Genetic diversity of Echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes in Poland: the first report of a haplotype of probable Asian origin

Abstract

Abstract:The aim of the present study was to estimate the genetic diversity of the cestode Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart, 1863 in Poland based on sequence analysis of the mitochondrial genes of worms isolated from red foxes, Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus). Overall, 83 adults of E. multilocularis from the same number of foxes in different parts of Poland were used for analysis. Sequences of the three mitochondrial genes, cytochrome b (cob), NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 (nad2) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1), were analysed. Seventy-four individual biological samples were successfully sequenced. Combined sequence analysis of these three genes exhibited fifteen Polish haplotypes (EmPL1-EmPL15). Most isolates (n = 29; 39%) were classified to the EmPL1 haplotype, which occurred mainly in the east, north and centre of Poland. Haplotype EmPL4 (n = 14; 19%) and other haplotypes appeared predominantly in the south and west area. Fourteen haplotypes were grouped in the European clade. One Polish haplotype (EmPL9) (n = 7, 10%) was assigned to the Asian clade with haplotypes from Japan and Kazakhstan. This haplotype was found only in northeast Poland and this is the westernmost report of haplotype of E. multilocularis belonging to the Asian clade in Europe. The investigation demonstrated that populations of E. multilocularis in Poland (and probably also in eastern Europe) included not only different European haplotypes but also those of the Asian origin.

Occurrence of <i>Echinococcus</i> spp. in red foxes and wolves in the protected area of the Tatra National Park in southern Poland – a threat to human health

“…The nucleotide sequences of the cox1 gene on the resulting 266 bp fragment were 100% identical to each other. Comparison of these sequences with the deposited data allowed the conclusion that the haplotype obtained in the survey commonly occurs in red foxes in Poland [22]. Of the 15 haplotypes of E. multilocularis identified by Karamon et al [22], on the analyzed fragment, 14 of them were consistent with the isolates obtained in the current survey.…”

Prevalence of intestinal helminths of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central Europe (Poland): a significant zoonotic threat

“…Therefore, geographical differences in the occurrence of E. multilocularis in Poland are difficult to explain, these are probably the result of simultaneous influence of many factors (biological and physical) [ 13 ]. An attempt was made to explain these differences with an analysis of the genetic diversity of E. multilocularis in Poland [ 45 , 46 ], but this has not yet given a definitive answer. The high prevalence of this species in the eastern regions represents a significant risk of infection for humans.…”

Public health risks associated with food‐borne parasites

“…However, mitochondrial and microsatellite analyses have not, so far, produced consensual results (Knapp et al., ; Jastrzembski, ) and the global genetic structure of E. multilocularis is still largely unclear. As examples, ‘Asian’ genotypes were recently found in Poland (Karamon et al., ), ‘North American’ genotypes in Russia (Konyaev et al., ), and ‘European’ genotypes in Canada (Gesy and Jenkins, ), so these approaches are currently still of doubtful value in Europe until more comprehensive surveys are done. Consequently, source attribution to reservoirs for E. multilocularis is currently not possible.…”