First molecular characterization of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto genotype G1 from a common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) in the Kuwait Zoo.

PURPOSE: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a cosmopolitan parasitic zoonosis with public health and economic significance. In this study, we report CE in uncommon host, a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) in the Kuwait Zoo with description of clinical and pathological findings.

METHODS

In September 2025, a 32-year-old adult female common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) died at the zoo of Kuwait after showing severe symptoms. Post-mortem examination revealed a handball-sized cyst embedded in the hepatic umbilical fissure, causing lesions. The content of the cyst was examined microscopically as well as by sequencing of the mitochondrial nad1 gene from one of the clonal protoscoleces found in the cyst.

RESULTS

The cyst proved to be Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto, genotype G1. The clinical case of the infection is described in detail. DNA sequence was nearly identical to sequences of G1 genotype of E. granulosus available in GenBank.

CONCLUSIONS

This report of CE in a chimpanzee in the zoo highlights the problem related to environmental contamination. The implication of dogs in environmental contamination and other aspects of CE epidemiology in Kuwait is discussed. This is the first report of genetically identified hydatid cyst of E. granulosus sensu stricto in Kuwait and the first genetically confirmed case of the genotype G1 in chimpanzee.