Detection and molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens, Paeniclostridium sordellii and Clostridium septicum from lambs and goat kids with hemorrhagic abomasitis in Turkey.

Background: The pathogenic Clostridia cause neurotoxic, histotoxic and enterotoxic infections in humans and animals. Several Clostridium species have been associated with abomasitis in ruminants. The present study aimed to investigate the frequency, and the presence of virulence genes, of Clostridium perfringens, Paeniclostridium sordellii and Clostridium septicum in lambs and goat kids with hemorrhagic abomasitis.

First report of Serotype-1 Marek's disease virus (MDV-1) with oncogenic form in backyard turkeys in Turkey: a molecular analysis study.

Background: Marek's disease (MD) is a lymphoproliferative disease caused by Gallid alphaherpesvirus 2 (GaHV-2, MDV-1), which primarily affects chickens. However, the virus is also able to induce tumors and polyneuritis in turkeys, albeit less frequently than in chickens.

Results: This is the first study in Turkey reporting the molecular characterization of a MDV-1 strain detected in a flock of backyard turkeys exhibiting visceral lymphoma.

Molecular identification and antibiotic resistance profiling of Salmonella species isolated from chickens in eastern Turkey.

Background: The aim of this study was to obtain quantitative data about the frequency, genotypic characterization and antibiotic resistance profiling of Salmonella agents 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 of Salmonella spp.

Assessment of Farmers' Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance.

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.

Sudden death due to gas gangrene caused by Clostridium septicum in goats.

Background: 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.

Case Presentation: 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.

Production of Recombinant N Protein of Infectious Bronchitis Virus Using the Baculovirus Expression System and Its Assessment as a Diagnostic Antigen.

The avian coronavirus-infectious bronchitis virus (AvCoV-IBV) is recognized as an important avian pathogen, and new viral variants are a continuous threat to the poultry industry worldwide. Sensitive diagnostics and efficacious vaccines are necessary to combat IBV infections in chickens. The aim of this study was to produce recombinant N protein of IBV in the baculovirus system to use in ELISA diagnostic tests in order to enable the assessment of the sero-prevalence and risk of IBV infections in chickens in Turkey.

Phylogeny and S1 Gene Variation of Infectious Bronchitis Virus Detected in Broilers and Layers in Turkey.

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.

The first experimental research on the pathogenicity of Arcobacter butzleri in zebrafish.

This experimental study was conducted to investigate the pathogenicity and histopathology of Arcobacter butzleri in zebrafish model organism. Firstly, mean infective dose (ID50) of A. butzleri was calculated in zebrafish as 1.

In vitro activity of Brucella melitensis isolates to various antimicrobials in Turkey.

Background: Brucellosis is a systemic infectious disease caused by Brucella bacteria. A successful treatment requires antibiotics that can penetrate into the cell at high concentrations. The aim of this study was to assess the biotype and in vitro activity of 80 Brucella isolates obtained from blood against various antimicrobials for human brucellosis in Turkey.

Investigation of virulence and cytolethal distending toxin genes in Campylobacter spp. isolated from sheep in Turkey.

The presence of virulence and cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) genes was investigated in isolates of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, C. lanienae, and C.

Isolation and molecular characterization of Escherichia coli O157 from broiler and human samples.

There is a lack of information about the role of poultry, specifically chicken, in transmission of Escherichia coli (E. coli) O157 and subsequent human illnesses. This study was therefore aimed at investigating the presence of E.

Investigation of toxin genes by polymerase chain reaction in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis in Turkey.

Staphylococcus aureus causes a number of diseases in humans and animals, and it is the most common etiological agent of contagious bovine mastitis. The agent produces several virulence factors such as coagulase (coa), clumping factor, protein A, exfoliative toxins, staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs), and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. The aim of the present study was to characterize coa-positive S.

Isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from broiler chickens in Turkey.

Mycoplasma bovis normally affects cattle, in which it causes pneumonia in calves, mastitis, arthritis and other diseases. In the present article we report the isolation of this bovine pathogen from the tracheas of broiler chickens with no clinical signs. The most probable source of infection was the cattle herd sharing the farm with the chickens.

Coagulase gene polymorphisms detected by PCR in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from subclinical bovine mastitis in Turkey.

The genetic relatedness of coagulase (coa) positive Staphylococcus aureus isolated from cows with subclinical mastitis in Turkey was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Among 700 milk samples positive in the California Mastitis Test (CMT), species specific PCR identified 200 (28.6%) isolates as S.

Heterogeneity of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains from healthy sheep.

The objectives of this study were to identify, at species level, thermophilic campylobacters isolated from clinically healthy sheep by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR). The heterogeneity among Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli isolates was also investigated using a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the flagellin (flaA) gene.

Random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolated from healthy cattle and sheep.

The genetic heterogeneity among Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates obtained from apparently healthy cattle and sheep was investigated by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. A total of 348 Campylobacter isolates, consisting of C. jejuni (n = 218) and C.

Evaluating the curriculum of the veterinary school of Firat University, Turkey, in terms of professional and technical skills.

A significant portion of the problems faced by veterinarians is related to communication. These problems are intensely experienced between veterinary practitioners and animal owners; yet no lectures or courses aiming to improve professional skills are available in the curriculum of veterinary schools in Turkey. In this study, all students currently enrolled at, and 1992 and 1998 graduates of, the Veterinary School of Firat University (VSFU), Turkey, were surveyed to evaluate the attitudes of veterinary students and graduates toward technical and professional skills.

Genotyping of broiler-originated Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates using fla typing and random amplified polymorphic DNA methods.

Liver and intestine samples taken from 200 broilers at 20 flocks were inoculated onto Preston Enrichment broth and agar for selective isolation of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. The isolates were identified by both conventional and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Campylobacter spp.

Identification of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolates from sheep and goats by PCR.

The present study was carried out to estimate the prevalence of caseous lymphadenitis (CL) in sheep and goats slaughtered at the local abattoir in Elazig province located in the east of Turkey, between September and December 2000. A total of 2046 sheep and 2262 goat carcasses were examined during the study period and 118 abscessed lymph nodes, 89 from sheep and 29 from goats, were collected. Corynebacterium spp.