title: Molecular identification of Echinococcus granulosus isolates from ruminants in Greece.
abstract: Cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granulosus, a cestode with worldwide distribution. Data on the circulating Echinococcus granulosus genotypes in Greek livestock is scant. The aim of the present study was to conduct a genetic analysis of 82 Echinococcus granulosus isolates from ruminants in Greece, including areas which until today have not been the subject of studies. The analysis relied on a PCR assay targeting cytochrome c oxidase, subunit 1 gene (CO1), followed by bidirectional sequence analysis of the amplification product. Eighty (n=80) of the 82 (97.6%) isolates were allocated to Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (G1-G3) and were classified in 13 distinct haplotypes (9 common and 4 novel) with 12 polymorphic sites. The presence of the dominant haplotype EG1 as was documented in the European populations, was indicated in the country. Almost all regions shared the same common haplotype. In comparison to this predominant haplotype, the number of the nucleotide changes in all the other haplotypes ranged from 1 to 5. All nucleotide changes proved to be transitions (A↔G or C↔T). Two fertile hydatid cysts of sheep origin in different areas (Arkadia, Ilia) of the Peloponnese were identified as Echinococcus canadensis (G7 genotype).
authors: Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece; Ministry of Rural Development and Food of the Hellenic Republic, Organization of Agricultural Vocational Education, Training and Employment O.G.E.E.K.A DIMITRA, 68 Nirvana Odos & Kourtidou, Athens 11145, Greece. Electronic address: er@aua.gr.
authors: Erifylli
authors: E
authors: Roinioti
authors: Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece.
authors: Aegli
authors: A
authors: Papathanassopoulou
authors: Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece.
authors: Ioanna
authors: I
authors: Theodoropoulou
authors: Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Firat, 23119 Elazig, Turkey.
authors: Sami
authors: S
authors: Simsek
authors: Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Farm Animals, Faculty of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Agricultural University of Athens, 75 Iera Odos, Votanikos, Athens 11855, Greece.
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Theodoropoulos
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D048209:Echinococcus granulosus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060005:Genotyping Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D015511:Goat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006041:Goats; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006239:Haplotypes; D008099:Liver / Q000469:parasitology; D008168:Lung / Q000469:parasitology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology*
chemical_list: D018509:DNA, Helminth
keywords: Echinococcus granulosus; Genotype; Greece; Haplotype; Ruminants