Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2020 Feb;119(2):763-770.
doi: 10.1007/s00436-019-06578-2. Epub 2019 Dec 20.

Multiple haplotypes of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto in single naturally infected intermediate hosts

Affiliations

Multiple haplotypes of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto in single naturally infected intermediate hosts

Christian Hidalgo et al. Parasitol Res. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis is a disease that affects both humans and animals, caused by cryptic species complex belonging to the platyhelminth Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.). This disease is distributed worldwide, with E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) being the most widespread of the species. High genetic variability has been demonstrated within E. granulosus s.s. studying single cyst per infected animal identifying a number of different haplotypes. However, few studies have addressed the genetic diversity of this parasite within a single intermediate host with multiple Echinococcus cysts. To date, it remains unknown if specific haplotypes of E. granulosus s.s. produce differences in biological features of the cyst. Here, we use the full length of the mitochondrial gene cox1 to determine E. granulosus s.s. haplotypes in samples from both cattle and sheep which harboured more than one cyst in different areas in Chile, where this parasite is endemic. We found 16 different haplotypes in 66 echinococcal cysts from 10 animals, and both cattle and sheep can harbour up to five different haplotypes of E. granulosus s.s. in the same animal. Regarding cyst fertility, five animals had both fertile and infertile Echinococcus cysts in both single and multiple haplotype infections. There was no association between haplotype and cyst fertility, size, or adventitial layer characteristics. Sampling and sequencing every Echinococcus cyst found in the intermediate host reveals a high molecular variability. We speculate that multiple haplotype infections could also suggest that intermediate hosts come from hyperendemic areas.

Keywords: Cattle; Echinococcus granulosus; Genetic characterization; Histology; Sheep.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Parasit Vectors. 2018 Oct 10;11(1):542 - PubMed
    1. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2003 Jan;16(1):18-36 - PubMed
    1. Trends Parasitol. 2015 Aug;31(8):342-3 - PubMed
    1. Parasitol Res. 2013 Feb;112(2):649-54 - PubMed
    1. J Helminthol. 1991 Mar;65(1):55-61 - PubMed

Substances

LinkOut - more resources