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This study aimed to fill a gap of knowledge by providing a quantitative measure of molecularly identified species and genotypes belonging to Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) causing human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in Europe during the period 2000-2021. As these species and genotypes are characterized by genetic, animal host and geographical differences, studying the E. granulosus s.l. complex is epidemiologically relevant. A systematic review (SR) was conducted on the basis of both scientific and grey literature considering primary studies between 2000 and 2021 in four databases. From a total of 1643 scientific papers, 51 records were included in the SR. The main inclusion criterion for this study was the molecular confirmation of E. granulosus s.l. at the genotype/species level as a causative agent of human CE cases in selected European countries. Relevant data were obtained from 29 out of 39 eligible European countries. This SR identified 599 human molecularly confirmed echinococcal cysts: 460 (76.8%) identified as E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.), 130 (21.7%) as E. canadensis cluster (G6/7 and G10), 7 (1.2%) as E. ortleppi (G5), and 2 as E. vogeli (0.3%). Three geographical hotspots of human CE caused by different species of the E. granulosus s.l. complex were identified: (1) E. granulosus s.s. in Southern and South-eastern Europe (European-Mediterranean and Balkan countries); (2) E. canadensis (G6/7) in Central and Eastern Europe; (3) E. ortleppi in Central and Western Europe. This SR also identified data gaps that prevented a better definition of the geographical distribution of the Echinococcus granulosus s.l. species complex in Europe: western Balkan countries, part of Central Europe, and Baltic countries. These results mandate longitudinal, multi-centre, intersectoral and transdisciplinary studies which consider both molecular and clinical epidemiology in animals and humans. Such studies would be valuable for a better understanding of the transmission of the E. granulosus s.l. species complex and their potential clinical impact on humans.

The island of Cyprus was a historical endemic area for cystic echinococcosis (CE) in the Mediterranean. During the last decades, Cyprus has been an open-air laboratory and a model for testing and implementing control measures aiming to eliminate CE as a public health problem. Despite control and surveillance measures implemented during last 50 years, molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato specimens has been never provided. In February 2023, the carcass of a stray dog collected in the Nicosia district was examined by the Veterinary Services and found infected with Echinococcus spp. worms. The worms were sent to the European Union Reference Laboratory (EURLP) for species/genotype identification. The sequences analyses of nad2 and nad5 genes allowed us to identify the tapeworms as Echinococcus canadensis, genotype G7b. In November 2023, a parasitic liver cyst was observed during the post-mortem examination of a mouflon from the same area of the dog's finding. The cyst sample was also referred to EURLP for identification and comparison with tapeworms previously collected from the dog. The sequences analysis of cox1 gene allowed to identify the cyst as E. granulosus sensu stricto, genotype G1. The finding of 2 different species of E. granulosus s.l. in a limited area raises epidemiological questions on the origin of the samples: whether distinct transmission cycles are present or a recent introduction event have occurred. From a public health perspective, it will be essential to conduct further molecular epidemiology studies to clarify the recent transmission dynamics of Echinococcus species in Cyprus.

The parasitic species of the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (sl) complex are the causative agents of cystic echinococcosis in humans. The lifecycle of E. granulosus sl is essentially domestic, and is based on the consumption by dogs of hydatid cysts in viscera of livestock species. The aim of this study was to survey E. granulosus sensu lato in livestock in France. A 1-year national survey of E. granulosus sl in livestock at the slaughterhouse was organized in 2012 in France, with systematic molecular confirmation. The prevalence of E. granulosus ss nationally was 0.002% in sheep, mainly focused in the Alpine area, and 0.001% in cattle, with the distribution of cases throughout the country. Echinococcus canadensis G6/7 was observed only in Corsica in pigs, with a prevalence of nearly 1% in the island. A national prevalence of 0.0002% was estimated for E. ortleppi in cattle, due to seven cases distributed in two foci. The results of this survey are of particular interest because of the zoonotic risk associated with the presence of these parasite species, for which systematic control at the slaughterhouse should enable their elimination.

