Molecular discrimination of G1 and G3 genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto obtained from human, cattle, and sheep using the mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 marker

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a common zoonotic disease caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. This study determined the genotype and haplotype differences using the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 gene in hydatid cyst samples. Human (n = 12), cattle (n = 28), and sheep (n = 31) hydatid cyst isolates were included. Seventy-one genomic DNA samples were successfully extracted, and a 759 bp mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 gene fragment was amplified by PCR. Following the sequence analysis, E. granulosus sensu stricto isolates were identified as G1 (n = 61) and G3 (n = 10). A total of 23 haplotypes were obtained from the 71 E. granulosus s.s. G1 and G3 samples. The main haplotype was Hap01 (60.56 %), which consisted of the G1 genotype. The second largest haplotype was Hap04, which consisted entirely of the G3 genotype. Hap14 acted as a bridge between the G1 and G3 genotypes. This study identifies G1 as the dominant genotype in humans and farm animals in Turkey. High haplotype and nucleotide diversity in genotypes were observed. Additionally, this is the first report on the phylogeography and gene flow models of the E. granulosus s.s. population in Turkey using the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 gene, the best marker distinguishing between G1 and G3 genotypes.

Cloning and expression of Fasciola hepatica enolase gene and efficacy of recombinant protein in the serodiagnosis of sheep fasciolosis

Fasciolosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is a disease of zoonotic importance that is common worldwide and can cause serious problems in farm animals, some wild animals and humans. The development of diagnostic kits for the correct diagnosis of fasciolosis in sheep is important in terms of preventing yield losses. With this study, it is aimed to clone and express the enolase gene to be isolated from adult F. hepatica and to determine the effectiveness of the recombinant antigen in the serodiagnosis of sheep fasciolosis. For this aim, primers were designed to amplify the enolase gene from the F. hepatica enolase sequence, mRNA was isolated from F. hepatica adult fluke obtained from an infected sheep followed by cDNA was obtained. Enolase gene was amplified by PCR and the product was cloned and then expressed. The efficiency of the purified recombinant protein was displayed by Western blot (WB) and ELISA using positive and negative sheep sera. As a result, the sensitivity and specificity rates of the recombinant FhENO antigen were 85% and %82.8 by WB while the rates were 90% and 97.14% by ELISA, respectively. At the same time, in sheep blood sera samples collected from the Elazig and Siirt provinces of Turkey, 100 (50%) of 200 sera were found to be positive by WB and 46 (23%) were found to be positive by ELISA. The most important problem in ELISA was the high cross-reaction rate of the recombinant antigen used, as in WB. In order to prevent the cross-reactions, it will be useful to compare the genes encoding the enolase protein of parasites from the closely related parasite family, and select the regions where there are no common epitopes, and clone them and test the purified protein.

Co-infection of Echinococcus equinus and Echinococcus canadensis (G6/7) in a gray wolf in Turkey: First report and genetic variability of the isolates

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an important zoonotic diseases caused by larval form of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato. The material of this study was the gray wolf (Canis lupus), which was found dead in the rural area of Bingol province of Turkey. The animal was brought to Veterinary Faculty for necropsy and many of adult Echinococcus spp. obtained. A total of 9 whole adult worms were morphologically examined under the microscope, gDNA was isolated from individual samples, a partial mt-CO1 gene fragment (875 bp) was amplified with PCR and sequenced. According to the phylogenetic analysis, six worms were characterized as E. equinus, while three were reported as E. canadensis (G6/7). It was found that the haplotypes of both species were similar to previously published haplotypes. This is the first report in which E. equinus and E. canadensis (G6/7) adult parasites were detected together in a gray wolf's intestine. The findings are important in that it draws attention to the importance of wild cycle in the spread of CE.