Molecular and immunological diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis from different hosts in the Gaza Strip, Palestine

The aim of the present study was to determine the molecular characteristics of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato from faecal samples of dogs and the hydatid cyst from liver of bovine, camel, cattle, and sheep and the immunodiagnosis of Hydatid cyst in human sera samples from the Gaza Strip, in Palestine. A total of 38 faecal samples were collected near farms and local markets where stray dogs were grouping there. Post-slaughtering, the livers of the bovine, camel, cattle, and sheep were examined for cysts. Where 30 suspected hydatid cysts were collected, the number and size of cysts in each liver were recorded. For serology, 23 sera specimens were collected from farmers within the Gaza Strip. According to hospital records in Gaza, 12 patients had attended three different hospitals and had tested positive for hydatid cyst/cystic echinococcosis by CT scans and histopathology. ELISA results from the 23 human patients showed that 3/23 (13%) tested positive for hydatid disease. Of the 30 bovine and cattle harboring cysts, 14/30 (46.6%) were positive for hydatid cyst/cystic echinococcosis of which 23 (76.7%) were males and 7 (23.3%) were females. The present study shows that 6/38 (15.7%) were positive for E. granulosus sensu lato from faecal analysis in dogs. Subsequent sequencing of both dogs and cattle confirmed infection by the G1 strain. The cattle/dog strain (G1) of E.granulosus sensu lato suggests that this infection is cosmopolitan in its distribution. It is concluded that the detection of hydatid cyst/cystic echinococcosis in the examined hosts either human or animals should be considered among physicians and a large sample size is recommended in future research.