Background Canids are definitive hosts of Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus. This study aimed to survey these two Echinococcus species in canids of North-Khorasan Province, northeastern Iran, using morphological criteria and genetic characterization of mitochondrial DNA. Methods The carcasses of 106 canids, namely 61 jackals ( Canis aureus ), 23 foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ), 19 dogs ( Canis familiaris ) and three wolves ( Canis lupus ) were collected from the study area in 2013–2014 and examined for Echinococcus species. Morphological features were assessed by microscopy of adult worms. For molecular characterization, DNA was extracted, mostly from the adult worms but also from eggs. DNA fragments of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 ( cox 1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 ( nad 1) mitochondrial genes were amplified and sequenced. Sequences were aligned and compared with reference sequences. Intraspecific and interspecific diversity were calculated and phylogenetic analysis was performed. Results Overall, 9.4% of the canids (eight jackals and two foxes) were found infected with E. multilocularis by molecular methods, of which seven cases were also confirmed using morphological description of the adult worms. Echinococcus granulosus was found in 6.6% of the canines (four dogs, two jackals and one wolf) as determined by both molecular methods and adult cestode morphology. All E. granulosus isolates were identified as the G1 genotype. Comparative sequence analysis indicated 0–0.7% and 0% intraspecific divergence within E. granulosus isolates and 0% and 0–0.2% within E. multilocularis isolates for cox 1 and nad 1, respectively. Conclusions This study revealed the presence of E. multilocularis and E. granulosus in canids of North-Khorasan Province of Iran. Jackals were found infected with both E. multilocularis and E. granulosus , but infection with the former species was higher.

Cystic and alveolar echinococcosis are considered the second and third most significant foodborne parasitic diseases worldwide. The microscopic eggs excreted in the feces of the definitive host are the only source of contamination for intermediate and dead-end hosts, including humans. However, estimating the respective contribution of the environment, fomites, animals or food in the transmission of Echinococcus eggs is still challenging. Echinococcus granulosus and E. multilocularis seem to have a similar survival capacity regarding temperature under laboratory conditions. In addition, field experiments have reported that the eggs can survive several weeks to years outdoors, with confirmation of the relative susceptibility of Echinococcus eggs to desiccation. Bad weather (such as rain and wind), invertebrates and birds help scatter Echinococcus eggs in the environment and may thus impact human exposure. Contamination of food and the environment by taeniid eggs has been the subject of renewed interest in the past decade. Various matrices from endemic regions have been found to be contaminated by Echinococcus eggs. These include water, soil, vegetables and berries, with heterogeneous rates highlighting the need to acquire more robust data so as to obtain an accurate assessment of the risk of human infection. In this context, it is essential to use efficient methods of detection and to develop methods for evaluating the viability of eggs in the environment and food.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a life-threatening disease in humans caused by the larval stage of . Domestic animals, dogs, foxes, and small mammals constitute the circular chain of AE. To evaluate the infection, distribution, and genetic polymorphism of AE in the Ili Prefecture (Nilka, Xinyuan and Zhaosu), we conducted this survey. In June and July 2018, 267 small mammals were captured using water-infusion and mousetrap methods. Combined pathogenic and molecular biological methods were used to observe the histopathology of carried by rodents, amplify the mitochondrial 1 gene of the pathogen, and investigate the genotype and haplotype diversity of in rodents in Ili Prefecture. Morphological identification revealed that these captured small mammals belonged to three species, with being the dominant species (183/267). Pathological and molecular biological results confirmed that was the pathogen of echinococcosis in small mammals, with an infection rate of 15.73% (42/267). Among the three areas sampled, the highest infection rate of rodents was 25.45% (14/55) in Nilka County. However, there was no significant difference in the infection rates between regions (χ = 5.119, p > 0.05). Of the three captured rodent species, had the highest infection rate of 17.49% (32/183), but there was no significant difference in infection rates between the rodent species (χ = 1.364, p > 0.05). Phylogenetic analyses showed that the nad1 gene sequences obtained in this study clustered in the same clade as isolates from China. These isolates contained 21 haplotypes (Hap_1-21); Hap_2 was the most common haplotype (9/42). Furthermore, haplotype diversity (0.925 ± 0.027) and nucleotide diversity (0.01139 ± 0.00119) were higher in the Ili Prefecture than in other regions, indicating that population differentiation was high. Tajima's D and Fu's Fs tests were negative (p > 0.10), indicating that the population had expanded. The low fixation index (Fst) ranged from 0.00000 to 0.16945, indicating that the degree of genetic differentiation was different among different populations. In summary, Ili Prefecture is a high incidence area of AE, and Microtus spp. may play an important role in the transmission of AE in this area. The results of this study provide basic data for further study of the molecular epidemiology, genetic differences, and control of in the Ili Prefecture, Xinjiang.

Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato ( s.l. ) is a species complex with the potential to cause cystic echinococcosis (CE). Contact with the feces of domestic dogs ( Canis familiaris ) fed with raw viscera of intermediate livestock hosts is a risk factor for this infection in the southern region of Brazil. Although the region has been considered endemic to CE for many years, molecular data regarding the species of the complex causing CE in humans are scarce. This study aimed to perform a molecular analysis of the biological fluid from a human liver cyst to investigate the species responsible for CE. Genetic material obtained from the hydatid fluid of a hepatic cyst from a human with CE was subjected to PCR to amplify mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the human infection by Echinococcus canadensis G7 in the state of Paraná, Brazil. This is the first molecular record of E. canadensis G7 infecting a human in Brazil, and it is important to reiterate the risk of human CE caused by this species in South America, as reported by a previous study in Patagonia, Argentina. From the epidemiological point of view, this finding is of great relevance for the southern region of Brazil, since this parasite has previously only been detected in pigs in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, neighboring Paraná. The finding points to the importance of this identification in the molecular epidemiology of E. granulosus s.l. , especially in South America.

The search for novel therapeutic options to cure alveolar echinococcosis (AE), due to the metacestode of Echinococcus multilocularis, is ongoing, and these developments could also have a profound impact on the treatment of cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the closely related Echinococcus granulosus s.l. Several options are being explored. A viable strategy for the identification of novel chemotherapeutically valuable compounds includes whole-organism drug screening, employing large-scale in vitro metacestode cultures and, upon identification of promising compounds, verification of drug efficacy in small laboratory animals. Clearly, the current focus is targeted towards broad-spectrum anti-parasitic or anti-cancer drugs and compound classes that are already marketed, or that are in development for other applications. The availability of comprehensive Echinococcus genome information and gene expression data, as well as significant progress on the molecular level, has now opened the door for a more targeted drug discovery approach, which allows exploitation of defined pathways and enzymes that are essential for the parasite. In addition, current in vitro and in vivo models that are used to assess drug efficacy should be optimized and complemented by methods that give more detailed information on the host-parasite interactions that occur during drug treatments. The key to success is to identify, target and exploit those parasite molecules that orchestrate activities essential to parasite survival. La recherche de nouvelles options thérapeutiques curatives de l’échinococcose alvéolaire (EA), due au métacestode d’Echinococcus multilocularis, est en progrès, et ses développements pourraient aussi avoir un profond impact sur le traitement de l’échinococcose kystique (EK), due au cestode très proche Echinococcus granulosus s.l. Plusieurs options sont explorées. Une stratégie efficace pour l’identification de composés nouveaux à activité chimiothérapique est représentée par le criblage de médicaments sur le micro-organisme entier, utilisant des cultures à grande échelle de métacestodes in vitro et, après identification de composés d’intérêt, la vérification de leur activité chez des animaux de laboratoire. La recherche actuelle est clairement centrée sur les médicaments et les classes de substances à activité antiparasitaire et anti-cancéreuse à large spectre qui sont déjà sur le marché ou en cours de développement dans d’autres applications. La mise à disposition d’informations complètes sur le génome d’Echinococcus et sur l’expression des gènes ainsi que des progrès significatifs à l’échelle moléculaire ouvrent maintenant la porte vers une approche plus ciblée pour la découverte de nouveaux médicaments, en permettant l’exploitation de voies métaboliques et d’enzymes indispensables au parasite. De plus, les modèles actuels, in vitro et in vivo, actuellement utilisés pour confirmer l’efficacité d’un médicament, devraient être optimisés et complétés par des méthodes qui permettraient d’obtenir des informations plus détaillés sur les relations hôte-parasite qui surviennent au cours des traitements. La clé du succès est d’identifier, de cibler et d’exploiter les molécules parasitaires qui orchestrent des activités essentielles à la survie du parasite.

