title: Serologic detection of antibodies against Fasciola hepatica in sheep in the middle Black Sea region of Turkey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of Fasciola hepatica infection in sheep in the Black Sea region of Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples from 213 sheep were collected randomly in Samsun, Tokat, and Sinop from September 2005 to January 2007 and tested by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot analysis using F. hepatica excretory-secretory (E/S) antigens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of ELISA-positive samples for F. hepatica infections out of a total of 213 sheep serum samples was 23/71 (32.4%), 15/59 (25.4%), and 29/83 (34.9%) in Samsun, Sinop, and Tokat, respectively. The immunodominant proteins were determined by Western blot analysis using molecular weight markers of 14 kDa, 20 kDa, 24 kDa, 27 kDa, 33 kDa, 45 kDa, and 66 kDa and extracted from sera of sheep that were positive for Fasciola spp. eggs and also hyperimmune sera from rabbits immunized with E/S antigens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ELISA-positive results were confirmed by Western blot analysis. As a result, seroprevalence of F. hepatica infection was found in 31.4% of sheep from the Karayaka breed in the Middle Black sea region of Turkey.
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey. Electronic address: acicim@omu.edu.tr.
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Acici
authors: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Ozlem
authors: O
authors: Buyuktanir
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Cenk Soner
authors: CS
authors: Bolukbas
authors: Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Gokmen Zafer
authors: GZ
authors: Pekmezci
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Ali Tumay
authors: AT
authors: Gurler
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University, Samsun, Turkey.
authors: Sinasi
authors: S
authors: Umur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005210:Fasciola hepatica / Q000276:immunology*; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000909:Antibodies, Helminth
keywords: ELISA; Turkey; fasciolosis; sheep