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Molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto and Echinococcus canadensis in humans and livestock from Algeria

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Abstract

In Algeria, previous studies investigated genotypes of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato in animals and identified E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) genotypes G1 and G3 whereas Echinococcus canadensis genotype G6 was only reported from dromedary cysts. Molecular data on human cystic echinococcosis (CE) were limited. We implemented a large genotyping study of hydatid cysts from humans and livestock animals to specify CE’s molecular epidemiology and the genetic diversity in Algeria. Fifty-four human CE cysts from patients predominantly admitted in surgical units from Mustapha Hospital, Algiers, and 16 cysts from livestock animals gathered in two geographically distinct slaughterhouses, Tiaret and Tamanrasset, were collected. Molecular characterization was performed using sequencing of two mitochondrial genes, cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit I (NDI). In humans, G1 of E. granulosus s.s. was the main genotype (90.7 %); four samples (7.4 %) were characterized as E. granulosus s.s. G3 and one cyst as E. canadensis G6 (1.8 %). This molecular confirmation of E. canadensis G6 human infection in Algeria was observed in a Tuareg female living in a desertic area in Tamanrasset. All cysts from sheep, cattle, and goat were identified as E. granulosus s.s. G1 and the two cysts originating from dromedary as E. canadensis G6. Twenty concatenated haplotypes (COI + NDI) were characterized. Among E. granulosus s.s., one haplotype (HL1) was highly predominant in both humans and animals cysts (71.6 %). This study revealed main occurrence of E. granulosus s.s. in humans and livestock animals, with description of a predominant shared haplotype corresponding to the main worldwide observed haplotype E.granulosus s.s. G1. E. canadensis G6 was limited to South Algeria, in dromedary as well as in human.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Parasitology and Mycology department, Mustapha University Hospital, 16000, Algiers, Algeria

    Houria Zait & Boussad Hamrioui

  2. Institute of Veterinary Science, Ibn-khaldoun University of Tiaret, 14000, Tiaret, Algeria

    Mokhtaria Kouidri

  3. Parasitology & Mycology Department, French National Reference Center for Alveolar Echinococcosis and WHO Collaborating Center for Prevention and Treatment of Human Echinococcosis, University Hospital, Besançon, France

    Florence Elisabeth Grenouillet, Laurence Millon & Frédéric Grenouillet

  4. ANSES, LRFSN, Unité de Surveillance et Eco-épidémiologie des Animaux Sauvages, National Reference Laboratory for Echinococcus spp, Malzéville, France

    Gérald Umhang

  5. Chrono-environnement, UMR UFC/CNRS 6249 aff. INRA, University of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Besançon, France

    Florence Elisabeth Grenouillet, Laurence Millon & Frédéric Grenouillet

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  1. Houria Zait
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  2. Mokhtaria Kouidri
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  3. Florence Elisabeth Grenouillet
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  4. Gérald Umhang
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  5. Laurence Millon
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  6. Boussad Hamrioui
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  7. Frédéric Grenouillet
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Correspondence to Houria Zait.

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All adult subjects and parents/guardians of the children gave their written informed consent for surgery. Institutional Review Committees of our institution validated design of this study.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Highlights

– We have reported new data on the molecular epidemiology of cystic echinococcosis in Algeria.

– This study has explored the genetic diversity of E. granulosus s.l. especially in humans.

– The results revealed predominantly occurrence of E. granulosus s.s. G1 in humans and livestock animals with 90.7 %.

– E. canadensis G6 was found in two cysts originating from dromedary as well as one cyst originating from human.

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Zait, H., Kouidri, M., Grenouillet, F.E. et al. Molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto and Echinococcus canadensis in humans and livestock from Algeria. Parasitol Res 115, 2423–2431 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-4994-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-016-4994-5

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