Mustafa Acici1, Ozlem Buyuktanir2, Cenk Soner Bolukbas3, Gokmen Zafer Pekmezci4, Ali Tumay Gurler3, Sinasi Umur3. 1. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: acicim@omu.edu.tr. 2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey. 3. Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey. 4. Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
Abstract
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica infection in sheep in the Black Sea region of Turkey. METHODS: Samples from 213 sheep were collected randomly in Samsun, Tokat, and Sinop from September 2005 to January 2007 and tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis using F. hepatica excretory-secretory (E/S) antigens. RESULTS: The distribution of ELISA-positive samples for F. hepatica infections out of a total of 213 sheep serum samples was 23/71 (32.4%), 15/59 (25.4%), and 29/83 (34.9%) in Samsun, Sinop, and Tokat, respectively. The immunodominant proteins were determined by Western blot analysis using molecular weight markers of 14 kDa, 20 kDa, 24 kDa, 27 kDa, 33 kDa, 45 kDa, and 66 kDa and extracted from sera of sheep that were positive for Fasciola spp. eggs and also hyperimmune sera from rabbits immunized with E/S antigens. CONCLUSION: The ELISA-positive results were confirmed by Western blot analysis. As a result, seroprevalence of F. hepatica infection was found in 31.4% of sheep from the Karayaka breed in the Middle Black sea region of Turkey.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica infection in sheep in the Black Sea region of Turkey. METHODS: Samples from 213 sheep were collected randomly in Samsun, Tokat, and Sinop from September 2005 to January 2007 and tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis using F. hepatica excretory-secretory (E/S) antigens. RESULTS: The distribution of ELISA-positive samples for F. hepatica infections out of a total of 213 sheep serum samples was 23/71 (32.4%), 15/59 (25.4%), and 29/83 (34.9%) in Samsun, Sinop, and Tokat, respectively. The immunodominant proteins were determined by Western blot analysis using molecular weight markers of 14 kDa, 20 kDa, 24 kDa, 27 kDa, 33 kDa, 45 kDa, and 66 kDa and extracted from sera of sheep that were positive for Fasciola spp. eggs and also hyperimmune sera from rabbits immunized with E/S antigens. CONCLUSION: The ELISA-positive results were confirmed by Western blot analysis. As a result, seroprevalence of F. hepatica infection was found in 31.4% of sheep from the Karayaka breed in the Middle Black sea region of Turkey.