Implementation of new tools in molecular epidemiology studies of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato in South America

AVILA HG; BARTHOLOMEI-SANTOS, M. L.; CUCHER M; MACCHIAROLI N; PEREZ M; BALDI G; JENSEN O; PEREZ V; LOPEZ R; NEGRO P; SCIALFA E; ZAHA, A.; FERREIRA H; ROSENZVIT M C; KAMENETZKY L

PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017

1383-5769

The aim of this work was to determine Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato species and genotypesin intermediate and definitive hosts and in human isolates from endemic regions of Argentina andBrazil including those where no molecular data is available by a combination of classical andalternative molecular tools. A total of 227 samples were isolated from humans, naturalintermediate and definitive hosts. Amplification of cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene fragmentwas performed and a combination of AluI digestion assay, High Resolution Melting analysis(HRM) assay and DNA sequencing was implemented for Echinococcus species/genotypedetermination. E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1) was found in sheep (n= 35), cattle (n= 67) anddogs (n=5); E. ortleppi (G5) in humans (n=3) and cattle (n=108); E. canadensis (G6) in humans(n=2) and E. canadensis (G7) in pigs (n=7). We reported for the first time the presence E. ortleppi(G5) and E. canadensis (G6) in humans from San Juan and Catamarca Argentinean provinces andE. canadensis (G7) in pigs from Cordoba Argentinean province. In this work, we widenedmolecular epidemiology studies of E. granulosus s. l. in South America by analysing severalisolates from definitive and intermediate hosts, including humans from endemic regions were suchinformation was scarce or unavailable. The presence of different species/genotypes in the sameregion and host species reinforce the need of rapid and specific techniques for accuratedetermination of Echinococcus species such as the ones proposed in this work.