title: Incidence of Echinococcus granulosus in Domestic Dogs in Palestine as Revealed by Copro-PCR.
abstract: Hydatidosis or echinococcosisis considered a neglected zoonotic disease despite its high burden in the livestock industry and the high risk of infection by humans in endemic areas. In a cross-sectional study we estimated the copro-Incidence and also genotyped Echinococcus granulosus isolates from domestic dogs using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Medical archives in nine major hospitals in Palestine were reviewed to determine incidence of E. granulosus infection detected in humans during surgery. Faecal samples were collected from 93 domestic dogs in three districts with the highest number of human cases: Al-Khalil (Hebron), Tubas and Jenin. Genomic DNA was extracted from dog faecal samples and amplified by PCR targeting the repeat DNA sequence (EgG1 Hae III) followed by sequencing of five positive samples. Genotyping was determined by sequencing and BLAST searching of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit (CO1). The incidence of E. granulosus infection detected in humans at surgery was 1.2 per 100,000 in the West Bank and 1.0 per 100,000 in Gaza Strip. Seventeen of 93 domestic dogs (18%) were positive, based upon comparison with the Echinococcus DNA control. The five sequenced samples were confirmed to be E. granulosus. Successfully genotyped sample belonged to E.granulosus sensu stricto (formerly G1-G3 complex, sheep strain). For domestic dogs, age group (13-24 months) and sex were identified as two risk factors for contracting E. granulosus. The study identified the high incidence of E. granulosus sensu stricto in dogs in Palestine.
authors.affiliation: Arab American University in Jenin, Jenin, Palestine; Al-Quds Public Health Society, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Amer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Jawabreh
authors.affiliation: Arab American University in Jenin, Jenin, Palestine.
authors.forename: Kamal
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dumaidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem, Abu-Deis, Palestine; Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Suheir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ereqat
authors.affiliation: Al-Quds Public Health Society, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Abedelmajeed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nasereddin
authors.affiliation: Al-Quds Public Health Society, Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Al-Jawabreh
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem, Abu-Deis, Palestine.
authors.forename: Kifaya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Azmi
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Al Azhar University-Gaza, Gaza Strip, Palestine.
authors.forename: Nahed
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Al-Laham
authors.affiliation: Al-Quds Public Health Society, Jerusalem, Palestine; Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute, Al-Quds University, East Jerusalem, Palestine.
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abdeen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D004285:Dogs; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012189:Retrospective Studies