title: Genetic variability and haplotypes of Echinococcus isolates from Tunisia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The species/genotypes of Echinococcus infecting a range of intermediate, canid and human hosts were examined as well as the intraspecific variation and population structure of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) within these hosts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 174 Echinococcus isolates from humans and ungulate intermediate hosts and adult tapeworms from dogs and jackals were used. Genomic DNA was used to amplify a fragment within a mitochondrial gene and a nuclear gene, coding for cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1; 828 bp) and elongation factor 1-alpha (ef1a; 656 bp), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E. granulosus sensu stricto was identified from all host species examined, E. canadensis (G6) in a camel and, for the first time, fertile cysts of E. granulosus (s.s.) and E. equinus in equids (donkeys) and E. granulosus (s.s.) from wild boars and goats. Considerable genetic variation was seen only for the cox1 sequences of E. granulosus (s.s.). The pairwise fixation index (Fst) for cox1 E. granulosus (s.s.) sequences from donkeys was high and was statistically significant compared with that of E. granulosus populations from other intermediate hosts. A single haplotype (EqTu01) was identified for the cox1 nucleotide sequences of E. equinus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of donkeys in the epidemiology of echinococcosis in Tunisia requires further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK B.Boufana@salford.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Belgees
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boufana
authors.affiliation: Parasitology Laboratory, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lahmar
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department 'A', La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Waël
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rebaï
authors.affiliation: General Surgery Department 'A', La Rabta University Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Zoubeir
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ben Safta
authors.affiliation: Tunis Abattoir, Health Hygiene and Environment Service, Ministry of Interior, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Leïla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jebabli
authors.affiliation: Hazoua Abattoir, Veterinary Services, C.R.D.A. Tozeur, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.affiliation: Tunis Abattoir, Ellouhoum Society 1009, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kachti
authors.affiliation: Béjà Abattoir, Health Hygiene and Environment Service, Ministry of Interior, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Soufia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aouadi
authors.affiliation: Ecosystems and Environment Research Centre, School of Environment and Life Sciences, University of Salford, Salford, M5 4WT, UK.
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Craig
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002162:Camelus / Q000469:parasitology; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs / Q000469:parasitology; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000662:veterinary; D004446:Echinococcus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018397:Equidae / Q000469:parasitology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006041:Goats / Q000469:parasitology; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1 / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000469:parasitology; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D020648:Peptide Elongation Factor 1; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1
keywords: Echinococcus equinus; Echinococcus granulosus (s.s.); Molecular epidemiology; Population structure; Tunisia