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International Collaborations

WHO CC for Cystic and Alveolar Echinococcosis

MEME

Multi-centre study on Echinococcus multilocularis and Echinococcus granulosus s.l. in Europe: development and harmonization of diagnostic methods in the food chain (MEME). Web page: https://onehealthejp.eu/projects/emerging-threats/jrp-meme

Timing: 2020-2022. Funder: European Commission (Horizon 2020), One Health EJP (G.A. 773830). Total cost: 2.496.126 €. (Project Coordinator)
 

 

Publications:

Umhang G, Bastien F, Cartet A, Ahmad H, van der Ark K, Berg R, Bonelli P, Davidson RK, Deplazes P, Deksne G, Gargate MJ, Van der Giessen J, Jamil N, Jokelainen P, Karamon J, M'Rad S, Maksimov P, Oudni-M'Rad M, Muchaamba G, Oksanen A, Pepe P, Poulle ML, Rinaldi L, Samorek-Pieróg M, Santolamazza F, Santoro A, Santucciu C, Saarma U, Schnyder M, Villena I, Wassermann M, Casulli A, Boué F. Detection of Echinococcus spp. and other taeniid species in lettuces and berries: Two international multicenter studies from the MEmE project. Int J Food Microbiol. 2025 Feb 16;430:111059. doi: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2025.111059. Epub 2025 Jan 6. 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2025.111059

Saarma, U., Skirnisson, K., Björnsdottir, T., Laurimäe, T., & Kinkar, L. (2023). Cystic echinococcosis in Iceland: A brief history and genetic analysis of a 46-year-old Echinococcus isolate collected prior to the eradication of this zoonotic disease. Parasitology. 150(7), 638-643. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182023000355

Laurimäe, T., Kinkar, L., Moks, E., Bagrade, G., & Saarma, U. (2023). Exploring the genetic diversity of genotypes G8 and G10 of the Echinococcus canadensis cluster in Europe based on complete mitochondrial genomes (13 550–13 552 bp). Parasitology. 150(7), 631-637. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182023000331

Casulli, A., Antinori, S., Bartoloni, A., D’Amelio, S., Gabrielli, A. F., Gazzoli, G., Rinaldi, L., Bruschi, F., & IN-NTD network (2023). Neglected Tropical Diseases in Italy: introducing IN-NTD, the Italian network for NTDs. Parasitology. 1–7. Advance online publication. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0031182023000422

Casulli, A., Abela-Ridder, B., Petrone, D., Fabiani, M., Bobić, B., Carmena, D., Šoba, B., Zerem, E., Gargaté, M. J., Kuzmanovska, G., Calomfirescu, C., Rainova, I., Sotiraki, S., Lungu, V., Dezsényi, B., Herrador, Z., Karamon, J., Maksimov, P., Oksanen, A., Millon, L., Sviben, M., Shkjezi, R., Gjoni, V., Akshija, I., Saarma, U., Torgerson, P., Šnábel, V., Antolová, D., Muhovic, D., Besim, H., Chereau, F., Belhassen G. M., Chappuis, F., Gloor, S., Stoeckle, M., Müllhaupt, B., Manno, V., Santoro, A., Santolamazza, F. (2022). Unveiling the incidences and trends of the neglected zoonosis cystic echinococcosis in Europe: a systematic review from the MEmE project. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 23(3), e95–e107. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(22)00638-7

Tamarozzi, F., Kibona, T., de Glanville, W.A., Mappi. T., Adonikamu, E., Salewi, A., Misso, K., Maro, V., Casulli, A., Santoro, A., Santolamazza, F., Mmbaga, B. T. & Cleaveland, S. (2022). Cystic echinococcosis in northern Tanzania: a pilot study in Maasai livestock-keeping communities. Parasites & Vectors. 15(1), 396. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05518-x 

Casulli, A., Massolo, A., Saarma, U., Umhang, G., Santolamazza, F., Santoro, A. (2022). Species and genotypes belonging to Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato complex causing human cystic echinococcosis in Europe (2000–2021): a systematic review. Parasites Vectors. 15109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-022-05197-8

Korhonen, P.K., Kinkar, L., Young, N.D. et al. (2022). Chromosome-scale Echinococcus granulosus (genotype G1) genome reveals the Eg95 gene family and conservation of the EG95-vaccine molecule. Communications Biology. 5199. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-022-03125-1

