Mikrobiyol Bul
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Molds are widely distributed in nature. Aspergillus spp. represent the most frequently observed causative agents, however less frequent pathogens Fusarium, Scedosporium and Zygomycetes have also been considered the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in profoundly immunosuppressed hosts. The aims of this study were to identify filamentous fungi isolated from clinical specimens by conventional and molecular methods, and to detect their antifungal susceptibilities. ⋯ E-test and disk diffusion test results were compatible with each other for all the antifungal agents tested. In conclusion, the identification of filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus and Fusarium spp. is easily and reliably achieved by conventional methods. Since the rate of invasive fungal infections is increasing currently, filamentous molds should be searched especially in the clinical specimens of immunocompromised patients for accurate and prompt diagnosis of such infections and to decrease the related mortality risk.
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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an arthropod-borne alphavirus that causes an acute febrile illness, chikungunya fever. CHIKV virus is geographically distributed in Africa, India, and South-East Asia. Chikungunya fever outbreaks have been reported from India since 2006. ⋯ This was the first laboratory confirmed imported Chikungunya case in Turkey. There are predictions regarding the presence of Aedes species mosquitos that can transmit this virus in Turkey. This case report will be an alarming signal for the clinicians in our country to consider Chikungunya fever in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with fever, arthralgia and rash.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the tularemia seroprevalence among hunters mainly hunting in districts with emerging tularemia cases in Yozgat province located at the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. A total of 64 serum samples were collected from the subjects (all were male; age range: 18-67 years; mean age: 42.7 years) registered to Hunting and Shooting Clubs in Yozgat province and it's two districts, during January-April 2010 and anamnestic data were obtained using a questionnaire. The presence of Francisella tularensis antibodies in serum samples were screened by microagglutination test (MAT), and the positive samples were also confirmed by a commercial ELISA kit (Serazym, Germany). ⋯ The hunter with 1/2560 antibody titer developed acute oropharyngeal tularemia and treated with 14 days of ciprofloxacin therapy. Evaluation of risk factors in seropositive cases revealed consumption of spring water as a risk factor. In conclusion, our results indicated a considerable exposure of hunters to F.tularensis in Yozgat province and reflected a high prevalence of the pathogen around Yozgat, which coincided with the high notification rate of tularemia in this region.
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Tularemia which has a worldwide distribution, is a zoonotic infection caused by Francisella tularensis. F.tularensis can infect a wide range of animals and can be transmitted to humans in a variety of ways, the most common being by the bite of an infected arthropod vector (usually tick) in the USA and Europe. The clinical presentations have been classically divided into ulceroglandular, glandular, oculoglandular, pharyngeal, respiratory, and typhoidal tularemia depending on the route of transmission. ⋯ LAP decreased after medical treatment and repetitive drainage procedures. The patients recovered completely without sequela. These cases, to the best of our knowledge, who were the first confirmed tick-borne tularemia cases in our country, were presented to call attention to a different mode of transmission for F.tularensis.
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Fusobacterium necrophorum is a non-spore-forming gram-negative anaerobic bacillus that may be the causative agent of localized or severe systemic infections. Systemic infections due to F.necrophorum are known as Lemierre's syndrome, postanginal sepsis or necrobacillosis. The most common clinical course of severe infections in humans is a progressive illness from tonsillitis to septicemia in previously healthy young adults. ⋯ The detailed history of the patient revealed that fish bone had stuck in his throat a week ago. Clarithromycin and linezolid were discontinued and he was recovered within six weeks of meropenem treatment. F.necrophorum infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of persistent head and neck infections with rapidly progressive metastatic necrotic lesions especially in healthy young adults and clindamycin or metranidazol should be added to the treatment protocols.