SDS-protein and 18S rRNA gene, and phylogeny-based identification of hydatid cysts in human and animal samples

Hydatid disease is a significant and widespread infectious disease prevalent in many countries where there is inadequate control of the adult tapeworm; Echinococcus spp, in dogs, which are the definite hosts. The disease is caused by the presence of hydatid cysts in intermediate hosts, such as humans and some farm animals. In Iraq, infected dogs are highly likely to transmit the infection to humans and some farm animals. The study aimed to identify the presence of hydatid cysts in human and animal samples. The research involved collecting thirty hydatid cysts from human livers and ovaries, as well as from animal livers and lungs. The samples were subjected to SDS-based protein detection, PCR, and gene sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. The SDS-Coomassie-blue findings demonstrated a 100% (15/15) positive identification of the cystic protein of all specimens. The PCR results confirmed the identity of the parasite with 100% accuracy. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 10 PCR products from both human and animal samples revealed close nucleotide identity to global isolates previously deposited in GeneBank. These findings indicate a high occurrence of hydatid cysts in the examined humans and animals, which have evolved or exhibit close genetic similarity to global strains.