Seroprevalence of fasciolosis and the difference of fasciolosis between rural area and city center in Isparta, Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the seroprevalence of fasciolosis and the possible causes of differences between rural and city center.


METHODS
We undertook a multi-stage sampling analysis of data from Isparta, Turkey, between March and June 2004. Four hundred and fifteen individuals participants from Isparta center and 171 from Asagi Gokdere village were included in the study. Fasciola hepatica (F. hepatica) specific antibodies were analyzed using excretory-secretory (ES)-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.


RESULTS
Fasciola hepatica antibodies were detected as positive in 10 (2.4%) of 415 people whose sera were collected from the city center and 16 (9.3%) of 171 people from Asagi Gokdere village. The positivity rates between village and city center were found statistically significant. A statistical difference was noted for fasciolosis positivity between individuals who have ingested water cress and who have not. Fasciolosis was not detected in the individuals who used to wash vegetables with water containing vinegar.


CONCLUSIONS
Most of the patients in this region reported consumption of uncooked or unwashed water cress. Watering channel is one of the major risk factors of fasciolosis. Therefore, it is essential to determine the watering systems in this region. Moreover, ES-ELISA would be useful in investigating the laboratory diagnosis of fasciolosis.
Kaya
Selcuk
S
Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Medical Faculty, Suleyman Demirel University, Istanbul Cad. No: 52 Kat:4/14, Isparta, Turkey. selcuk@med.sdu.edu.tr
Demirci
Mustafa
M
Demirel
Reha
R
Aridogan
Buket C
BC
Ozturk
Mustafa
M
Korkmaz
Metin
M
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000276:immunology*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D010945:Plants, Edible / Q000469:parasitology; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth