G1 strain of E granulosus infects South American camelids in Peru

SAUL J. SANTIVANEZ; MARA ROSENZVIT; CESAR M. GAVIDIA; MARA MARTÍNEZ ; MARY L. RODRIGUEZ; MARCELA CUCHER; NELLY HUAMANI; HECTOR H. GARCIA

Congreso; ASTMH Fifty-ninth Annual Meeting; 2010

G1 strain of E granulosus infects South American camelids in Peru. Author Block: Saul J. Santivanez1, Mara Rosenzvit2, Cesar M. Gavidia3, Mara Martínez4, Mary L. Rodriguez5, Marcela Cucher6, Nelly Huamani7, Hector H. Garcia8 1Instituto Peruano de Parasitologia Clinica y Experimental, Lima, Peru, 2Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires,, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires,, Buenos Aires, Argentina, Instituto Peruano de Parasitologia Clinica y Experimental, Lima, Peru, 2Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires,, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 3Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, Lima, Peru, 4Instituto de Patobiología, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Buenos Aires, Argentina, 5Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru, 6Departamento de Microbiología, Parasitología e Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 7Dirección Regional de Salud Ayacucho,, Ayacucho, Peru, 8Department of Microbiology, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru Abstract: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis widely distributed throughout the world. CE is caused by the taenia Echinococcus granulosus that lodges in the intestines of dogs. Herbivores and, accidentally, humans could be infected by the ingestion of E. granulosus eggs, resulting in cystic larvae in their liver, lungs, or other tissues. Molecular identification of Echinococcus strains were described as important information to be considered for implementing local control measures in endemic countries. Previous studies performed in Peru and other South American countries described the presence of G6 strain (camel strain) in human and animal population, in addition to the knowledge of CE infection in South American camelids. In order to assess if South American camelids behave as a natural reservoir of the G6 strain (present in goats in the region), we determined the strains of E. granulosus in samples from infected South American camelids. First we carried out a survey using PCR and CO1 sequencing of E. granulosus isolates collected from llamas located in Peruvian Andes; macroscopic information on the appearance, size, and status of the larvae was collected; the nature and fertility of the sample were confirmed by microscopic observation; total E. granulosus DNA was extracted using the DNeasy Tissue kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany); using PCR reactions, and E. granulosus genotype was determined by mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (CO1) sequencing; sequences were compared using Macrogen kit (Korea). DNA was amplified from 12 isolates; 3 isolates (25%) were identified as G1 and 9 (75%) did not correlate with known strains but had 81% identity to CO1 of Taenia hydatigena, leaving their origin unclear. In this small series, G1 was present and G6 was absent in South American camelids.