Parasitology (Jul 2023)

First isolation of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato genotype 7 in the archipelago of Cape Verde

  • Lara Gonçalves Baptista,
  • Teivi Laurimäe,
  • Gillian Muchaamba,
  • Laura Cathomas,
  • Ana Lina Barros Olende,
  • Iolanda Mata dos Santos,
  • Ângela Lobo de Pina,
  • Peter Deplazes

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1017/S003118202300046X
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 150
pp. 734 – 743

Abstract

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There are no scientific data available on the occurrence of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) cluster in definitive hosts (domestic dogs), intermediate hosts (domestic livestock) nor humans in Cape Verde. In this pilot study, environmental dog fecal samples (n = 369) were collected around food markets, official slaughterhouses, as well as home and small business slaughter spots in 8 of the 9 inhabited islands from the Cape Verde archipelago, between June 2021 and March 2022. Additionally, during the same period, 40 cysts and tissue lesions were opportunistically collected from 5 islands, from locally slaughtered cattle (n = 7), goats (n = 2), sheep (n = 1) and pigs (n = 26). Genetic characterization by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the 12S rRNA gene confirmed the presence of E. granulosus s.l. in fecal and tissue material. In total, 17 cyst samples from Santiago (n = 9), Sal (n = 7) and São Vicente (n = 1) and 8 G6/G7-positive dog fecal samples from Santiago (n = 4) and Sal (n = 4) were identified as E. granulosus s.l. G7 by sequence analysis (nad2, nad5 and nad1 genes). This study discloses the transmission of E. granulosus s.l. G7, in pig, cattle and dog in Cape Verde.

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