Number of positive PCR assays according to the time between starting point of the storage and DNA extraction and the type of sampling (fresh versus FFPE) and Echinococcus species. (A) The green and yellow dots represent fresh and FFPE AE samples, respectively. The dashed red line indicates for the FFPE samples when a significant difference in terms of positive PCR assays is found between the samples stored less than 5 years and more than 5 years. (B) The orange and light blue dots represent fresh and FFPE CE samples, respectively.