Incidence of cyclosporiasis in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in western Turkey.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to investigate the distribution of cyclosporiasis between October 2003 and October 2004 and the relationship between Cyclospora infection and seasonal as well as patient factors in western Turkey.


METHODS
Stool samples from 4660 immunocompetent patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and 326 immunocompetent patients with allergic symptoms from western Turkey were examined between October 2003 and October 2004 using wet preparation, formalin-ethyl acetate concentration, Trichrome stain, and modified Kinyoun's acid-fast staining methods.


RESULTS
Twenty-three patients were found to be infected with Cyclospora oocysts. Parasites such as Cryptosporidium, Giardia intestinalis, Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Blastocystis hominis and others were also observed. The incidence of cyclosporiasis was higher in summer and early autumn and most of the Cyclospora-infected patients were without diarrhea.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinicians with patients from Turkey and abroad who have intestinal symptoms after visiting the country should be aware that Cyclospora infections could be considered as a possible cause of gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of diarrhea in immunocompetent patients during the summer period in Turkey.
Turgay
Nevin
N
Department of Parasitology, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey. nevin.turgay@ege.edu.tr
Yolasigmaz
Aysegul
A
Erdogan
Derya Dirim
DD
Zeyrek
Fadile Yildiz
FY
Uner
Ahmet
A
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D021744:Cyclospora / Q000302:isolation & purification; D021866:Cyclosporiasis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011891:Rain; D013696:Temperature; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology