Molecular characterization of the horse isolate of Echinococcus granulosus in Turkey

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis is one of the most important helminthozoonoses, affecting various species of intermediate hosts and humans. In this report, we present Echinococcus granulosus infection in a horse and its molecular characterization. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of mitochondrial 12S rRNA (mt-12S rRNA) and partial sequencing of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (mt-CO1) genes were performed. According to the mt-12S rRNA-PCR result, the horse isolate was grouped with E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1-G3) and the partial mt-CO1 sequence corresponded to the G1 strain. This is the first study of the molecular characterization of the horse isolate of E. granulosus in Turkey.