Maedi Visna Virus (MVV) is a retrovirus that can infect sheep. There is still no effective therapy or vaccine against this virus and timely diagnosis is important to combat the complications of the disease. In this study, we aimed to develop an ELISA using peptides derived from gag protein as antigen. For this purpose, B cell epitopes of gag protein were predicted and a docking analysis with the B cell receptor was performed to select peptides to be used in ELISA. After three soluble epitopes with the highest antigenicity were produced as peptides, the immunogenicity of each peptide was determined by ELISA using sheep serum samples categorized as MVV positive (n=24) and negative (n=13). Subsequently, in house ELISA using above mentioned immunogenic peptides as antigen was used to investigate MVV seroprevalence in sheep (n=88). According to the results, among three peptides, two of them strongly reacted with MVV positive serum samples and the mean absorbance values detected among positive and negative serum samples were statistically significant, indicating that these peptides were immunogenic (P=0.016 and P=0.038). The third peptide also reacted with positive serum samples but the mean absorbance value was not statistically significant and this peptide was considered non-immunogenic (P=0.175). The immunogenic two peptides showed the same high sensitivity and specificity values of 91.60 and 92.80 according to the commercial kit. Moreover, MVV seroprevalence detected by peptide-ELISAs using CKQGSKE and CRPQGKAGHKG peptides as antigen was 3.40 % and 4.5 %, respectively. As a result, it was shown that these peptides can be successfully used for serological diagnosis of MVV.

UNASSIGNED: This study aims to investigate the mediating role of achievement goals in the relationship between teachers\' zest for work and teaching motivation.
UNASSIGNED: The research was designed using the relational survey model. The research sample consisted of 518 teachers working in various cities in Turkey in 2023-2024 academic year fall semester. A convenience sampling method was used in sampling. Three Likert-type scales were used as data collection tools. In the data analysis, firstly, the data suitability to normal distributions was examined. As a result of the analysis, kurtosis and skewness values were examined and it was assumed that the data were normally distributed. SPSS Process extension was used to analyze the data.
UNASSIGNED: According to the research results, teachers\' zest for work positively and significantly predicted strong and positive achievement goals. In addition, teachers\' achievement goals significantly and positively predicted their teaching motivation. Additionally, teachers\' zest for work positively and significantly predicted their teaching motivation. Moreover, it can be inferred that achievement goals for students have a mediating role in the relationship between teachers\' zest for work and teaching motivation. In this context, it is suggested that policies that increase teachers\' teaching motivation should be prioritized.

Groundwater resources in Bitlis province and its surroundings in Türkiye\'s Eastern Anatolia Region are pivotal for drinking water, yet they face a significant threat from fluoride contamination, compounded by the region\'s volcanic rock structure. To address this concern, fluoride levels were meticulously measured at 30 points in June 2019 dry period and September 2019 rainy period. Despite the accuracy of present measurement techniques, their time-consuming nature renders them economically unviable. Therefore, this study aims to assess the distribution of probable geogenic contamination of groundwater and develop a robust prediction model by analyzing the relationship between predictive variables and target contaminants. In this pursuit, various machine learning techniques and regression models, including Linear Regression, Random Forest, Decision Tree, K-Neighbors, and XGBoost, as well as deep learning models such as ANN, DNN, CNN, and LSTM, were employed. Elements such as aluminum (Al), boron (B), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), phosphorus (Pb), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were utilized as features to predict fluoride levels. The SelectKbest feature selection method was used to improve the accuracy of the prediction model. This method identifies important features in the dataset for different values of k and increases model efficiency. The models were able to produce more accurate predictions by selecting the most important variables. The findings highlight the superior performance of the XGBoost regressor and CNN in predicting groundwater quality, with XGBoost consistently outperforming other models, exhibiting the lowest values for evaluation metrics like mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and root mean squared error (RMSE) across different k values. For instance, when considering all features, XGBoost attained an MSE of 0.07, an MAE of 0.22, an RMSE of 0.27, a MAPE of 9.25%, and an NSE of 0.75. Conversely, the Decision Tree regressor consistently displayed inferior performance, with its maximum MSE reaching 0.11 (k = 5) and maximum RMSE of 0.33 (k = 5). Furthermore, feature selection analysis revealed the consistent significance of boron (B) and cadmium (Cd) across all datasets, underscoring their pivotal roles in groundwater contamination. Notably, in the machine learning framework evaluation, the XGBoost regressor excelled in modeling both the \"all\" and \"rainy season\" datasets, while the convolutional neural network (CNN) outperformed in the \"dry season\" dataset. This study emphasizes the potential of XGBoost regressor and CNN for accurate groundwater quality prediction and recommends their utilization, while acknowledging the limitations of the Decision Tree Regressor.

