Evidence of G1-G3 Complex Life Cycle of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto Through Molecular Characterization (Genotyping) in Dogs, Sheep, Goats and Humans of North-western Himalayas, India

Background: The helminthic zoonotic disease echinococcosis is brought on by tapeworms that are members of the genus (Family Taeniidae). Currently, Echinococcus granulosus, Echinococcus multilocularis, Echinococcus vogeli, Echinococcus oligarthrus and Echinococcus shiquicus are identified species. Of them, E. granulosus and E. multilocularisare important zoonotic organisms that cause cystic echinococcosis and alveolar echinococcosis in humans, respectively (Bowles and McManus, 1993). Echinococcus granulosus is mainly spread by dogs and a few other intermediate hosts, although it is hardly ever a part of a naturally occurring predator-prey cycle that is not caused by humans. Methods: In a present study, 1254 small ruminants (723 sheep and 531 goats) and 305 dogs, including 122 pet dogs visiting small animal clinics, 183 stray dogs in Jammu division, for a period of 12 months (July, 2021- June, 2022) were taken for the detection of the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis and molecular detection. Result: Among sheep and goats, 209 animals (sheep = 137 and goats = 72) were found infected with hydatidosis with an overall infection rate of 16.67% (sheep = 18.95% and goats = 13.56%). Molecular prevalence based on copro PCR was conducted in dogs, in which the overall prevalence of Echinococcus was found to be 14.09% [stray (22.95%); pet (0.82%)]. For the identification of Echinococcus species from cyst of sheep, goats and humans, a PCR protocol employing the Cox1 primers was used. The amplified products of PCR were electrophoretically separated on agar gels (1%) and analysed in a gel documentation system. Clear amplification was noticed at 440 bp for sheep, goat andhuman. The generated Cox1 partial sequences were assigned theaccession numbers as: dog (ON427821), goat (ON427822), sheep (ON427823), human 1(OP215294) and human 2 (OP215295). All the Cox1 sequences from dog, goat, sheep and humans were clustering in same clade, irrespective of their geographical location, representingthe cycle of transmission in Jammu region as Echinococcus granulosus G1-G3 complex.