Genotyping of Echinococcus granulosus Human Isolates Obtained from the Puncture, Aspiration, Injection, and Re-Aspiration (PAIR) Process in Türkiye

Background: Echinococcus granulosus is spread by the excretion of cystic organs into the environment. The dog is infected via eating the cystic organ. It then contami-nates the environment with eggs of E. granulosus, which are infective to humans and animals. We aimed to determine the E. granulosus genotypes that cause infection in humans in the Van region, Türkiye. Methods: Sixty patients between 18 and 100 years of age, who underwent the puncture, aspiration, injection, re-aspiration (PAIR) procedure in the Department of Radiodiognastics of Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Türkiye were included in the study. PAIR fluids were examined microscopically and DNA was isolated from the fluids. After DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using primers that amplify the E. granulosus NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (NAD1) gene region. After sequence analysis of the PCR amplicons, Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) was performed. Results: In the microscopic examination, protoscolex or hook was detected in 42 (70%) of the samples. DNA was successfully extracted from all of the cyst fluids containing protoscolex and hook, and the NAD1 gene region was PCR-amplified. After using BLAST, all of the samples were determined to be an E. granulosus sensu stricto G1 genotype. Sequence comparison revealed that four (9.5%) isolate sequences showed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). Sequences of isolates with SNP submitted to the GenBank with accession numbers OR565864 to OR565867. Conclusion: E. granulosus s.s. G1 genotype, known as sheep strain, is common in human hydatid disease in the Van region of Türkiye. © 2023 Akkaş et al.