title: Seroepidemiological and entomological survey in a new focus of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis in Kars province, Northeastern Turkey.
abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has now been recorded from 38 provinces of Turkey. Twenty-one VL cases were reported within six years from settlements located in most northeastern Turkey and we therefore aimed to carry out an entomological and seroepidemiological survey in this new focus for clarifying risk factors. Blood samples from 290 children and 165 dogs were collected. Sera samples were investigated for anti-Leishmania antibodies using indirect fluorescent antibody test. Sand fly collection for determining the fauna and seasonal activity was performed in all settlements by CDC light traps between June and September 2006. Although no seropositive child was detected during the survey the overall seroprevalence rate of canine leishmaniasis was found as 7.2%. A total of 4154 sand flies were collected and 10 species of genus Phlebotomus were identified belonging to Adlerius, Larroussius, Paraphlebotomus and Phlebotomus subgenera. Among them Phlebotomus kandelakii s.l. (55.44%), Phlebotomus balcanicus (12.62%) and Phlebotomus neglectus (4.40%) was detected as probable vector species for this new focus. The poor sanitation, very high population size of sand flies, probably because of very short season, no control measures for sand flies as well as dogs, and presence of microclimate suitable for sand flies were considered as main risk factors in the area.
authors.affiliation: Kafkas University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Kars, Turkey.
authors.forename: Barış
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sari
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, Vocational School of Health Services, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Emin
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Limoncu
authors.affiliation: Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: I Cuneyt
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Balcioglu
authors.affiliation: Kafkas University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Kars, Turkey.
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aldemir
authors.affiliation: Kafkas University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Kars, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gencay Taskin
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Tasci
authors.affiliation: Kafkas University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Kars, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yunus
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kiliç
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Seray
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Toz
authors.affiliation: Kafkas University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, Kars, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berna
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demirci
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Samiye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.affiliation: Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Department of Ecology, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozge Erisoz
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Kasap
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Department of Geography, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: M Kirami
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Olgen
authors.affiliation: Ege University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Parasitology, İzmir, Turkey. Electronic address: yusuf.ozbel@ege.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozbel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000469:parasitology / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses
keywords: Kars; Leishmaniasis; Sand flies; Turkey; Visceral