Molecular epidemiology of cystic echinococcosis: genotypic characterization in humans and different livestock / Epidemiología molecular de la equinococosis quística: caracterización genotípica en humanos y diferentes animales

Echinococcus Granulosus (EG) is the major cause of cystic echinococcosis in humans and livestock in the world. In Chile is a zoonosis of great importance. The most frequently affected geographic areas are the Regions of Aysén, Los Rios, Los Lagos, Coquimbo and the Araucanía. Hence, it was discovered that in endemic areas of hydatidosis there could be several strains and genotypes of EG. In addition, there is evidence that some strains and genotypes are more infectious for human beings than others. This interesting phenomenon of the biology of EG has been studied using molecular biology techniques based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequence analysis, which has made it possible to characterize the cestode species complex called EG sensu lato (s l) as being comprised of EG sensu stricto (s.s.) (Genotypes G1-G3), E. equinus (G4), E. ortleppi (G5) and E. canadensis (G6-G10), which present an important phenotypic variation detectable in characteristics of the biological cycle, specificity of the intermediate host, pattern of development, pathogenicity, antigenicity, transmission dynamics and, consequently, in the measures needed to control the disease. The aim of this manuscript is to describe the different genotypes of EG described in humans and different livestock host reported in the literature.

Echinococcus granulosus (EG) es la principal causa de equinococosis quística en humanos y ganado en el mundo. En Chile hay una zoonosis de gran importancia. Las zonas geográficas más afectadas son las Regiones de Aysén, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, Coquimbo y la Araucanía. Por lo tanto, se descubrió que en áreas endémicas de hidatidosis podría haber varias cepas y genotipos de EG. Además, hay pruebas de que algunas cepas y genotipos son más infecciosos para los seres humanos que otros. Este interesante fenómeno de la biología del EG ha sido estudiado utilizando técnicas de biología molecular basadas en la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR) y análisis de secuencias de ADN, lo que ha permitido caracterizar el complejo de cestode llamado EG sensu lato (sl) EG (G3) y E. canadensis (G6-G10), que presentan una importante variación fenotípica detectable en las características del ciclo biológico, especificidad del huésped intermedio, patrón de desarrollo, patogenicidad, antigenicidad, dinámica de transmisión y, por consiguiente, en las medidas necesarias para el control de la enfermedad. El objetivo de este manuscrito fue describir los diferentes genotipos de EG descritos en humanos y diferentes animales de ganado reportados en la literatura.

Genetic Diversity of Echinococcus granulosus in Center of Iran

Hydatid cyst caused by Echinococcus granulosus is one of the most important parasitic diseases around the world and many countries in Asia, including Iran, are involved with this infection. This disease can cause high mortality in humans as well as economic losses in livestock. To date, several molecular methods have been used to determine the genetic diversity of E. granulosus. So far, identification of E. granulosus using real-time PCR fluorescence-based quantitative assays has not been studied worldwide, also in Iran. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of E. granulosus from center of Iran using real-time PCR method. A total of 71 hydatid cysts were collected from infected sheep, goat, and cattle slaughtered in Isfahan, Iran during 2013. DNA was extracted from protoscolices and/or germinal layers from each individual cyst and used as template to amplify the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1) (420 bp). Five cattle isolates out of 71 isolates were sterile and excluded from further investigation. Overall, of 66 isolates, partial sequences of the cox1 gene of E. granulosus indicated the presence of genotypes G1 in 49 isolates (74.2%), G3 in 15 isolates (22.7%), and G6 in 2 isolates (3.0%) in infected intermediate hosts. Sixteen sequences of G1 genotype had microgenetic variants, and they were compared to the original sequence of cox1. However, isolates identified as G3 and G6 genotypes were completely consistent with original sequences. G1 genotype in livestock was the dominant genotype in Isfahan region, Iran.

Sequence Analysis of cytb Gene in Echinococcus granulosus from Western China

Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis with medical and veterinary importance in China. Our main objective was to discuss the genotypes and genetic diversity of E. granulosus present in domestic animals and humans in western China. A total of 45 hydatid cyst samples were collected from sheep, humans, and a yak and subjected to an analysis of the sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b (cytb) gene. The amplified PCR product for all samples was a 1,068 bp band. The phylogenetic analysis showed that all 45 samples were identified as E. granulosus (genotype G1). Ten haplotypes were detected among the samples, with the main haplotype being H1. The haplotype diversity was 0.626, while the nucleotide diversity was 0.001. These results suggested that genetic diversity was low among our samples collected from the west of China based on cytb gene analysis. These findings may provide more information on molecular characteristics of E. granulosus from this Chinese region.

Echinococcus granulosus: biological comparison of cattle isolates from endemic regions of Argentina and Spain / Echinococcus granulosus: comparación biológica de aislados de bovinos de regiones endémicas de Argentina y España

In the present study we have compared cattle isolates of Echinococcus granulosus from Argentina and Spain. The aim was to compare and determine if there exist phenotypic and genetic differences within E. granulosus cattle isolates between an endemic area of Spain (where the disease is mainly restricted to a sheep-dog cycle) and an endemic area of Argentina (where cattle are the most abundant intermediate hosts). The Spanish samples were previously identified as G1 genotype. The Argentinean samples were also identified as G1, but some variants were found for the cytochrome c oxidase-1 (CO1) and NADH dehydrogenase-1 (ND1) mitochondrial genes. When comparing the cyst features and the morphology of the larval rostellar hooks in both regions, some differences were found. The morphometric analyses of the larval rostellar hooks showed the existence of two distinct clearly separated groups (one corresponding to the Argentinean samples and the other to the Spanish ones). In conclusion, there are some genetic and phenotypic differences within E. granulosus cattle isolates from Argentina and Spain. Probably these differences, more important from an epidemiological point of view, are related to different steps in the disease control in both countries. Further studies involving other epidemiological, morphometric and molecular data, including other types of livestock, would contribute to clarify and expand the present work.

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar si existen diferencias fenotípicas y genéticas entre los aislados de Echinococcus granulosus de origen bovino provenientes de dos regiones geográficas donde la hidatidosis es endémica, una de España (donde predomina el ciclo perro-oveja) y una de Argentina (donde el bovino es el hospedador intermediario más importante). Las muestras españolas fueron previamente identificadas como pertenecientes al genotipo G1. Las muestras argentinas también correspondían al genotipo G1, pero entre ellas se registraron algunas microvariantes de los genes mitocondriales citocromo c oxidasa-1 (CO1) y NADH deshidrogenasa- 1 (ND1). La comparación de las características de los quistes y de la morfología de los ganchos rostelares del metacestode mostró ciertas diferencias. En conclusión, existen algunas diferencias genéticas y fenotípicas entre los aislados de E. granulosus de Argentina y España. Probablemente estas diferencias, más importantes desde el punto de vista epidemiológico, podrían estar relacionadas con diferentes etapas en los programas de control de la enfermedad en los dos países. Estudios adicionales que involucren datos epidemiológicos, morfométricos y moleculares provenientes de otros tipos de ganado contribuirán a clarificar y ampliar la información aportada por este trabajo.