Abstract
We report on the genetic identity of 36
Echinococcus
cysts that were collected during a recent slaughterhouse survey of 810 locally bred camels (dromedaries) in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Analysis of a partial
nad1
gene sequence showed that the majority (
n
= 29) belonged to
E. granulosus
sensu stricto, four to
E. canadensis
G6/7, and three to
E. ortleppi
. Eight of the 29
E. granulosus
s.s. cysts contained protoscoleces; all other cysts were calcified and non-viable. This is the first report of the presence
E. ortleppi
from the Arabian Peninsula, a parasite that is typically transmitted via cattle. The results indicate widespread infection of camels with CE in eastern Saudi Arabia and an active role of camels in the lifecycles of at least
E. granulosus
s.s.. Complete
cox1
haplotype analysis of 21
E. granulosus
s.s. isolates shows that the majority of variants circulating in eastern Saudi Arabia is distinct from but closely related to haplotypes from neighboring countries in the Middle East, which indicates the presence of this parasite in KSA for a longer period of time. All isolates of
E. granulosus
s.s. in this study belonged to the G1 cluster, although the G3 genotype has previously also been reported from the Middle East.