Researchers: Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Prof. Dr. Nedim Çakır, Prof. Dr. Kaya Süer, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Umut Gazi, Dr. Emrah Güler, Prof. Dr. Ayşegül Taylan Özkan (TOBB Ekonomi ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi), Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özbilgin (Celal Bayar Üniversitesi), Prof. Dr. Fazilet Aksu

Tropical diseases are the general name given to diseases that are mainly seen in tropical regions of the world. These diseases especially affect people living in developing countries. Factors such as unfavorable living conditions, poverty, malnutrition, and inadequacy in the health system in these regions pave the way for the aforementioned diseases to progress at serious rates. Although tropical diseases are mainly seen in tropical regions, they can affect various countries of the world. Immigration from these regions and travel to or from these regions have led to an increased incidence of these diseases in the United States and Europe [1].

The concept of tropical diseases also encompasses the group categorized as “neglected tropical diseases: NTD” by the World Health Organization (WHO). Tropical diseases can develop due to viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, and fungi. Some of these diseases include: (i) viral diseases: Ebola, HIV/AIDS, Lassa fever, yellow fever, dengue fever, and rabies from the NTD group; (ii) bacterial diseases: tuberculosis, shigellosis, typhoid, typhus, and trachoma and mycetoma from the NTD group; (iii) protozoan diseases: malaria, cryptosporidiosis, and leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis from the NTD group; (iv) helminth diseases: echinococcosis, cysticercosis and schistosomiasis from the NTD group; (v) fungal diseases: cryptococcosis, and mycetoma from the NTD group [2].

Tropical diseases have various modes of transmission, among which vector-mediated transmission has an important place. Arthropods (for example, flies, lice, fleas, ticks and mites) can transmit microorganisms to humans and cause various diseases [1]. Vector-borne diseases are mostly seen in tropical and subtropical regions and especially affect poor populations [3]. However, as a result of climate change and global warming, tropical diseases and vectors can spread to geographical areas such as the Mediterranean region [1].

The climatic conditions in Cyprus, located in the East Mediterranean, provide a favorable environment for various vector diseases [4, 5]. Apart from this, these diseases pose a threat to our country, especially due to travel to countries where tropical diseases are common or from these regions to our country.

The aim of our research group is to examine the spread of tropical and vector-borne diseases in our country, to detect the causative microorganisms by microbiological and molecular methods, to investigate the presence of antibodies against these diseases in individuals in the community, and to determine the risk factors that may be associated with these diseases. Our research findings will also be shared with health authorities and will contribute to the implementation of necessary infection control programs.

Research group:

• Dr. Tamer Sanlidag
• Dr. Nedim Cakir
• Dr. Kaya Suer
• Prof. Dr. Emrah Ruh
• Prof. Dr. Umut Gazi
• Emrah Guler
• Dr. Ayşegül Taylan Özkan (TOBB University of Economics and Technology)
• Dr. Ahmet Özbilgin (Celal Bayar University)

References:

1. Zumla A, Ustianowski A. Tropical diseases: definition, geographic distribution, transmission, and classification. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2012; 26(2): 195-205.
2. De Rycker M, Baragaña B, Duce SL, Gilbert IH. Challenges and recent progress in drug discovery for tropical diseases. Nature. 2018; 559(7715): 498-506.
3. WHO, 2020. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/vector-borne-diseases
4. Ruh E, Bostanci A, Kunter V, Tosun O, Imir T, Schallig H, Taylan-Ozkan A. Leishmaniasis in northern Cyprus: Human cases and their association with risk factors. J Vector Borne Dis. 2017; 54(4): 358-365.
5. Balaman N, Gazi U, Imir T, Sanlidag T, Ruh E, Tosun O, Ozkul A, Taylan-Ozkan A. Serological screening of West Nile virus among blood donors in northern Cyprus. J Med Virol. 2020; 92(8): 1035-1039.