Microplastic (MP) pollution has been observed in various ecosystems as a result of the rapid increase in plastic production over the past half-century. Nevertheless, the extent of MP pollution in different ecosystems, particularly in freshwater ecosystems, has not been well-studied, and there are limited investigations on this particular topic, specifically in Türkiye. Here, we quantify the occurrence and distribution of MPs in surface water samples collected from Topçu Pond (Türkiye) for the first time. Water samples were collected at five stations and filtered (30 L for each station) through stacked stainless steel sieves (5 mm, 328 µm, and 61 µm mesh size) with a diameter of 30 cm. The abundance, size, color, shape, and type of collected debris samples were analyzed after the wet peroxide oxidation process. MP particles were observed in all samples at an average abundance of 2.4 MPs/L. The most abundant MP size class and type were 0-999 µm and fiber respectively. On the other hand, prevalent colors were black and colorless in general. According to the Raman analysis results, the identified MP derivatives were polypropylene (40%), polyamide (30%), ethylene acrylic acid (20%), and polyvinylchloride (10%). Moreover, the pollution load index (PLI) index was used to determine the pollution status. PLI values were determined as 1.91 at station S1, 1.73 at station S2, 1.31 at station S3, 1 at station S4 and 1.24 at station S5. The PLI value determined for the overall pond was 1.4. The results of this research show that MP pollution is present in Topçu Pond and contributes to the expanding literature on MP pollution in pond ecosystems.

This case report was prepared to provide information about Menacanthus pallidulus (Neumann, 1912), which was detected for the first time on a domestic chicken in Hatay province of Türkiye. Louse specimens collected from a chicken by a student were brought to Hatay Mustafa Kemal University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, and sent to Selçuk University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Parasitology, for identification of species and microscopic examination revealed the presence of Menacanthus pallidulus (Neumann, 1912). Thus, with this study, the presence of M. pallidulus on domestic chickens was recorded for the first time in Türkiye.
Bu olgu sunumu, Türkiye’nin Hatay ilinde, evcil bir tavukta ilk kez tespit edilen Menacanthus pallidulus (Neumann, 1912) hakkında bilgi vermek için hazırlanmıştır. Bir öğrenci tarafından tavuktan toplanan bit örnekleri Hatay Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi, Parazitoloji Anabilim Dalı’na getirilmiş, tür teşhisi için Selçuk Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi, Parazitoloji Anabilim Dalı’na gönderilen örneklerin mikroskobik inceleme sonucu Menacanthus pallidulus (Neumann, 1912) olduğu anlaşılmıştır. Böylece bu çalışma ile evcil tavukta saptanan M. pallidulus’un, Türkiye’deki varlığı ilk kez kaydedilmiştir.

