BackgroundDimeticone 4% lotion was shown to be an effective treatment for head louse infestation in two randomised controlled trials in England. It is not affected by insecticide resistance but efficacy obtained (70-75%) was lower than expected. This study was designed to evaluate efficacy of dimeticone 4% lotion in a geographically, socially, and culturally different setting, in rural Turkey and, in order to achieve blinding, it was compared with a potential alternative formulation.MethodsChildren from two village schools were screened for head lice by detection combing. All infested students and family members could participate, giving access to treatment for the whole community. Two investigator applied treatments were given 7 days apart. Outcome was assessed by detection combing three times between treatments and twice the week following second treatment.ResultsIn the intention to treat group 35/36 treated using dimeticone 4% had no lice after the second treatment but there were two protocol violators giving 91.7% treatment success. The alternative product gave 30/36 (83.3%) treatment success, a difference of 8.4% (95% CI -9.8% to 26.2%). The cure rates per-protocol were 33/34 (97.1%) and 30/35 (85.7%) respectively. We were unable to find any newly emerged louse nymphs on 77.8% of dimeticone 4% treated participants or on 66.7% of those treated with the alternative formulation. No adverse events were identified.ConclusionOur results confirm the efficacy of dimeticone 4% lotion against lice and eggs and we found no detectable difference between this product and dimeticone 4% lotion with nerolidol 2% added. We believe that the high cure rate was related to the lower intensity of infestation in Turkey, together with the level of community engagement, compared with previous studies in the UK.Trial RegistrationCurrent Controlled Trials ISRCTN10431107

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Leishmaniasis is a one of the vector-borne diseases and has two clinical forms in Turkey: cutaneous and visceral. The aim of this study was to determine the sand fly fauna in Afyon and Nigde provinces where endemic foci of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Turkey. In Afyon, 2,259 sand flies were collected in 73 locations in August 2009 and August 2010, using CDC light traps. In total, eight Phlebotomus species were identified; Phlebotomus halepensis (47.41%), Phlebotomus papatasi (31.42%), Phlebotomus neglectus/syriacus (9.38%), Phlebotomus balcanicus (7.48%), Phlebotomus simici (2.12%), Phlebotomus perfiliewi (1.90%), Phlebotomus sergenti (0.08%), Phlebotomus similis (0.13%), and Sergentomyia dentata (0.04%). A total of 418 sand fly specimens were caught by CDC light traps in 40 stations in Nigde in September 2009 and September 2010. In total, seven Phlebotomus species were identified; P. halepensis (74.16%), P. simici (13.87%), P. papatasi (3.82%), P. neglectus/syriacus (2.87%), P. balcanicus (2.63%), P. sergenti (2.39%), and Phlebotomus tobbi (0.23%). Collected sand flies were examined by microscope, and no promastigotes were found in their midguts. We categorized and pooled female specimens (1,031 females, 73 pools of 2-33 individuals). Leishmania species-specific ITS1 real-time PCR assay was performed for detection and identification of parasites. We detected 6 of the 73 pools with Leishmania tropica (Ross, 1903), (Trypanosomatidae). In conclusion, P. halepensis was found to be dominant species in both areas. We are in opinion that our findings support P. halepensis vectorial role for L. tropica in nature and it could be responsible for the transmission of L. tropica in these endemic areas.

Leishmaniasis, presenting in two clinical forms, cutaneous and visceral in Turkey, is widespread in most of the countries in the Mediterranean Basin. An average of 10 to 13% of cases are reported from Adana every year. This paper presents the results of an entomological survey in an endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Imamoglu province of Adana in Turkey.We collected 654 sand fly specimen using 100 light traps in 20 nights in August 2013 and July 2014. Several keys and previous drawings were used in the identification of the species. In total, six Phlebotomus species were identified; Phlebotomus tobbi (50.3%), Phlebotomus papatasi (34%), Phlebotomus perfiliewi (2.9%), Phlebotomus sergenti (0.4%), Phlebotomus neglectus/syriacus (0.8%), and Sergentomyia spp. (11.5%). In addition, the female/male rate was found to be 0.84.Collected sand flies (44 pools of 1-10 individuals) were analyzed microscopically, and no promastigotes were found in the midgut specimens. Using a genus specific real time-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for simultaneous detection of Old Word Leishmania. We detected only 3 of the 44 pools with Leishmania by genus-specific real-time PCR assay.P. tobbi was found to be dominant species in spite of the differences in sand fly fauna composition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study for sand fly fauna including 15 villages where endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Imamoglu, Adana Province, Turkey.

ÖZET: Vektör eklembacaklılar olarak bilinen sivrisinekler, insanlığa çeşitli hastalıkları bulaştırırlar. Dünya çapında, sivrisineklere karşı uygulanan mücadele programları, mikroorganizmaları, kimyasalları, doğal düşmanlarını, bazı fiziksel bariyerler gibi farklı ajanlardan oluşmaktadır. Çalışmamızda, ultrasonik ses seviyenin üstündeki ve altındaki değişen ses frekanslarının Culex pipiens larvalarına olan etkilerini belirlemeye çalıştık. Toplamda sekiz saat süren deneylerimizde, 3 farklı düzeyde (10.8 kHz, 20.0 kHz ve 24.5 kHz), 3 tekrarda, ses frekansı üreten piezo transdüktörlü modifiye kaplarda bulunan 720 adet sivrisinek larvası kullanılmıştır. Kontrol grubu olarak da aynı sayıda larva kullanılmıştır. Culex pipiens'in ikinci evre larvalarının, kullanılan frekans seviyelerine daha duyarlı olduğu bulunmuştur. Ayrıca larva mortalite açısından en etkili ses frekansı, 129 ölü larvanın gözlemlendiği, 10.8 kHz olarak tespit edilmiştir. Kullanılan üç ayrı frekans için larvalar üzerinde gözlemlenen mortal etkinin, değişen düzeylerde uygulanan ses frekansları ile doğrudan ilişkili olmadığı, larvaların her birinin akustik rezonans sınırları ile ilgili olduğu tarafımızca tespit edilmiştir.ABSTRACT: Known as vector arthropods, mosquitoes transmit several types of diseases to human. Applied vector programmes worldwide against mosquitoes have different agents such as microorganisms, chemicals, natural enemies, physical barriers, etc. We aimed to determine the effects of varying sound frequencies above and below ultrasonic level (10.8 kHz, 20.0 kHz and 24.5 kHz), on Culex pipiens larvae with three replicates. In total, 720 mosquito larvae located in modified container with produced three different level sound frequencies piezo transducers were used in our experiment lasting eight hours. Also, the same number of larvae were used as control groups. Second instar larvae were detected more sensitive to used frequencies level. Also, in terms of larval mortality, the most effective sound frequency was 10.8 kHz in which 129 larvae died. It was concluded that the mortal effect was not related to the change in the frequency of sound; and this effect was related to resonance of the larvae used in the study.