GENOTYPES OF ECHINOCOCCOSUS GRANULOSUS IN THE HUMAN POPULATION OF SOUTHERN KAZAKHSTAN

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the molecular identification of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato species and genotypes causing human cystic echinococcosis. The research interest is related to the variation in the distribution of Echinococcus granulosus s.l. species and genotypes in relation to geographical characteristics in the human population of Southern Kazakhstan. Materials and Methods: For the period from 2023 to 2025, 45 samples of chitinous layers were collected for identification after pericystectomy of the echinococcal cyst in 45 patients with cystic echinococcosis in the clinical departments of the Syzganov National Research Center of Surgery. Processing and molecular analysis of all biological samples was performed at the Laboratory of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources of the National Center for Biotechnology. Results: DNA was isolated from 45 chitinous layers of individual cysts and used for polymerase chain reaction amplification of mitochondrial subunit 1 of the cox1 gene. The results of sequencing of the amplicons are presented. The presence of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto G1 was detected in 97.8% samples, and the G3 genotype was found in 2.2% sample. Conclusion: Identification of the most common genotypes of cystic echinococcosis in the human population of Southern Kazakhstan made it possible to fill the gap in knowledge about the routes of infection transmission. The results of this study showed that the G1 genotype of E. granulosus s.s. is predominant in patients with echinococcosis in Southern Kazakhstan. In one region, the presence of two genotypes G1 and G3 was detected in the sequence, which requires further research. Key words: Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, Genotype, haplotype, cox1, chitinous layer, cystic echinococcosis