Browsing by Author "Altug, N"

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Prevalence of Cryptosporidium Infection in Van Cats
(indian veterinary Journal, 2005) Goz, YR; Yuksek, N; Altug, N; Ceylan, E; Deger, S
Cryptosporidium infection is a zoonotic disease caused by Cryptosporidium spp. and transmitted by faecal-oral cycle. Young animals are most likely to develop symptomatic infections and shed high quantities of infective oocysts. But infection in adult animals is asymptomatic and number of oocysts shed is usually very fewer than from young animals. (Bukhari and Smith, 1999). The aim of present study was to investigate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in Turkish Van Cats. Materials and Methods Forty six cats 96 kitten and 40 adult Van cats) from Van Cat House, aged between 16 weeks and 7 years were used in this study. Direct smear method and then formalin-ether sedimentation method were carried out to detect intestinal parasites from faecal samples of cats (n=46). The smears were stained by Modified Ziehl-Neelsen Method for identifying the red-pink oocyst of cryptosporidium. Results and Discussion Cryptosporidium sop. are coccidial protozoon belonging to the phylum Apicomplexa which inhabit the intestinal and respiratory surface epithelium of mammals, birds and reptiles. The first species of this genus was recognized in gastric glands of the laboratory mice in 1907 and was named Cryptosporidium muris (Tyzzer, 1907). In Cryptosporidium spp. has been reported from the faeces of 13 non-feral Japanese cats (Iseki,- 1979). Cryptosporidium prevalence was found to be 3.8% (Arai et al., 1990; Spain et al., 2001), 5.4% (Hill et al., 2000) and 8.1% (Mtambo etal., 1991) in other studies. In the present study, it was detected that all kittens (n=6) were infected by Cryptosporidium spp. (13.0%). No cryptosporidium oocysts were found in adult cats. Similarly, previous reports indicate that more young animals are infected with Cryptosporidium spp. Than old animals (Bukhari and Smith, 1999). Pets and farm animals with Cryptosporidium and other parasitic infections may be important sources and great risk factor for immunocompromised adults and children, especially those with AIDS (Lewis et al., 1985). In the present study, in addition to Cryptosporidium spp. Other gastrointestinal parasites including Toxocara cati (15.2%), Taenia taeniaeformis 4.3%), Giardia spp. (6.5%) and Isospora felis (2.17%) were detected. Infection incidence with only one species of parasite was more common than infection with multiple parasite species. One kitten was infected with one helminth (Toxocara cati) and two protozoa (Giardia spp. and Isospora felis). Toxocara cati was the most prevelant helminth (15.2%), followed by Taenia taeniaeformis (4.3%). Giardia spp. was detected in one adult and two kittens. Isospora felis was detected in only one kitten. Cryptosporidium infection in kittens and healthy or immunodepressed. cats can cause a spectrum of diseases from an asymptomatic state to mild, transient diarrhoea and cholera-like illness; or prolonged and life threatening malabsorption syndrome. In young animals with cryptosporidium infection, there is dehydrating diarrhoea caused by development of the parasites within the epithelial cells of the intestinal. mucosa (Tzipori et al., 1983). In the present study, no clinical symptoms including diarrhoea were found in young cats with cryptosporidium oocysts in their faecal smears. These results agree with the result of Iseki (loc. cit.). There have been reports linking feline cryptosporidiosis to human infection. (Bukhari and Smith, loc. cit.; Mtambo et al., loc. cit.). But many cat owners and breeders are not aware of feline zoonotic parsites and their mode of transmission to humans. Thus, the veterinarians have a great role in educating the cat owners and breeders regarding the transmission of zoonotic parasites such as cryptosporidium.
Prevalence of Feline Retrovirus Infections in Van Cats
(Natl veterinary Research inst, 2005) Yüksek, N; Kaya, A; Altug, N; Özkan, C; Agaoglu, ZT
It was aimed to determine the prevalence of feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) in Van cats, eradicate virus positive animals and protect virus negative animals from the infections. The study was performed on 132 Van cats (52 males and 80 females), between land 14 years of age. It was found that 4.5% of the cats were positive for FeLV and 3% of them were positive for FIV. In conclusion, it is suggested that the detection of FeLV and FIV positive cats and their eradication is very important for the protection of future generations of Van cats from these diseases.
Serum Adenosine Deaminase Levels in Different Periods of Pregnancy in Ewes
(Scientific Technical Research Council Turkey, 2002) Alan, M; Agaoglu, ZT; Uyar, A; Altug, N
The levels of adenosine deaminase in different periods of pregnancy and after parturition were investigated in 13 ewes. Blood samples were collected on the day of mating and on days 10, 21, 35, 75, 104, 144 of pregnancy and on day 10 after parturition. Sera were harvested from these samples and adenosine deaminase levels were assayed as IU/L. Adenosine deaminase levels were high on the day of mating and after parturition but decreased during pregnancy. The lowest level was assayed just before parturition. Levels at the sampling times were 8.91, 8.30, 5 50, 3,96, 3.80, 2.18, 1.67 and 10.51 IU/L, respectively. Adenosine deaminase levels were different at mating time, on days 21, 35 and 104 and after parturition (P<0.05). It was concluded that serum adenosine deaminase levels decrease significantly from the period of pregnancy onwards. This decrease can be determined as early as day 21. This condition of this enzyme may indicate normal pregnancies and it may be useful for clinical diagnosis and observation of pregnancy or pregnancy period.
Studies on Some Haematological and Biochemical Parameters in Clinically Healthy Ostriches
(Tubitak Scientific & Technological Research Council Turkey, 2003) Agaoglu, Z; Yoksek, N; Altug, N; Kaya, A; Baydas, B
This study was carried out to determine the normal haematological and biochemical parameters of clinically healthy ostriches 1-3 years old of either sex. Red blood cells, white blood cells, haematocrit and haemoglobin values (as haematological parameters) and glucose, total protein, albumin, globulin, urea, kreatinine, serum enzymes (ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, CK, amilase) (as biochemical parameters) and electrolytes (Ca, P, Mg, Zn, Cu, Na, K, Cl) levels were measured. It was concluded that the values obtained in this study could be used as reference values for ostriches.