Liver and lungs from 7,500 horses, slaughtered in the province of Reggio Emilia (Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy) during the period from March 2006 to February 2007, were examined for Echinococcus granulosus infection or cystic echinococcosis (CE). DNA was extracted from germinal layer and protoscoleces of a fertile cyst and PCR reactions were performed in order to strain typing DNA isolates for NADH and COI mitochondrial genes. PCR products were then purified and sequenced in forward and reverse. Liver cysts were found in two horses. A horse presented two fertile cysts and hydatid material obtained from one cyst (10 cm) was identified as G4 strain of E.granulosus for ND1 and CO1 partial genes. The animal, a 10-year-old female, came from the province of Grosseto (Tuscany Region, Central Italy) and was permanently maintained on pasture together with sheep, cattle and other horses. This is the first molecular identification of the E.granulosus horse strain or G4 in Continental Italy.
Battelli G., Galuppi R., Garippa G., Micagni G., Pantaleoni R., Pipia A.P., et al. (2007). Echinococcus granulosus horse strain (G4): first identification in continental Italy. ROMA : Istituto Superiore di Sanità.
Echinococcus granulosus horse strain (G4): first identification in continental Italy
BATTELLI, GIORGIO;GALUPPI, ROBERTA;
2007
Abstract
Liver and lungs from 7,500 horses, slaughtered in the province of Reggio Emilia (Emilia-Romagna Region, Northern Italy) during the period from March 2006 to February 2007, were examined for Echinococcus granulosus infection or cystic echinococcosis (CE). DNA was extracted from germinal layer and protoscoleces of a fertile cyst and PCR reactions were performed in order to strain typing DNA isolates for NADH and COI mitochondrial genes. PCR products were then purified and sequenced in forward and reverse. Liver cysts were found in two horses. A horse presented two fertile cysts and hydatid material obtained from one cyst (10 cm) was identified as G4 strain of E.granulosus for ND1 and CO1 partial genes. The animal, a 10-year-old female, came from the province of Grosseto (Tuscany Region, Central Italy) and was permanently maintained on pasture together with sheep, cattle and other horses. This is the first molecular identification of the E.granulosus horse strain or G4 in Continental Italy.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
