title: First insights into species and genotypes of Echinococcus in South Africa.
abstract: Cystic echinococcosis is a serious and neglected parasitic zoonosis that is regarded as an emerging disease world-wide. Effective control of the disease is based on understanding the variability of Echinococcus granulosus (sensu lato), as genotypic characteristics may influence lifecycle patterns, development rate, and transmission. No molecular epidemiological research has previously been conducted to shed light on genotypes responsible for the disease in South Africa. To identify strains circulating in the country, parasite material was collected from patients between August 2010 and September 2012 and analyzed by PCR/RFLP methods. A total of 32 samples was characterized as E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1-G3) (81%), E. canadensis (G6/7) (16%) and E. ortleppi (G5) (3%). Furthermore, two co-amplifying G6/7 genotypes were confirmed as G7 by sequencing. This is the first report on genotyping of Echinococcus species in South Africa, and, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of the G5 and G7 genotypes from humans in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Reference Laboratory, National Institute for Communicable Diseases, National Health Laboratory Service, 1 Modderfontein Road, Johannesburg 2192, South Africa. kgailem@nicd.ac.za
authors.forename: Benjamin K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Mogoye
authors.forename: Colin N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stacey
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: von Delft
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wahlers
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wassermann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Romig
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: Martin P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Grobusch
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frean
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity
keywords: Cystic echinococcosis; Dog; Echinococcus granulosus; Genotype; Human; South Africa