Echinococcus spp. is an emerging zoonotic parasite of high concern. In Canada, an increase in the number of human and animal cases diagnosed has been reported, but information regarding the parasite’s distribution in wildlife reservoir remains limited. A cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of wild canids infected with Echinococcus spp. and Echinococcus multilocularis in areas surrounding populated zones in Québec (Canada); to investigate the presence of areas at higher risk of infection; to evaluate potential risk factors of the infection; and as a secondary objective, to compare coproscopy and RT-PCR diagnostic tests for Taenia spp. and Echinococcus identification. From October 2020 to March 2021, fecal samples were collected from 423 coyotes ( Canis latrans ) and 284 red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes ) trapped in 12 administrative regions. Real-time PCR for molecular detection of genus Echinococcus spp. and species-specific Echinococcus multilocularis were performed. A total of 38 positive cases of Echinococcus spp., of which 25 were identified as E . multilocularis , were detected. Two high-risk areas of infection were identified. The prevalence of Echinococcus spp. was 22.7% (95% CI 11.5–37.8%) in the Montérégie centered high-risk area, 26.5% (95% CI 12.9–44.4%) in the Bas-St-Laurent high-risk area, and 3.0% (95%CI 1.8–4.7%) outside those areas. For E . multilocularis , a prevalence of 20.5% (95% CI 9.8–35.3%) was estimated in the high-risk area centered in Montérégie compared to 2.4% (95% CI 1.4–3.9%) outside. Logistic regression did not show any association of infection status with species, sex, or geolocation of capture ( p > 0.05). This study shows the circulation of Echinococcus in a wildlife cycle in 9/12 administrative regions of Québec.

Echinococcoses require the involvement of specialists from nearly all disciplines; standardization of the terminology used in the field is thus crucial. To harmonize echinococcosis terminology on sound scientific and linguistic grounds, the World Association of Echinococcosis launched a Formal Consensus process. Under the coordination of a Steering and Writing Group (SWG), a Consultation and Rating Group (CRG) had the main missions of (1) providing input on the list of terms drafted by the SWG, taking into account the available literature and the participants’ experience; and (2) providing independent rating on all debated terms submitted to vote. The mission of the Reading and Review Group (RRG) was to give an opinion about the recommendation paper in terms of readability, acceptability and applicability. The main achievements of this process were: (1) an update of the current nomenclature of Echinococcus spp.; (2) an agreement on three names of diseases due to Echinococcus spp.: Cystic Echinococcosis (CE), Alveolar Echinococcosis (AE) and Neotropical Echinococcosis (NE), and the exclusion of all other names; (3) an agreement on the restricted use of the adjective “hydatid” to refer to the cyst and fluid due to E. granulosus sensu lato ; and (4) an agreement on a standardized description of the surgical operations for CE, according to the “Approach, cyst Opening, Resection, and Completeness” (AORC) framework. In addition, 95 “approved” and 60 “rejected” terms were listed. The recommendations provided in this paper will be applicable to scientific publications in English and communication with professionals. They will be used for translation into other languages spoken in endemic countries. Les échinococcoses impliquent l’intervention de spécialistes de presque toutes les disciplines et une standardisation de la terminologie utilisée dans le domaine est donc cruciale. Pour harmoniser la terminologie des échinococcoses sur des bases scientifiques et linguistiques bien étayées, l’Association Mondiale de l’Échinococcose a entrepris un processus de « Consensus Formalisé ». Sous la coordination d’un Groupe de Pilotage et de Rédaction (GPR), un Groupe de Consultation et de Classement (GCC) a reçu les missions suivantes : (1) fournir un avis sur une liste de termes établie par le GPR, en prenant en compte les références scientifiques disponibles et l’expérience des participants ; (2) fournir un classement indépendant sur tous les termes débattus et soumis au vote. La mission du Groupe de Lecture et de Revue critique (GLR) était de donner un avis formel sur l’article de recommandations en termes de facilité de lecture, d’acceptabilité et d’applicabilité. Les principales avancées obtenues au terme de ce processus sont les suivantes: (1) une actualisation de la nomenclature actuelle des espèces d’ Echinococcus  ; (2) un accord sur les noms des trois principales maladies humaines dues aux espèces d’ Echinococcus  : l’échinococcose kystique (EK), l’échinococcose alvéolaire (EA) et l’échinococcose néotropicale (EN), à l’exclusion de toute autre dénomination ; (3) la restriction de l’usage de l’adjectif « hydatique » au kyste et au liquide/fluide produit par E. granulosus sensu lato  ; et (4) une description standardisée des interventions chirurgicales pour l’EK, selon le système AORC (pour « Approche », « Ouverture », « Résection » et « Complétude »). De plus, 95 termes « approuvés » et 60 termes « rejetés » ont été listés. Les recommandations données dans cet article seront applicables aux publications scientifiques en anglais et à la communication avec les professionnels. Elles seront utilisées pour la traduction dans les autres langues parlées dans les zones d’endémie.