Molecular genotyping of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto from human Echinococcal cysts in Hatay, Turkiye

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the zoonotic infections in human, an important global health problem. It was aimed to determine the molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of isolates obtained from patients diagnosed with CE in Hatay province, according to the cox1 gene region. A total of 31 patients, 14 males and 17 females, with a mean age of 35.19 (+/- 14.28) years were included in the study. 35 cyst materials obtained from patients were studied. DNA isolation was performed from the samples with protoscoleces determined in the cyst fluid. One-way DNA sequencing was performed with the Sanger Sequencing Protocol through the obtained PCR products. In the study, 35 hydatid cysts of human origin were examined and protoscoleces was detected in 11 (31.43%) of them. Twenty of the patients had liver involvement, seven had lung involvement, and four had both liver and lung involvement. All the samples with protoscoleces detected were observed of PCR product with a size of approximately 446 bp. When the sequence results of the isolates were evaluated within themselves, it was seen that there were three different sequences with 99% similarity to each other. As a result, of the phylogenetic analysis, it was determined that the isolates were identified in the Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto (E. granulosus s. s.) (G1-G3) complex. This study is thought to contribute to the epidemiology, parasite control, effective diagnosis and treatment techniques, eradication, vaccine and drug development studies of E. granulosus s. s in Turkiye.