Ege Bölgesindeki Deney Hayvanı Tesislerindeki Ratlarda Clostridium piliforme Varlığı

Yıl 2025, Cilt: 14 Sayı: 2, 73 - 77, 25.12.2025

Çağatay Nuhay , Ömer Faruk Gökcecik , Necdet İlker İçil

https://doi.org/10.53913/aduveterinary.1809206

Öz

Laboratuvar hayvanlarının sağlık durumu, araştırmaların güvenilirliği ve hayvan refahı açısından büyük önem taşır. Tyzzer hastalığının etkeni Clostridium piliforme, zorunlu hücre içi yaşayan ve spor oluşturan bir bakteridir. İmmün sistemi baskılanmış hayvanlarda yüksek mortaliteye yol açabilmesine rağmen, enfeksiyon genellikle subklinik seyredip kolonilerde uzun süre persiste olabilir. Bu tür latent enfeksiyonlar deneysel sonuçları olumsuz etkileyebileceğinden, düzenli sağlık izlemi büyük önem taşır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye’nin Ege Bölgesi’ndeki ruhsatlı laboratuvar hayvanı tesislerinde C. piliforme’nin varlığını ve yaygınlığını araştırmıştır. Sekiz tesisten her birinden 10’ar adet olmak üzere toplam 80 dışkı örneği toplanmış, DNA ticari bir kit kullanılarak ekstrakte edilmiş ve tür-spesifik primerlerle konvansiyonel PCR yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Seksen örnekten dördü (%5,0) pozitif bulunmuş olup tamamı tek bir tesise aittir (%40,0; 4/10). Wilson skor yöntemiyle %95 güven aralığı 1,6–12,3 olarak hesaplanmış, Fisher’ın Kesin Testi ise tesisler arasında istatistiksel olarak anlamlı fark bulunduğunu göstermiştir (p<0,001). Bu bulgular, C. piliforme’nin Ege Bölgesi sıçanlarında ilk, Türkiye genelinde ise ikinci kez rapor edildiğini göstermekte; daha düşük prevalansın yöntemsel farklar ve tesis koşullarından kaynaklandığı düşünülmektedir. Çalışma, subklinik C. piliforme enfeksiyonlarının araştırma geçerliliği açısından oluşturduğu riski vurgulamakta ve bu patojenin FELASA tarafından önerilen rutin sağlık izleme programlarına dâhil edilmesinin gerekliliğini ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Clostridium piliforme , conventional PCR , laboratory animals , rat , Tyzzer’s disease

Presence of Clostridium piliforme in Rats from Laboratory Animal Facilities in the Aegean Region of Türkiye

Öz

The health status of laboratory animals is essential for both research reliability and animal welfare. Clostridium piliforme, the causative agent of Tyzzer’s disease, is an obligate intracellular and spore-forming bacterium. While it may cause high mortality in immunocompromised animals, the infection often remains subclinical and can persist in colonies for long periods. Such latent infections may compromise experimental outcomes, making regular health monitoring highly important. This study aimed to investigate the presence and prevalence of C. piliforme in rats from licensed laboratory animal facilities in the Aegean Region of Türkiye. A total of 80 fecal samples, 10 from each of eight facilities, were collected. DNA was extracted using a commercial kit and analyzed by conventional PCR with species-specific primers. Of the 80 samples, four (5.0%) were positive, all originating from a single facility (40.0%, 4/10). The Wilson score method estimated a 95% confidence interval of 1.6–12.3, and Fisher’s Exact Test indicated a statistically significant difference among facilities (p<0.001).These findings represent the first report of C. piliforme in rats from the Aegean Region and the second in Türkiye. The prevalence was lower compared to national and international reports, likely due to methodological differences and facility conditions. The study emphasizes the potential risk of subclinical C. piliforme infections for research validity and highlights the necessity of including this pathogen in FELASA recommended routine health monitoring programs.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Clostridium piliforme , conventional PCR , laboratory animals , rat , Tyzzer’s disease

Kaynakça

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