Molecular Characterization of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> from Humans in Slovenia
The larval form of tapeworms of the <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> species cluster cause an important zoonotic infection, cystic echinococcosis (CE). Molecular characterization of the cluster’s isolates from different hosts greatly contributes to a better understanding of its...
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Pathogens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/7/562 |
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| author | Barbara Šoba Špela Gašperšič Darja Keše Tadeja Kotar |
| author_facet | Barbara Šoba Špela Gašperšič Darja Keše Tadeja Kotar |
| author_sort | Barbara Šoba |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The larval form of tapeworms of the <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> species cluster cause an important zoonotic infection, cystic echinococcosis (CE). Molecular characterization of the cluster’s isolates from different hosts greatly contributes to a better understanding of its transmission dynamics. To date, no genetic information is available on CE in Slovenia. In this work, we characterized isolates from human CE cases. Parasite samples from 18 patients were collected, together with the patients’ demographic and clinical data. Genomic DNA was analyzed by conventional PCR and sequencing at four mitochondrial loci (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, <i>cox1</i>; NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1, <i>nad1</i>; NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5, <i>nad5</i>; and small ribosomal RNA, <i>rrnS</i>). Thirteen isolates were successfully amplified and sequenced. Seven (58.8%) patients were infected with <i>E. granulosus sensu stricto</i> (<i>s.s.</i>) G1, five (38.5%) with <i>E. canadensis</i> G7 and one (7.7%) with <i>E. granulosus s.s.</i> G3. <i>Echinococcus canadensis</i> G7, the pig genotype, was identified exclusively in autochthonous Slovenes, while the patients originating from the Western Balkans were all infected with <i>E. granulosus s.s.</i> Our findings suggest that pigs are important intermediate hosts for human CE in Slovenia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:31:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4f199f3fbdb844528274751af009160e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:31:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-4f199f3fbdb844528274751af009160e2023-11-20T06:34:24ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172020-07-019756210.3390/pathogens9070562Molecular Characterization of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> from Humans in SloveniaBarbara Šoba0Špela Gašperšič1Darja Keše2Tadeja Kotar3Institute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaInstitute of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Zaloška 4, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, 1000 Ljubljana, SloveniaThe larval form of tapeworms of the <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> species cluster cause an important zoonotic infection, cystic echinococcosis (CE). Molecular characterization of the cluster’s isolates from different hosts greatly contributes to a better understanding of its transmission dynamics. To date, no genetic information is available on CE in Slovenia. In this work, we characterized isolates from human CE cases. Parasite samples from 18 patients were collected, together with the patients’ demographic and clinical data. Genomic DNA was analyzed by conventional PCR and sequencing at four mitochondrial loci (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, <i>cox1</i>; NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1, <i>nad1</i>; NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5, <i>nad5</i>; and small ribosomal RNA, <i>rrnS</i>). Thirteen isolates were successfully amplified and sequenced. Seven (58.8%) patients were infected with <i>E. granulosus sensu stricto</i> (<i>s.s.</i>) G1, five (38.5%) with <i>E. canadensis</i> G7 and one (7.7%) with <i>E. granulosus s.s.</i> G3. <i>Echinococcus canadensis</i> G7, the pig genotype, was identified exclusively in autochthonous Slovenes, while the patients originating from the Western Balkans were all infected with <i>E. granulosus s.s.</i> Our findings suggest that pigs are important intermediate hosts for human CE in Slovenia.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/7/562<i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i><i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto</i><i>Echinococcus canadensis</i> G7human infectionSloveniamolecular characterization |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Šoba Špela Gašperšič Darja Keše Tadeja Kotar Molecular Characterization of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> from Humans in Slovenia Pathogens <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto</i> <i>Echinococcus canadensis</i> G7 human infection Slovenia molecular characterization |
| title | Molecular Characterization of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> from Humans in Slovenia |
| title_full | Molecular Characterization of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> from Humans in Slovenia |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Characterization of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> from Humans in Slovenia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Characterization of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> from Humans in Slovenia |
| title_short | Molecular Characterization of <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> from Humans in Slovenia |
| title_sort | molecular characterization of i echinococcus granulosus sensu lato i from humans in slovenia |
| topic | <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato</i> <i>Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto</i> <i>Echinococcus canadensis</i> G7 human infection Slovenia molecular characterization |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/9/7/562 |
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