Molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus in Iraq using Cal and efla genes Ismail Mashair Z1, Fanokh Mustafa A2, Al-Hamdi Najlaa K.1 1Central Veterinary Laboratory Veterinary Directorate, Baghdad, Iraq 2Department of Medical Laboratory Technique, Dijlah University College, Baghdad, Iraq Online published on 1 November, 2018. Abstract Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is one of the most important zoonotic disease, Worldwide including Iraq. The recent molecular phylogeny of genus echinococus revealed, E. granulosus sensu strictu (G1, G2, and G3) genotype complex is a highly infectious to human and animals. This study identifies the genotypes of echinococus parasite infecting human and livestock in Iraq. Thirty three isolates collected from sheep, goat and human were detected by PCR targeting mitochondrial elongation factor1alpha (Ef1a) and carlreticulin (Cal) genes. Sequence comparison showed DNA fragments obtained were amplified from partial cal gene, when shared 99% maximum nucleotide identity with equivalent GenBank sequences from Estonia (Acc. Codes EU834932 and EU834931) France/Spain and multiple origins (Acc. codes KY766909 and KY766910). Whereas, other sequences shared 99% maximum nucleotide identity with Efla gene equivalent GenBank sequences from china (FN568380 and AB306934), Estonia (EU834898), Bulgaria (KR070993), Ethiopia (KX037021), Tunisia (KM014647) and France/Spain (KY766913 and KY766914). Efla gene scored a high incidence (97%) in detected samples compared to cal gene (76%). the current study indicated that the calreticulin (Cal) and elongation factor I alpha (Efla) genes are the most dominant in detected samples and could be the main source of infection in human and animals in Iraq. Top Keywords Echinococcus granulosus, genotyping, human, livestock, Iraq. Top |