Short report: the use of a polymerase chain reaction to detect Echinococcus granulosus (G1 strain) eggs in soil samples.

Cystic echinococcosis is a re-emerging disease in central Asia. A total of 120 soil samples taken from 30 gardens of rural homesteads in southern Kazakhstan were analyzed for the presence of taeniid eggs using a concentration technique. Of these, 21 (17.5%) were shown to be contaminated with taeniid eggs. These isolated taeniid eggs were further analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction specific for the G1 (sheep) strain of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, and five samples were shown to be positive. This study demonstrates the widespread contamination of the environment with E. granulosus eggs in an Echinococcus-endemic area and thus the potential for indirect transmission of E. granulosus to humans from such sources.