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Objectives:To determine the associated clinical symptoms and prevalence of Blastocystis hominis (B. hominis).Methods:Stool samples of 50,185 patients (26,784 males and 23,401 females) who were received at the Parasitology Laboratory of Yuzuncu Yil University Faculty of Medicine, Van, Turkey in the last 5 years were inspected microscopically using saline and iodine-stained wet-mount preparations. Age, gender, and symptoms of patients were recorded and their significance was evaluated.Results:The prevalence of B. hominis in the total sample was 0.54% (275/50185). Out of 275 infected patients, 143 (52%) were males, and 132 (48%) were female (χ2=0.884; p=0.348). The distribution of B. hominis infection was high in 7-13 aged children (34.9%) (χ2=306.8; p=0.001). Blastocystis was higher among symptomatic patients (70.2%) compared with asymptomatic patients (29.8%) (χ2=107.13; p=0.001). The most frequent clinical symptoms associated with the disease were abdominal pain (27.3%) and diarrhea (19.6%) followed by anorexia, fever, saliva, anal itching, and nausea.Conclusion:Blastocystis hominis is considered a causative agent of human disease in patients with recurrent symptoms. Due to the significant risk for zoonotic transmission, molecular techniques must be used to determine the route and source of infection.

A coprologic study was conducted to determine the prevalence of helminth infections at the Samsun Zoo, Turkey. There are 184 animals comprising 45 species or subspecies, including 23 ruminants, three equines, 21 carnivores, 10 rabbits, two primates, two kangaroos, and 123 birds in the zoo. Fecal samples of zoo animals were collected and examined four times from 2006 to 2007: in September, December, March, and June. In four seasons, coprologic analysis revealed that 123 of 338 (36.4%) fecal samples were infected with different helminths types, including one trematode, one cestode, and 12 nematodes eggs or larvae. Species included Dicrocoelium spp. (0.9%), Moniezia spp. (1.1%), Toxascaris leonina (7.1%), Toxocara spp. (8.6%), Uncinaria stenocephala (1.4%), Dictyocaulus filaria (1.9%), Muellerius spp. (14.1%), strongyle type (20.7%), Strongylus edentatus (8.3%), Cyathostomum spp. (66.7%), Trichuris spp. (3.9%), capillarid type (9.5%), Ascaridia spp. (1.9%), and Heterakis spp. (12%).

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Abnormal swimming and major mortalities of fish were observed by a fish farmer in his pond in which he was rearing common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in Samsun, Turkey. A total of 118 common carps of different size and weight were transferred to the laboratory and examined for ecto-and endoparasites. Thus, a heavy infestation with the fish louse, Argulus foliaceus, was found, with the ectoparasites firmly attached to the skin and fins of all the (118) carps, during this parasitological examination (100% prevalence). Up to 800-1000 lice were counted on a single fish and most of these were detected as microscopic juvenile stages. Major fish mortalities or large numbers of moribund fishes due to this parasite were seen throughout the pond. Furthermore, no endoparasites were found in the carps examined. In the pathological investigation, hyperaemia, especially on the pectoral and pelvic fin bases and in the abdominal area, was macroscopically observed. RÉSUMÉUne nage anormale et des mortalités importantes chez les poissons ont été observées par un aquaculteur dans son étang dans lequel il élevait la carpe commune (Cyprinus carpio) à Samsun, la Turquie. Un total de 118 carpes communes de différentes tailles et poids ont été transférées au laboratoire et examinées en vue d'y observer d'éventuels ecto-et endoparasites. C'est ainsi qu'au cours de cet examen parasitologique, une forte infestation par Argulus foliaceus a été mise en évidence, les ectoparasites étant fermement fixés sur la peau et les nageoires de toutes les (118) carpes (prévalence de 100%). Jusqu'à 800-1000 parasites ont été comptés sur un seul poisson et la plupart d'entre eux ont été détectés aux stades juvéniles à l'échelle microscopique. Des mortalités considérables de poissons ou bien de grands nombres de poissons moribonds ont été observés dans tout l'étang. En outre, aucun endoparasite n'a été trouvé chez les carpes examinées. Lors de l'examen pathologique, une hyperémie, en particulier à la base des nageoires pectorales et pelviennes a été observée à l'échelle macroscopique.3 )