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Article Investigation of Human Herpesvirus 8 & Leishmania Species in Malignant Skin Tumours, Psoriasis, Actinic Keratoses, & Seborrheic Keratoses: a Single-Center Experience From Ankara, Turkey(Scientific Scholar Llc, 2025) Bakir, Ayfer; Usluca, Selma; Kartal, Selda Pelin; Alper, MuratBackground & objectives: The role of human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) and Leishmania species in the aetiology of malignant skin tumours and proliferative skin diseases remains a topic of debate. This study aims to analyse formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) skin biopsy samples using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine whether skin lesions caused by HHV-8 and Leishmania spp. resemble malignant and proliferative skin diseases and assess the role of these pathogens in disease aetiology. Methods: In this retrospective, single-center observational study, skin biopsies were collected from 275 individuals diagnosed with malignant skin tumours, psoriasis, actinic keratoses, seborrheic keratoses, and chronic dermatitis. The presence of HHV-8 and Leishmania spp. in biopsy samples was evaluated Results: HHV-8 DNA was not detected in any of the samples using PCR. However, Leishmania spp. DNA was identified in 8.4 per cent of all samples (n=23). No positivity was observed in the control group (P=0.387). Leishmania spp. DNA PCR positivity was most frequently detected in psoriasis cases (32.4%), followed by actinic keratosis (AK) (8.7%), malignant skin tumours (4.2%), and seborrheic keratosis (SK) (3.8%). When the Leishmania positivity rate in individuals diagnosed with psoriasis was compared with that of the control group, the difference was found to be significant (P=0.002). The positivity rate in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (7.3%) was higher than in basal cell carcinoma (1.6%). Interpretation & conclusions: The findings in this study suggests that there is no relationship between malignant and proliferative skin diseases and HHV-8. However, Leishmania spp. DNA was detected in 8.4 per cent of all samples. Biopsy-archived samples may be preferred for the differential diagnosis of Leishmania in diseases that do not respond to treatment and in atypical clinical presentations.Article Detection of Toxoplasma Gondii and High-Risk Human Papillomaviruses in FFPE Malignant and Benign Breast Lesions Using Real-Time Pcr(Dove Medical Press Ltd, 2025) Usluca, Selma; Bakir, Ayfer; Arikok, Ata Turker; Korkut, Gizem; Yagiz, Gulsah Ceylan; Alper, MuratObjective: Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among women. In recent years, it has been suggested that various pathogens such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and human papillomavirus (HPV) may play a potential role in the development of breast cancer. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T. gondii and HPV infections in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of breast cancer patients using real-time PCR. Methods: The study included 136 paraffin-embedded biopsy samples with w confirmed malignant breast tumor diagnosis and 50 breast tissue samples diagnosed as benign breast lesions, serving as controls. The presence of T. gondii DNA and high-, medium-, and low-risk HPV genotype DNAs were investigated using the real-time PCR method. First, deparaffinization was performed using xylene and alcohol, followed by DNA extraction and real-time PCR amplification. Results: The most common histopathological types of malignant breast carcinoma were invasive carcinoma (n=82; 60.3%), invasive lobular carcinoma (n=26; 19.1%), invasive ductal carcinoma (n=8; 5.9%), and mixed invasive carcinoma (n=8; 5.9%). According to the Modified Bloom-Richardson classification, 55.15% of malignant breast tumor samples were grade 2, 32.4% were grade 3, and 12.5% were grade 1. Real-time PCR analysis did not detect T. gondii DNA or HPV DNA in any of these samples. Conclusion: Our findings do not support a role of T. gondii and HPV in breast cancer development. To better understand the possible relationship between breast cancer and these pathogens, further studies with larger sample sizes, diverse diagnostic methods, and broder geographical coverage are necessary.Article Prevalence of Toxoplasma Gondii in Patients with Schizophrenia and Its Association with Clinical Symptoms(Pergamon-Elsevier Science Ltd, 2025) Kurkcu, Muhammed Furkan; Korkut, Gizem; Varli, Mehmet Ridvan; Yilmaz, Gulsum; Usluca, Selma; Bakir, AyferBackground: Schizophrenia is a multifactorial neuropsychiatric disorder influenced by both genetic predisposition and environmental factors. Recent evidence suggests a possible link between latent Toxoplasma gondii infection and schizophrenia, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Objective: To compare the seroprevalence of T. gondii in patients with schizophrenia and healthy individuals, and to evaluate the relationship between seropositivity and clinical parameters. Methods: A total of 265 participants (155 schizophrenia patients and 110 healthy controls) were enrolled. IgG and IgM antibodies were detected using electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA), avidity was assessed using ELISA, and DNA presence was tested with real-time PCR. Clinical symptoms were evaluated using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Statistical analysis included logistic regression and non-parametric tests (p < 0.05). Results: T. gondii IgG seropositivity was significantly higher in schizophrenia patients (29 %) than in controls (18.2 %) (p = 0.044, OR = 1.84; 95 % CI: 1.01-3.34). IgM positivity and DNA detection did not differ significantly. All seropositive participants showed high IgG avidity, indicating latent infection. BPRS scores and illness duration were higher in IgG-positive individuals, but the differences were not significant. Conclusion: Latent T. gondii infection may be associated with schizophrenia. However, further multicenter studies integrating molecular and serological approaches are needed to clarify its role in disease pathogenesis.
