Browsing by Author "Unlu, A. H."

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Determination of the Occurrence Frequency of Cryptosporidium Sp. in Children Brought To the Hospital With the Complaint of Diarrhea Using Different Methods
(Aloki Applied Ecological Research and Forensic inst Ltd, 2021) Ekici, A.; Unlu, A. H.; Halidi, A. G.; Aydemir, S.; Yilmaz, H.
Cryptosporidium is a parasite responsible for diarrhea in humans. Practitioners rarely routinely request Cryptosporidium diagnostic tests; thus, its prevalence is likely underrated. The prevalence of cryptosporidiosis among children brought to the hospital with the complaint of diarrhea was investigated using 3 different methods, comprising nested PCR, immunochromatographic testing, and microscopic examination with modified acid-fast staining. Cryptosporidium sp. was detected in 42/150 children with diarrhea (28%) and in 1/50 children in the control group (2%). The main complaint by children admitted to hospital with Cryptosporidium was diarrhea. Additionally, some clinical symptoms/signs like abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, stool mucus, weakness, weight loss, and anorexia were correlated with cryptosporidiosis. Results from the 3 methods were compared and nested PCR and immunochromatographic testing were the most reliable. Among other pathogens and parasites found in stool samples, Cryptosporidium is a significant cause of hospitalization due to gastrointestinal disease in children in Van, Turkey.
In Vitro Protoscolicidal Effects of Hypericum Perforatum, Thymus Vulgaris, Pimenta Racemosa, and Mentha Piperita Against Echinococcus Granulosus Protoscoleces
(Sciendo, 2025) Yildiz, R.; Unlu, A. H.
Cystic echinococcosis (CE), an endemic zoonotic disease in Turkiye, is caused by the helminth Echinococcus granulosus. It has threatened the livestock industry and is of major medical and socio-economic importance to humans. Surgery is still the main practice of treatment, despite the risk of relapses and several adverse effects. Due to their minimal side effects, herbal products have been widely used for thousands of years to treat various infections. The present study was designed to investigate the in vitro protoscolicidal effect of extracts from Hypericum perforatum, Thymus vulgaris, Pimenta racemosa, and Mentha piperita against hydatid cyst protoscoleces. The livers and lungs of the sheep were obtained from a private abattoir, and the protoscoleces were collected under sterile conditions. The final herbal products were extracted using the aqueous extraction method. Different concentrations of herbal extracts (50, 100, and 150 mg/ml) were tested on Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces, following different times of incubation (5, 10, and 60 min). The viability of the protoscoleces was assessed by a 0.1 % eosin staining method. Extracts of H. perforatum, T. vulgaris, and P. racemosa exhibited a statistically significant effect on protoscoleces mortality (P<0.001) when compared with the negative control. The present experimental study indicated that aqueous extracts of H. perforatum, T. vulgaris, and P. racemosa could be potential candidates as valuable and useful sources of protoscolicidal agents for CE.