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Abstract
The pattern of species and strain variation within the genus Echinococcus is complex
and controversial. In an attempt to characterise objectively the various species and
strains, the sequence of a region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit
I (CO1) gene was determined for 56 Echinococcus isolates. Eleven different genotypes
were detected, including 7 within Echinococcus granulosus, and these were used to
categorise the isolates. The 4 generally accepted Echinococcus species were clearly
distinguishable using this approach. In addition, the consensus view of the strain
pattern within E. granulosus, based on a variety of criteria of differentiation, was
broadly upheld. Very little variation was detected within Echinococcus multilocularis.
Remarkable intra-strain homogeneity was found at the DNA sequence level. This region
of the rapidly evolving mitochondrial genome is useful as a marker of species and
strain identity and as a preliminary indication of evolutionary divergence within
the genus Echinococcus.