In patients with end-stage kidney disease, kidney transplantation is the kidney replacement therapy option that provides the most successful survival. However, immunosuppression agents administered after kidney transplantation can increase the risk of opportunistic infections. Microsporidia are obligate intracellular pathogens that can be fatal in immunosuppressed patients. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of microsporidia in kidney transplantation recipients and the molecular characterization of the detected species.
To evaluate the prevalence of renal microsporidiosis in kidney transplant recipients, the urine samples from a total of 325 patients were analyzed by real-time and nested polymerase chain reaction for Encephalitozoon spp. and Enterocytozoon bieneusi.
Only one (0.4%) sample from the adult patient was positive for the Encephalitozoon species, while no positivity was found in pediatric patients. It was determined as Encephalitozoon intestinalis by ITS rRNA gene region sequence analysis. A microsporidia species obtained from humans in Türkiye has been characterized for the first time and registered in GenBank.
Our epidemiological results show that the prevalence of renal microsporidiosis in kidney transplant recipients is very low. In addition, as a result of the phylogenetic analysis of the detected isolate, it was observed that it was 100% identical to the isolates reported from dogs in Kayseri, Türkiye. This situation provided essential data regarding the zoonotic transmission dynamics of microsporidia.
Böbrek nakli, son dönem böbrek yetmezliği olan hastalarda en başarılı sağkalım sağlayan renal replasman tedavi seçeneğidir. Ancak böbrek nakli sonrasında uygulanan immün baskılayıcı ajanlar fırsatçı enfeksiyon riskini artırmaktadır. Microsporidialar, immün sistemi baskılanmış hastalarda ölümcül olabilen zorunlu hücre içi patojenlerdir. Bu çalışmada böbrek nakil hastalarında microsporidia prevalansının belirlenmesi ve tespit edilen türlerin moleküler karakterizasyonunun yapılması amaçlandı.
Böbrek nakli hastalarında renal microsporidiosis prevalansını değerlendirmek için toplam 325 hastadan alınan idrar örnekleri Encephalitozoon spp. ve Enterocytozoon bieneusi açısından gerçek zamanlı ve nested polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu ile analiz edildi.
Erişkin hastalardan sadece biri (%0,4) Encephalitozoon türleri yönünden pozitif belirlendi, çocuk hastalarda ise pozitiflik saptanmadı. ITS rRNA gen bölgesi sekans analizi sonucunda tespit edilen türün Encephalitozoon intestinalis olduğu görüldü. Bu çalışma ile Türkiye’de ilk kez insanlardan izole edilen bir microsporidia türü karakterize edilerek GenBank’a kaydedildi.
Elde edilen epidemiyolojik sonuçlar, renal transplant hastalarında renal microsiporidiosis prevalansının çok düşük olduğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca tespit edilen izolatın filogenetik analizi sonucunda Kayseri’de köpeklerden bildirilen izolatlarla %100 benzer olduğu görüldü. Bu çalışma microsporidiaların zoonotik bulaşma dinamikleri açısından önemli bir veri sağlamaktadır.

UNASSIGNED: The aim of this study was to analyze the theses prepared in the field of medical parasitology in Türkiye and to reveal the importance given to the science of parasitology in the groves of academe and to raise awareness in this field.
UNASSIGNED: Council of Higher Education\'s National Thesis Center database has been analyzed postgraduate these documents conducted in the field of medical parasitology from January 1985 to September 2022.
UNASSIGNED: As a result of the examining, 393 theses made in the field of medical parasitology were detected. It was determined that 52.9% of the theses prepared were master, 28% of PhD and 19.1% were the thesis of medical specialty thesis and 61.3% of the theses prepared were related to protozoa, 16.5% of helminths, 8.6% arthropods and 12.2% of intestinal parasites (helminth and protozoa). The top five types of parasites in the theses were Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania spp., Echinococcus spp., Giardia intestinalis and Cryptosporidium spp. respectively.
UNASSIGNED: In conclusion, it was of the opinion that more importance should be given to the field of medical parasitology in Türkiye.
UNASSIGNED: Bu çalışmanın amacı, Türkiye’de tıbbi parazitoloji alanında hazırlanan tezlerin analizini yaparak, akademik camiada parazitoloji bilimine verilen önemi ortaya koymak ve bu alanda bir farkındalık oluşturmaktır.
UNASSIGNED: Çalışmaya, Yükseköğretim Kurulu Ulusal Tez Merkezi’nin online uygulamasından arama yapılarak, Ocak 1985-Eylül 2022 tarihleri arasında tıbbi parazitoloji alanında yapılmış tezler dahil edildi.
UNASSIGNED: Arama sonucunda tıbbi parazitoloji alanında yapılmış 393 tez saptandı. Tezlerin %52,9’unun yüksek lisans, %28’inin doktora ve %19,1’inin tıpta uzmanlık tezi olduğu belirlendi. Tezlerin yapıldığı alanlarının dağılımı incelendiğinde, tezlerin %61,3’ünün protozoonlar, %16,5’inin helmintler, %8,6’sının artropodlar ve %12,2’sinin bağırsak parazitleri (helmint ve protozoonlar) ile ilgili olduğu saptandı. Tezlerde en çok çalışılan ilk beş parazit türünün sırasıyla Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania spp., Echinococcus spp., Giardia intestinalis ve Cryptosporidium spp. olduğu belirlendi.
UNASSIGNED: Sonuç olarak, Türkiye’de tıbbi parazitoloji alanına daha çok önem verilmesi gerektiği kanaatine varıldı.

