Gene-based molecular analysis of <i>COX1</i> in <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> cysts isolated from naturally infected livestock in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

<div><p>The diversity and importance of <i>Echinococcus</i> species in domesticated animals in Saudi Arabia are poorly understood. In this study, 108 singular (hydatid) cysts were collected from goats (n = 25), sheep (n = 56) and camels (n = 27). DNA was extracted from the protoscoleces of individual fertile cysts and used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of mitochondrial subunit 1 of the <i>cytochrome c oxidase 1</i> (<i>cox1</i>) gene. Amplicon sequencing results revealed the presence of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i> sensustricto (s.s.) (genotypes G1–G3) in 16 of the17 sheep cysts and 2 of the 27 camel cysts.of these samples, 18 (2 camel and 16 sheep) were divided into genotypes G1, G2, and G3.</p>