Apparent dominance of the G1-G3 genetic cluster of Echinococcus granulosus strains in the central inland region of Portugal.

Infection by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus causes a disease known as cystic echinococcosis or hydatidosis which is one of the most widespread zoonotic infections of veterinary and medical importance Numerous studies have shown that E granulosus exists as a complex of strains differing in a wide variety of criteria Ten distinct genotypes (G1-G10) have been identified with a potential Impact on the pathology epidemiology and the effect of the measures implemented for the control of hydatidosis Our main objective was to carry out a preliminary analysis of the genotypes of E granulosus circulating in the central inland region of Portugal Parasite samples (hydatid cysts n=27) were Isolated from the liver and lung of sheep and cattle The DNA extracted from protoscoleces isolated from the fertile cysts served as a template for the PCR amplification of the part of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) ATP synthase F0 subunit 6 (atp6) as well as the large (rrnL/16 S) and small (rrnS/12 S) ribosomal RNA genes Similarity searches with homologous sequences in the databanks indicated a very high similarity with references assigned to the G1 G3 and/or G1-G3 complex of Echinococcus strains Phylogenetic analysis (Bayesian approach) supported these observations and confirmed the assignment of all the analyzed sequences to the G1-G3 genetic cluster (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved