title: Incidence of cyclosporiasis in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in western Turkey.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Ege University Medical Faculty, Izmir, Turkey. nevin.turgay@ege.edu.tr
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Turgay
authors.forename: Aysegul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yolasigmaz
authors.forename: Derya Dirim
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.forename: Fadile Yildiz
authors.initials: FY
authors.lastname: Zeyrek
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uner
mesh_terms: 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