Molecular Characterization of Echinococcus granulosus Isolated from Clinical Samples of Patients Diagnosed with Hydatid Cysts in Eastern Türkiye

Background: We aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of Echinococcus granulosususing various cyst materials fromtheparasiteobtained from humansineastern Türkiye. Methods: We used cyst samples from 61 patients diagnosed with hydatid cysts by the Department of Thoracic Surgery and Department of Radiology at Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine between 2019 and 2023. Microscopic examination of protoscolex in cyst samples was performed, and, if available, the patients' ELISA IgG results were obtained from the hospital automation system. Two primer pairs revealed DNA regions specific to E. granulosus (12S rRNA and mt-COX1). Sequence analysis was performed on samples found positive for mt-COX1 PCR, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed from the resulting data. Results: The rate of scolex in microscopic examination was 31/61 (50.8%), and the ELISA IgG positivity rate was 36/51 (70.6%). As a result of PCR analysis of 12S rRNA and mt-COX1 gene regions of 61 cyst samples, positivity was determined in 48 (78.7%) samples. As a result of PCR product sequence analysis, it was found that all samples were of the E. granulosus sensu stricto (G1, G3) genotype. Lung cyst alone was detected in 25 (40.9%) cases, while only liver cyst was detected in 15 (24.6%) cases. In 13 (21.3) cases, cysts were present in both the lungs and the liver. Conclusion: The genotype of E. granulosus isolates obtained from cyst material from patients diagnosed with hydatid cysts in Erzurum and surrounding provinces was a domestic sheep strain (G1, G3).