The pulmonary and hepatic hydatid cyst fluids were collected from 540 slaughtered
camels and 5 human cases in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt. The prevalence of
infection of cystic echinococcosis among camels was 120 (22.2%). The fertility
rates of the isolated cysts form camels and humans were 64.5 and 100%,
respectively. A nested polymerase chain reaction was used for amplification of
mitochondrial NADH 1 gene of Echinococcus granulosus complex in fertile cysts
obtained from camels and humans, respectively. Two pairs of primers (EGL1 and
EGR2) and (EGL3 and EGR4) were used in 2 amplification steps. First, the outer
pair of primer originated from a highly conserve region of NADH1 gene generate a
primary 435 bp PCR product. Second, a pair of internal (nested) primer (EGL3 and
EGR4), designed to the annealing site of primers (EGL1 and EGR2) yield similar
diagnostic amplified DNA bands of molecular size marker at 276 bp in all examined
cysts obtained from camels and humans indicating a zoonotic relationship. This
study confirms similar fingerprinting patterns of Echinococcus granulosus complex
in camels and humans in Qalyubia Governorate, Egypt. Nested PCR for diagnosis
of E. granulosis had been used for the first time in Egypt, as far as we know.