Molecular characterization of Echinococcus species in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

ABSTRACT

Background: Species belonging to genus Echinococcus are cestode parasites well known for helminthic infections globally.Diseases caused by these parasites are serious health threats for public and veterinary sectors. DNA-based characterization confirmed genetic variability among Echinococcus species and resulted in the identification of 10 genotypes (G1-10).Among identified Echinococcus species, E. granulosus and E. multilocularis are clinically most important responsiblefor cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis, respectively. Identification and genetic characterization of thesecestode parasites at species level is essential for disease diagnosis and control measures. This study aimed at narrowinggap of missing knowledge on Echinococcus spp. and their genotypes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan.Materials, Methods & Results: Hydatid cysts of human source were obtained under aseptic conditions from thoracic surgery unit of the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) at Peshawar, KP, Pakistan. Hydatid cysts from animal source (cattle) werecollected at Peshawar visiting numerous abattoirs. Theses cyst samples (n = 40) were collected from animals (cattle) (n= 30) and human sources (n = 10). Nucleic acid was extracted from aspirates obtained from cysts, and investigated usingpolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of a mitochondrial coding gene(rrnL, large subunit of ribosomal RNA). A pair of primers (ECH-LSU/F and ECH-LSU/R) were used to amplify a 570-bpDNA fragment of a mitochondrial gene (rrnL, large subunit of ribosomal RNA) containing a species-specific SspI restriction site for the differentiation among E. granulosus and E. multilocularis. Overall results indicated that among the cystscollected from animal and human sources, majority were positive for E. granulosus (n = 24, 60%) and E. multilocularis (n= 16, 40%)...(AU)