Investigations were carried out to update data on epidemiology and molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus in livestock in Italy, in the framework of a national research project during the years 2003-2006. Animals (sheep 2398; cattle 49,485; buffalos 722; pigs 484; horses 294) were sampled in various regions, namely Lombardy (sheep and cattle), Emilia-Romagna (cattle), Campania (buffalos), Abruzzo (sheep and cattle), Sicily and Sardinia (sheep, cattle, pigs, horses). Liver, lung and spleen of slaughtered animals were examined between January 2003 and December 2006 and the number and fertility of hydatid cysts were evaluated. Protoscoleces and/or germinal layers were collected from individual cysts and DNA was extracted from some samples. PCR methods were used for the identification of the main strain clusters for each sample (G1; G5; G6/G7). Fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and NADH dehydrogenase I were sequenced. Fertility and strain typing were not performed on Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna samples for technical reasons. The range of regional prevalences, the strains of E. granulosus identified were the following: sheep 0.3 % - 75.3%, G1; cattle 0.1 % - 67.1%, G1 and G3; buffalos 10%; G1 and G3; pigs 0% - 9.4%, G1 and G7; horses 0% - 2.8%, G4. The results of the surveys confirm the historical trend of cystic echinococcosis in southern and insular Italy. Highest prevalences in sheep and cattle were recorded in Sardinia and Sicily, respectively. G1 strain results highly spread in sheep and also affects sympatrically cattle, buffalo and pigs. Variants of the sheep strain cluster like G3 were also recorded in buffalo and cattle. The presence of G4 and G7, which were isolated in horses and pigs from Sardinia, respectively, should be pointed out. In February 2007, G4 strain has been identified also in a horse from Tuscany, a region of Central Italy (reported in this Congress).
Updating on epidemiology and molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus strains in Italy / Garippa G.; Battelli G.; Cringoli G.; Manfredi M.T.; Di Cerbo A.R.; Giangaspero A.; Brianti E.; Giannetto S.; Poglayen G.; Varcasia A.; Scala A.. - STAMPA. - (2007), pp. 35-36. (Intervento presentato al convegno XXII International Congress of Hydatidology & International Symposium on Zoonoses tenutosi a Athens nel May 15-19, 2007).
Updating on epidemiology and molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus strains in Italy
BATTELLI, GIORGIO;POGLAYEN, GIOVANNI;
2007
Abstract
Investigations were carried out to update data on epidemiology and molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus in livestock in Italy, in the framework of a national research project during the years 2003-2006. Animals (sheep 2398; cattle 49,485; buffalos 722; pigs 484; horses 294) were sampled in various regions, namely Lombardy (sheep and cattle), Emilia-Romagna (cattle), Campania (buffalos), Abruzzo (sheep and cattle), Sicily and Sardinia (sheep, cattle, pigs, horses). Liver, lung and spleen of slaughtered animals were examined between January 2003 and December 2006 and the number and fertility of hydatid cysts were evaluated. Protoscoleces and/or germinal layers were collected from individual cysts and DNA was extracted from some samples. PCR methods were used for the identification of the main strain clusters for each sample (G1; G5; G6/G7). Fragments of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and NADH dehydrogenase I were sequenced. Fertility and strain typing were not performed on Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna samples for technical reasons. The range of regional prevalences, the strains of E. granulosus identified were the following: sheep 0.3 % - 75.3%, G1; cattle 0.1 % - 67.1%, G1 and G3; buffalos 10%; G1 and G3; pigs 0% - 9.4%, G1 and G7; horses 0% - 2.8%, G4. The results of the surveys confirm the historical trend of cystic echinococcosis in southern and insular Italy. Highest prevalences in sheep and cattle were recorded in Sardinia and Sicily, respectively. G1 strain results highly spread in sheep and also affects sympatrically cattle, buffalo and pigs. Variants of the sheep strain cluster like G3 were also recorded in buffalo and cattle. The presence of G4 and G7, which were isolated in horses and pigs from Sardinia, respectively, should be pointed out. In February 2007, G4 strain has been identified also in a horse from Tuscany, a region of Central Italy (reported in this Congress).I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