Issa, A.R., Arif, S.H., Mohammed, A.A., Santolamazza, F., Santoro, A., Mero, W.M.S., Casulli, A. (2022). Insights into Human Cystic Echinococcosis in the Kurdistan Region, Iraq: Characteristics and Molecular Identification of Cysts. Pathogens. 11(4), 408. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11040408

Peruzzu, A., Mastrandrea, S., Fancellu, A., Bonelli, P., Muehlethaler, K., Masala, G., Santucciu, C. (2022). Comparison and evaluation of analytic and diagnostic performances of four commercial kits for the detection of antibodies against Echinococcus granulosus and multilocularis in human sera. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 86, 101816. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101816

Khan, H., Casulli, A., Harandi, M.F., Afzal, M.S., Saqib, M.A.N., Ahmed, H. A (2022). Retrospective Cohort Study on Human Cystic Echinococcosis in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (Pakistan) Based on 16 Years of Hospital Discharge Records. Pathogens. 11, 194. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens11020194

Barth, T.F.E, Casulli, A. (2021). Morphological Characteristics of Alveolar and Cystic Echinococcosis Lesions in Human Liver and Bone. Pathogens. 10, 1326. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10101326

Schares, G., Joeres, M., Rachel, F., Tuschy, M., Czirják, GÁ., Maksimov, P., Conraths, FJ., Wachter, B. (2021). Molecular analysis suggests that Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) are definitive hosts of a so far undescribed Besnoitia species. Parasites and Vectors. 14, 201. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04697-3

Casulli, A, (2021). New global targets for NTDs in the WHO roadmap 2021–2030. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 15(5):e0009373. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0009373

Bonelli, P., Dei Giudici, S., Peruzzu, A., Mura, L., Santucciu, C., Maestrale, C., Masala, G. (2021). Identification of Echinococcus granulosus Genotypes G1 and G3 by SNPs Genotyping Assays. Pathogens. 10, 125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10020125

Skrzypek, K., Karamon, J.,  Samorek-Pieróg, M., Dąbrowska, J., Kochanowski, M., Sroka, J., Bilska-Zając, E., Cencek Tomasz. (2020). Comparison of Two DNA Extraction Methods and Two PCRs for Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis in the Stool Samples of Naturally Infected Red Foxes. Animals. 10, 2381. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122381

Santucciu, C., Bonelli, P., Peruzzu, A., Fancellu, A., Marras, V., Carta, A., Mastrandrea, S., Bagella, G., Piseddu, T., Profili, S., Porcu, A., Masala, G. (2020). Cystic Echinococcosis: Clinical, Immunological, and Biomolecular Evaluation of Patients from Sardinia (Italy). Pathogens. 9(11), 907. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9110907

Santolamazza, F., Santoro, A., Possenti, A., Cacciò, S M., Casulli, A. (2020). A validated method to identify Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato at species level. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 85, 104575. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meegid.2020.104575

Bonelli , P., Loi, F., Cancedda, MG., Peruzzu, A., Antuofermo, E., Pintore, E., Piseddu, T., Garippa, G., Masalam G. (2020). Bayesian Analysis of Three Methods for Diagnosis of Cystic Echinococcosis in Sheep. Pathogens. 9(10), 796. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9100796

Maksimov, P., Bergmann, H., Wassermann, M., Romig, T., Gottstein, B., Casulli, A., Conraths, FJ. (2020). Species Detection within the Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato Complex by Novel Probe-Based Real-Time PCRs. Pathogens, 9(10), 791. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9100791

M’rad, S., Oudni-M’rad, M., Bastid, V., Bournez, L., Mosbahi, S., Nouri, A., Babba, H., Grenouillet, F., Boué, F., Umhang, G. (2020). Microsatellite Investigations of Multiple Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Stricto Cysts in Single Hosts Reveal Different Patterns of Infection Events between Livestock and Humans. Pathogens, 9(6), pp. 444. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9060444

Casulli, A, (2020), Recognising the substantial burden of neglected pandemics cystic and alveolar echinococcosis, The Lancet Gobal Health, 8 (4):PE470-E471. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30066-8