Belgees Boufana1, Samia Lahmar2, Waël Rebaï3, Zoubeir Ben Safta3, Leïla Jebabli4, Adel Ammar5, Mahmoud Kachti6, Soufia Aouadi7, Philip S Craig8. 1. Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK B.Boufana@salford.ac.uk. 2. Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia. 3. General Surgery Department 'A', La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia. 4. Tunis Abattoir, Health Hygiene and Environment Service, Ministry of Interior, Tunisia. 5. Hazoua Abattoir, Veterinary Services, C.R.D.A. Tozeur, Tunisia. 6. Tunis Abattoir, Ellouhoum Society 1009, Tunis, Tunisia. 7. Béjà Abattoir, Health Hygiene and Environment Service, Ministry of Interior, Tunisia. 8. Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The species/genotypes of Echinococcus infecting a range of intermediate, canid and human hosts were examined as well as the intraspecific variation and population structure of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) within these hosts. METHODS: A total of 174 Echinococcus isolates from humans and ungulate intermediate hosts and adult tapeworms from dogs and jackals were used. Genomic DNA was used to amplify a fragment within a mitochondrial gene and a nuclear gene, coding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1; 828 bp) and elongation factor 1-alpha (ef1a; 656 bp), respectively. RESULTS: E. granulosus sensu stricto was identified from all host species examined, E. canadensis (G6) in a camel and, for the first time, fertile cysts of E. granulosus (s.s.) and E. equinus in equids (donkeys) and E. granulosus (s.s.) from wild boars and goats. Considerable genetic variation was seen only for the cox1 sequences of E. granulosus (s.s.). The pairwise fixation index (Fst) for cox1 E. granulosus (s.s.) sequences from donkeys was high and was statistically significant compared with that of E. granulosus populations from other intermediate hosts. A single haplotype (EqTu01) was identified for the cox1 nucleotide sequences of E. equinus. CONCLUSIONS: The role of donkeys in the epidemiology of echinococcosis in Tunisia requires further investigation.
BACKGROUND: The species/genotypes of Echinococcus infecting a range of intermediate, canid and human hosts were examined as well as the intraspecific variation and population structure of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) within these hosts. METHODS: A total of 174 Echinococcus isolates from humans and ungulate intermediate hosts and adult tapeworms from dogs and jackals were used. Genomic DNA was used to amplify a fragment within a mitochondrial gene and a nuclear gene, coding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1; 828 bp) and elongation factor 1-alpha (ef1a; 656 bp), respectively. RESULTS:E. granulosus sensu stricto was identified from all host species examined, E. canadensis (G6) in a camel and, for the first time, fertile cysts of E. granulosus (s.s.) and E. equinus in equids (donkeys) and E. granulosus (s.s.) from wild boars and goats. Considerable genetic variation was seen only for the cox1 sequences of E. granulosus (s.s.). The pairwise fixation index (Fst) for cox1E. granulosus (s.s.) sequences from donkeys was high and was statistically significant compared with that of E. granulosus populations from other intermediate hosts. A single haplotype (EqTu01) was identified for the cox1 nucleotide sequences of E. equinus. CONCLUSIONS: The role of donkeys in the epidemiology of echinococcosis in Tunisia requires further investigation.