Steroids (cholesterol and ergosterol) are components of cell membranes. There are important sterols like cardenolide-digoxigenin and bufadienolide-scillarenin, which have an effect on the heart. Fusidic acid, a steroid obtained from the fungus Fusidium coccineum, has antimicrobial characteristics and is used to treat infections caused by gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria (5-10 mg/kg 3 times per day). Alfaxolone and alfadolone are synthetic steroids developed in this way for general anesthesia (1).Soybeans are a major source of beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol, which play a role in the growth of plant cells. Beta-sitosterol is added to products like margarine and corn oil. Fats like these have an antilipidemic effect because they reduce the absorption of cholesterol through the intestines (they cause less lipidemia than normal fats). Stigmasterol acts as an antioxidant. It also reduces the risk of prostate cancer (2,3).It is known that plant-based sterols (stigmasterol) have a negative effect on the absorption of other steroids by the intestines (they also prevent the biosynthesis of cholesterol). Stigmasterol, campesterol, and beta-sitosterol have been demonstrated to inhibit the D24-reductase enzyme in Caco-2 and HL-60 cells. It has been found

Aim:This study was conducted to determine the role of Staphylococcus in the formation of subclinical mastitis in cows and to isolate the phage against isolated Staphylococcus aureus strains.Materials and Methods:In this study, 400 milk cows were screened by California Mastitis Test (CMT) for subclinical mastitis and 235 udders of 96 cows, which were determined to be positive, were evaluated for Staphylococcus. Milk samples were evaluated using conventional and molecular methods. In addition, phage isolation studies were performed against S. aureus strains causing mastitis.Results:At the result of cultural examination, of 235 milk samples that were found as positive for mastitis by CMT, a total of 117 (49.7%) Staphylococcus spp. were isolated as a distribution of 74 (63.24%) coagulase-positive staphylococci and 43 (36.75%) coagulase-negative staphylococci. Of these isolates, 76 (64.95%) were characterized as S. aureus both conventional and molecular techniques. Lytic bacteriophages against two S. aureus strains which were isolated from mastitic milk samples were obtained from wastewater samples.Conclusion:The results of this study show that a significant portion of subclinical mastitis was formed by staphylococci. In addition, phage isolation against S. aureus strains isolated can be considered as one of the steps to be applied in the prophylaxis and treatment of such infections.

The stability of the plasmid-mediated virulence factors of Bacillus anthracis, a tripartite toxin located on pXO1 and an antiphagocytic capsule encoded by genes located on pXO2, following long-term storage was investigated. A collection of 159 isolates of B. anthracis were collected from the Kars region of Turkey between 2000 and 2013 and stored at -20°C in Brucella broth supplemented with 20% glycerine. A total of 142 isolates were recovered of which one failed to express a capsule upon primary culture. A further 35 isolates yielded a mixture of mucoid and non-mucoid colonies; the majority of which had lost the pXO2 plasmid as determined by PCR analysis. Results would suggest that pXO2 is more unstable than pXO1 and that this instability increases with the length of storage. It is possible that the pXO2-deficient isolates of B. anthracis described here could be developed into a vaccine to treat at risk animals in the Kars region as many animal vaccines are based upon pXO2 deficiency.

This study was aimed at determining the presence of C. burnetii in cattle and sheep herds in the Kars region of Turkey using serological and molecular methods. As a serological technique, C.burnetii IgG in blood sera and milk samples were investigated with ELISA. The results of these examinations revealed that 108 (43.2%) out of 250 sheep blood serum samples and 52 (14.85%) out of 350 cattle blood serum samples were seropositive for C. burnetii antibodies by ELISA. Out of 350 cattle and 250 sheep milk samples examined with ELISA, 36 (10.28%) and 42 (16.8%) were found to be seropositive, respectively. For molecular analysis, a Trans-PCR amplifying the IS1111A transposase gene of C. burnetii was conducted. Five (1.42%) out of 350 cattle milk samples, and one (0.4%) from 250 sheep milk samples were found to be positive for C. burnetii DNA. The results obtained in this study have demonstrated the presence of Q fever in cattle and sheep in the Kars region, and the dissemination of the infectious agent within milk. This situation poses a potential risk for animal and human health. Ultimately, this study points the way to future investigations into the presence of C. burnetii, which causes Q fever in cattle and sheep, and will contribute to the protection and control of the disease.

Though the main route of tularemia outbreaks is water-borne in Turkey, it was determined that people whose occupations bring them into contact with animals are at risk. Similar studies are recommended in order to further clarify the epidemiology of the disease in the northeast of Turkey.