Identification of Echinococcus granulosus Strains in Isolated Hydatid Cyst Specimens from Animals by PCR-RFLP Method in West Azerbaijan - Iran.

Background: The aim of this study was DNA extraction from protoscolecses of Echinococcus granulosus and identification of these strains in West-Azerbaijan Province, north western Iran.

Methods: Thirty one livestock isolates from sheep and cattle were collected from abattoirs of the province. To investigate the genetic variation of the isolates, after DNA extraction by Glass beads-phenol chloroform method; PCR-RLFP analysis of rDNA-ITS1 was performed using three different restriction enzymes of Taq 1, Rsa 1 and Alu 1.

Result: Amplified PCR products for all isolates were 1000bp band which is expected band in sheep strains (G1-G3 complex). The results of RFLP analysis also were the same for all isolates. PCR-RFLP patterns restriction enzymes were identical as follows, Rsa1 bands under UV showed two bands approximately 655bp and 345bp. Alu1 bands were as follows: two approximately 800bp and 200bp and Taq1 did not cut any region and bands were approximately 1000 bp in all samples.

Conclusions: Based on PCR-RFLP patterns of ITS1 fragment produced with endonucleases enzyme digestion in animal isolates, it can be concluded that a single strain of E. granulosus (sheep strain or G1-G3 complex) is dominant genotype in this province.