Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of cystic echinococcosis, which has serious impacts on human and/or animal health, resulting in significant economic losses. Echinococcus granulosus comprises a number of intra-specific variants or strains at the genetic level. In Saudi Arabia, few studies were performed on genetic variations in Echinococcus species. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the phenotypic and genetic characterization of hydatid cysts harboured by sheep and camels in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah. Samples of hydatid cysts were collected from local sheep (n = 25) and camels (n = 8). The morphological criteria of protoscoleces were investigated. To investigate the molecular characterization, random amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR), single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) were carried out. DNA was extracted from individual fertile cysts and subjected to RAPD-PCR analysis (using five arbitrary primers) and PCR amplification of cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) and 12S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (12S rRNA) genes. The PCR products were subjected to SSCP analysis for genetic discrimination in E. granulosus isolates. In addition, partially sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA cox1 genes was achieved for assessing the phylogenetic positions of collected isolates using some global published sequence data of cox1 genes. The rostellar hooks of camel and local sheep isolates show remarkable variability in their dimensions. Five distinct SSCP patterns were identified in the 12S rRNA gene, showing intraspecific variations in E. granulosus of camels and local sheep. Sequencing of (cox1) genes of both local sheep and camels exhibit high similarity with those of the same gene (E. granulosus sensu stricto) published in NCBI BLAST.

中文翻译：

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麦地那（沙特阿拉伯）家畜中细粒棘球绦虫的分子特征

细粒棘球绦虫是囊性棘球蚴病的病原体，对人类和/或动物健康造成严重影响，造成重大经济损失。细粒棘球绦虫包括许多遗传水平的特定内变体或菌株。在沙特阿拉伯，很少有关于基因变异的研究棘球绦虫物种。因此，本研究旨在调查 Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah 绵羊和骆驼携带的包虫囊肿的表型和遗传特征。从当地绵羊身上采集包虫囊肿样本（n= 25) 和骆驼 (n= 8)。研究了原头节的形态标准。为了研究分子表征，进行了随机扩增多态性DNA聚合酶链反应（RAPD-PCR）、单链构象多态性（SSCP）。从单个可育囊肿中提取 DNA 并进行 RAPD-PCR 分析（使用五个任意引物）和细胞色素的 PCR 扩增C氧化酶 I (考克斯1) 和 12S 核糖体核糖核酸 (12S rRNA) 基因。对 PCR 产物进行 SSCP 分析以进行基因鉴别E. 细粒隔离。此外，线粒体 DNA 的部分测序考克斯1使用一些全球公布的序列数据，获得了用于评估收集到的分离株的系统发育位置的基因。考克斯1基因。骆驼和当地绵羊分离株的喙钩在尺寸上表现出显着的可变性。在 12S rRNA 基因中鉴定出五种不同的 SSCP 模式，显示出E. 细粒骆驼和当地的羊。(考克斯1) 本地绵羊和骆驼的基因与同一基因的基因具有高度相似性 (E. granulosus sensu stricto) 发表于 NCBI BLAST。