Echinococcus granulosus genotypes in Iran: a systematic review.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Parasitology
• Zoonotic Diseases
• Molecular Epidemiology

Background:

• Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.), is a major zoonotic disease prevalent in the Middle East.
• Iran has a significant burden of CE, necessitating a clear understanding of circulating parasite genotypes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a systematic review of Echinococcus granulosus genotypes in Iran.
• To determine the prevalence and distribution of different E. granulosus genotypes in animal and human populations within Iran.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive search of English and Persian databases (PubMed, Scopus, Magiran, etc.) and Google Scholar was performed.
• Data from 73 studies published up to December 2015, examining 2952 animal hosts and 340 human cases, were systematically reviewed.

Main Results:

• Genotype G1 was dominant (92.75%) in intermediate hosts (sheep, cattle, camels, goats, buffaloes), followed by G6 (4.53%), G3 (2.43%), G7 (0.2%), and G2 (0.06%).
• Genotype G1 was also predominant in human CE cases (n=320), with G6 (n=13) and G3 (n=7) also identified.
• Geographical distribution showed G1 dominance in West Azerbaijan, G3 in Isfahan, and G6 in Fars province. Isfahan province reported the highest number of human CE cases.

Conclusions:

• Genotype G1 is the primary cause of cystic echinococcosis in both animals and humans in Iran.
• This detailed understanding of E. granulosus s.l. genotype distribution is vital for developing targeted and effective control and prevention strategies against CE in Iran.