title: A novel zoonotic genotype related to Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto from southern Ethiopia.
abstract: Complete mitochondrial and two nuclear gene sequences of a novel genotype (GOmo) related to Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto are described from a metacestode isolate retrieved from a human patient in southwestern Ethiopia. Phylogenetically, the genotype is positioned within the E. granulosus sensu stricto/Echinococcus felidis cluster, but cannot easily be allocated to either species. Based on different mitochondrial DNA markers, it is closest to the haplotype cluster that currently defines the species E. granulosus sensu stricto (which includes variants showing the widely cited G1, G2 and G3 sequences), but is clearly not part of this cluster. Pairwise distances between GOmo and E. granulosus sensu stricto are in the range of those between the most distant members of the Echinococcus canadensis complex (G6-10) that were recently proposed as separate species. At this stage, we prefer to list GOmo informally as a genotype rather than giving it any taxonomic rank because our knowledge rests on a single isolate from a dead-end host (human), and its lifecycle is unknown. According to data on molecularly characterised Echinococcus isolates from this region, GOmo has never been found in the usual livestock species that carry cystic echinococcosis and the possibility of a wildlife source of this newly recognised zoonotic agent cannot be excluded. The discovery of GOmo adds complexity to the already diverse array of cystic echinococcosis agents in sub-Saharan Africa and challenges hypotheses on the biogeographical origin of the E. granulosus sensu stricto clade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany. Electronic address: Marion.Wassermann@uni-hohenheim.de.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wassermann
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia; Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Woldeyes
authors.affiliation: Turmi Health Center, Hamer District, South Omo Zone, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Banchwosen Mechal
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Gerbi
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ebi
authors.affiliation: Meru University of Science and Technology, Meru, Kenya.
authors.forename: Eberhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zeyhle
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Ute
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Mackenstedt
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Beyene
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petros
authors.affiliation: Aklilu Lema Institute of Pathobiology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Getachew
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tilahun
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Infectious Diseases Center, University Hospitals, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Romig
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000923:Anticestodal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1 / Q000235:genetics; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000601:surgery; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D000923:Anticestodal Agents; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D051545:Cyclooxygenase 1; D015766:Albendazole
keywords: Echinococcus; Ethiopia; Genotype; Phylogenetic analysis; Zoonosis