Since 2003, the Turkish Ministry of Health (TMOH) has activated a reformed system called Health Transformation Program (HTP) which has assertive goals. Health transformation program has brought about important improvements in many health topics. However, at the beginning of HTP, cesarean section (C-section) rate was approximately 30%, having exceeded 50% in 2013 which reflected the highest rate in Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Currently, most of the deliveries are carried out via C-section in Türkiye which started disputes about whether the high rate of C-section is Achilles\' heel of HTP. To overcome high C-section rate, TMOH has been making intensive efforts and taking serious measures in recent years including passing a law to ban elective C-sections. Despite the strict measures taken C-section rate didn\'t decrease instead increased gradually. The current situation shows that the problem is more complicated than the authorities figure out, and a whole new perspective on the issue is needed.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the psychosocial difficulties and life experiences of nurses working in the disaster area following the earthquake on February 6, Kahramanmaraş centered earthquake with a phenomenological approach.
BACKGROUND: After natural disasters such as earthquakes, nurses play a significant role in providing both physical and psychosocial support. Therefore, the experiences of nurses in this field are necessary both to support them and to assist disaster survivors.
METHODS: In this study, in which the phenomenological research method was used, semi-structured in-depth interviews with 18 nurses who provided health care services during the February 6 Kahramanmaraş earthquake were conducted between January and February 2024 via Whatsapp mobile application. Snowball sampling method was used to reach the sample group. Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. All interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The study was conducted and reported according to the COREQ checklist.
RESULTS: Data analysis revealed two themes (psychological and social difficulties caused by the earthquake, traumatic stress and coping experiences as a nurse) and five sub-themes (social difficulties, psychological difficulties, traumatic events, reactions and coping).
CONCLUSIONS: As a result of the study, it was determined that nurses providing health care services were negatively affected psychosocially by the traumatic stress situations they experienced in the earthquake centered in Kahramanmaraş on February 6. It was determined that nurses had great difficulty in coping with the traumatic stress situations they experienced. It was concluded that the February 6 earthquake caused secondary traumatization in nurses.

UNASSIGNED: The house fly, Musca domestica, is vector for pathogens and parasites and causes economic damage to livestock by reducing forage conversion efficiency, negatively impacting weight gain and milk production. It has shown resistance to multiple insecticide classes. The aim of this research was to determine the susceptibility levels of seventeen field M. domestica strains to thiamethoxam, a neonicotinoid insecticide, in Türkiye.
UNASSIGNED: Insecticide susceptibility of the house flies to thiamethoxam was determined using the WHO glass jar method. A probit analysis program was used to determine LD50 values, and then the resistance ratios were compared with insecticide-susceptible strain.
UNASSIGNED: All strains were ≥18.5-fold resistant to thiamethoxam. The data showed that 10 out of 17 strains had either high or very high resistance levels. Our findings revealed that house flies from solid waste landfills in Samsun, Ankara, and Kocaeli exhibited higher resistance ratios compared to those found in animal shelters. Conversely, in Gaziantep, Antalya, İzmir and Erzurum, the exact opposite trend was observed. Regarding the LD50 values among solid waste storage areas, the lowest rate was obtained from Gaziantep (0.72 gr ai/m2), and the highest rate was obtained from Ankara (9.35 gr ai/m2). Furthermore, regarding the LD50 values among animal shelters, the lowest was obtained from Samsun (0.37 gr ai/m2), and the highest was obtained from Denizli (21800 gr ai/m2).
UNASSIGNED: The use of integrated control systems is recommended for controlling house fly populations, including insecticide class rotations for preventing, or at least, delaying the onset of resistance.