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
Review
. 2025 Feb;15(2):1043-1049.
doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i2.52. Epub 2025 Feb 28.

Phylogenetic analysis and genetic evaluation of the Echinococcus granulosus antigen B subunit 2 gene isolated from sheep in Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq

Weam A Hamad  1 , Thanaa Ismael Jawad  1 , Wegdan H Atiya  1
Affiliations
Review

Phylogenetic analysis and genetic evaluation of the Echinococcus granulosus antigen B subunit 2 gene isolated from sheep in Al-Diwaniyah, Iraq

Weam A Hamad et al. Open Vet J. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Hydatid cysts are an immature form of Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm, which causes zoonotic illness, echinococcosis (sometimes called hydatidosis). There are 10 officially recognized genotypes (G1-G10) of this parasite.

Aim: The current study aimed to sequence and characterize the genotypes of E. granulosus using the antigen B subunit 2 gene isolated from sheep in Al-Diwaniyah City, Iraq.

Methods: Using specific antigen B subunit 2, 50 hydatid cysts were collected from the livers of sheep at a local slaughterhouse between March and October 2023. DNA was obtained from the hydatid fluid of sheep cysts. Protoscolices from fertile cyst fluid were also obtained. Conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the antigen B gene was performed on the extracted DNA of samples. PCR was performed followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of PCR 7 positive isolates.

Results: The predominant genotype in the sheep population was the G1 strain. Furthermore, the sequenced isolates exhibited a high degree of correlation with local and regional Iran E. granulosus sequences, demonstrating genetic diversity compared with reference strains. The current isolates were assigned accession numbers by the NCBI as follows: OR232318.1, OR232319.1, OR232320.1, OR232321.1, OR232322.1, OR232323.1, and OR232324.1.

Conclusion: The findings indicate that E. granulosus has diverse genotypes and is mostly linked genetically to isolates from neighboring countries, such as Brazil and Iraq.

Keywords: Echinococcus granulosus; Parasite; Sheep.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.. PCR analysis of antigen B subunit 2 in Echinococcus granulosus hydatid cysts obtained from sheep using agarose gel electrophoresis. Lane M: Ladder, Lanes 1–5: Positive samples.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on antigen B subunit 2 using the likelihood process (MEGA X version) for Echinococcus granulosus typing detection. Colored dots: Current study sequences.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Agudelo Higuita N.I., Brunetti E., McCloskey C. Cystic echinococcosis. J. Clin. Microbiol. 2016;54:518–523. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Andersen F.L., Ouhelli H., Kashani M. Provo: Brigham Young University; 1997. Compendium on cystic echinococcosis.
    1. Brunette G.W. Oxford: Oxford University; 2012. The yellow book: CDC and health information for international travel; p. 640.
    1. Carmena D., Benito A., Eraso E. Antigen B from Echinococcus granulosus: an overview of its immune escape mechanisms and role as a diagnostic marker. Parasitol. Res. 2006;98(5):357–364.
    1. Chandrakesan S.D., Parija S.C. Latex agglutination test (LAT) for antigen detection in the cystic fluid for the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis. Diagn. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 2003;45(2):123–126. - PubMed

Substances

LinkOut - more resources