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Echinococcus granulosus strain typing in Bulgaria: the G1 genotype is predominant in intermediate and definitive wild hosts

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Abstract

Addressing the genetic variability in Echinococcus granulosus is epidemiologically important, as strain characteristics may influence the local transmission patterns of zoonotic cystic echinococcosis. To classify the genotype(s) present in intermediate (pig, cattle and sheep) and definitive (jackal and wolf) hosts in Bulgaria, a DNA-based approach was used to assess parasite protoscoleces or strobiles. Genes corresponding to coding and non-coding regions of the nuclear and mitochondrial genome (ND-1, HBX, Act II, AgB-1) were amplified by PCR and subsequently sequenced. The sequences resolved were all found to be identical to those published for the common sheep strain of E. granulosus, indicating that the G1 genotype is predominant in Bulgaria. One microvariant for ND-1 was found in the pig isolates; however no epidemiological significance was attributed to this finding.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SCOPES No. 7IP062584 and research grant no. 31-63615.00) and the EU EchinoRisk-project QLK2-CT-2001-01995 (BBW no. 00.0586-1).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Parasitology, University of Berne, Länggass-Strasse 122, 3012 , Berne, Switzerland

    Isabel Breyer & Bruno Gottstein

  2. Veterinary Faculty, Thracian University, Stara Zagora, Bulgaria

    Dimitrina Georgieva

  3. Department of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, 26 Yanko Sakazov Blvd., 1504 , Sofia, Bulgaria

    Rossitza Kurdova

Authors
  1. Isabel Breyer
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  2. Dimitrina Georgieva
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  3. Rossitza Kurdova
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  4. Bruno Gottstein
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Correspondence to Bruno Gottstein.

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Breyer, I., Georgieva, D., Kurdova, R. et al. Echinococcus granulosus strain typing in Bulgaria: the G1 genotype is predominant in intermediate and definitive wild hosts. Parasitol Res 93, 127–130 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1116-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-004-1116-6

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