Tehran University of Medical Sciences Iranian Journal of Parasitology 1735-7020 12 2 2017 06 13 292 297 Saeedeh SHAMSADDINI Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Mohammad Ali MOHAMMADI Dept. of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Seyed Reza MIRBADIE Dept. of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran Saeid NASIBI Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Sima ROSTAMI Dept. of Research and Technology, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran Mansoureh DEHGHANI Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Majid FASIHI HARANDI Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran 2017 06 12 2017 06 12 Background: Echinococcus granulosus, Taenia multiceps, Taenia ovis and Taenia hydatigena are among the most prevalent taeniid species of dogs. These tapeworms infect ruminant and humans as intermediate hosts and domestic/wild carnivores as the definitive hosts. Molecular tools using hypervariable microsatellite regions might provide more information about parasite variation. Highly variable and specific tools are needed for transmission tracking studies of canine echinococcosis as an essential element for implementation of hydatid control programs. Suitable microsatellite markers used so far are EmsJ, EmsK, EmsB, EMms1, Egmsca1, Egmsga1, U1 snRNA. The purpose of the present study was to determine the microsatellite variability of EmsB as well as six other microsatellites in major taeniid species infecting dogs in Iran. Methods: Twenty isolates of each of the four Taeniidae tapeworms were collected from sheep during routine veterinary inspection in Tehran, Alborz and Kerman provinces from October 2010 to May 2011. After DNA extraction, PCR was set up with optimum conditions using specific primers for each individual microsatellite marker. All the PCR products were evaluated by agarose gel electrophoresis. We used SDS-PAGE for evaluating patterns of PCR products in the tapeworms. Results: E. granulosus as well as Taenia species could be differentiated based on EmsB microsatellite patterns. The electrophoresis patterns of two taeniid genera were readily distinguishable. EmsB could be specifically used in epidemiological studies of canine echinococcosis. Conclusion: Different patterns of EmsB proved this microsatellite marker as a reliable tool for epidemiological studies on canine echinococcosis. https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/view/1636 https://ijpa.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijpa/article/download/1636/742