by L. major and L. donovani in some regions in addition to Syrian imported cases. For this reason, we aimed to evaluate the current epidemiological situation of CL in the view of causative agents and their geographical distribution throughout Turkey. The samples were collected from 356 CL patients admitted to different centers in 18 provinces between January 2013 and December 2016. Direct microscopy, culture (regular and enriched NNN) and molecular techniques (real-time ITS1 PCR and hsp70 PCR/sequencing) were performed. By molecular techniques, 299, 28, 19 and 10 isolates/clinical samples were identified as L. tropica, L. major, L. infantum and L. donovani, respectively. Most of the patients (65.73%) had one lesion usually on their face/head. Dry-nodular type lesions (n = 291) were mainly associated with L. tropica while L. major was mainly found related to wet-ulcerative ones. Leishmaniasis recidivans was also detected in 2.52% among 356 patients. L. tropica was detected as most widespread species causing CL in Turkey. L. infantum and L. major was also found in one third of the provinces. Enriched NNN culture was worked well for isolating the parasite and 346 isolates were successfully grown and stored in liquid nitrogen. The comparison of all diagnostic techniques showed that the parasitological positivity rate could increase if the combination of direct microscopy and real-time ITS1 PCR is used. Besides well-known anthroponotic L. tropica cases, the increasing detection of CL cases caused by zoonotic species, L. infantum and L. major, is one of the most important findings in the present study. In our opinion to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, proper treatment and countrywide effective control of CL in Turkey a systematic approach is needed on the base of information about characteristics of lesions and patients and epidemiological features of the disease. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.
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    Transfection of Leishmania tropica with green fluorescent protein (gfp) gene and investigation of the in vitro drug effect; [Leishmania tropica'nin Yeşil Floresan Protein (gfp) Geni ile Transfeksiyonu ve İn Vitro İlaç Etkisinin Araştirilmasi]
    (Ankara Microbiology Society, 2019) Ertabaklar H.; Çalişkan S.Ö.; Kolli B.; Ertuǧ S.; Özbilgin A.; Malatyali E.; Chang K.P.
    Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a parasitic disease transmitted by vector sand flies Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia. This disease is characterized by long time non-healing skin lesions, and caused by Leishmania species. CL is the most common infection in Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia in Turkey and L.tropica is known as the main agent of the disease. Number of cases is increasing in our country in time because of malnutrition, migration, travel, low socioeconomic level and ecological changes. For the treatment, the pentavalent antimonials are often used as intralesionally for many years, and it was reported that resistant cases have increased in recent years. New treatment methods and anti-Leishmanial activity of new agents have been investigated because of side effects, resistance development and toxic reactions of the present drugs. These studies are first carried out in vitro and afterwards with in vivo experimental animal models. Reporter gene technology has been used to investigate a variety of purposes like biological events in microorganisms and the efficacy and resistance of drugs in recent years. The major areas that green fluorescent protein (gfp) used are that they can be incorporated into different genes to determine the amount of expression of these genes in different organisms and can be used as markers in living cells. Especially gfp gene, which encodes the green fluorescent protein, is widely used nowadays. Gene-based assays have several advantages like being easy to follow-up, inexpensive and have improved biosecurity. The aim of the present study was to perform the transfection of L.tropica with "enhanced gfp (egfp)" and in vitro usefulness of gfp-transfectants as a drug screening model in comparison to the conventional methods. Promastigotes of L.tropica were transfected with p6.5/egfp by electroporation and selected for tunicamycin-resistance as previously described. L.tropica promastigotes transfected with gfp and in vitro effect of meglumine animoniate was assessed using different methods such as fluorescence microscopy, fluorometer and XTT (2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxyanilide) assay. The use of gfp-transfected Leishmania strains was found more rapid and more sensitive by fluorescent microscopy and fluorometry than conventional assays for the evaluation of potential anti-leishmanial agents. Consequently, stable gfp-transfected Leishmania species will be used in vitro and in vivo for screening of anti-leishmanial drugs and vaccine development as well as for understanding the biology of the host-parasite interactions at the cellular level. As a result ot this study, gfp transfected model using a Turkish L.tropica isolate was established to be used in further studies. © 2019 Ankara Microbiology Society. All rights reserved.
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    Determination of antimony resistance mechanism of leishmania tropica causing cutaneous leishmaniasis in Turkey; [Türkiye’de kutanöz leyşmanyazis etkeni leishmania tropica’da antimon direnç mekanizmasının belirlenmesi]
    (Ankara Microbiology Society, 2021) Özbilgin A.; Zeyrek F.Y.; Güray M.Z.; Çulha G.; Akyar I.; Harman M.; Özbel Y.; Ertabaklar H.; Çavuş İ.; Gündüz C.
    World Health Organization reported that approximately one billion people are at risk in endemic areas, one million cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and approximately 300,000 cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) were reported per year in the last five years. The number of deaths due to VL is reported to be approximately 20,000 per year. Approximately 2500 cases/year have been reported as CL, caused by Leishmania tropica and Leishmania infantum, in Turkey. The significant increase observed in many cities mainly in the provinces of Mediterranean and Aegean regions in cases and foci in recent years, suggests that there may be an increase in this infections in the following years as well. In Turkey, the causative agent of CL is L.tropica and meglumine antimoniate is used in the treatment of CL. We aimed to determine antimony resistance genes specific for L.tropica by comparing the gene and protein expressions of antimony-resistant and non-resistant L.tropica strains. L.tropica isolates obtained from 3 CL patients without antimonate resistance from Aegean, Mediterranean and Southeastern regions of Turkey were provided to transform into 3 resistant isolates against meglumine antimony in the laboratory conditions. Gene expression alterations by microarray method; protein profiles by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and relevant proteins by MALDI-TOF/TOF MS of these isolates were accomplished and compared. L.tropica isolates from 10 CL patients who did not respond to antimony therapy were analyzed for resistance to antimonial compounds and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to detect the expression of genes responsible for resistance development. Moreover, differences in protein expression levels in isolates with and without antimony resistance were determined by comparing protein profiles and identification of proteins with different expression levels was carried out. Enolase, elongation factor-2, heat shock protein 70, tripanthione reductase, protein kinase C and metallo-peptidase proteins have been shown to play roles in L.tropica isolates developing resistance to antimonial compounds and similar expression changes have also been demonstrated in naturally resistant isolates from patients. In conclusion, it was revealed that L.tropica strains in our country may gain resistance to meglumine antimoniate in a short time. It is foreseen that if the patients living in our country or entering the country are treated inadequately and incompletely, there may be new, resistant leishmaniasis foci that may increase the number of resistant strains and cases rapidly. © 2020 Ankara Microbiology Society. All rights reserved.