ObjectiveTo explore the expression and significance of hsa_circ_0002233 and hsa-miR-188-3p in the liver tissues of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). MethodsA total of 19 patients who underwent radical resection of HAE lesions at Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital from September 2023 to December 2024 and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled. Intraoperatively, samples of lesion tissue and corresponding adjacent liver tissue within 1 cm of the lesion margin (referred to as perilesional liver tissue) were collected. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used to detect the expression and localization of hsa_circ_0002233 and hsa-miR-188-3p. ResultsFISH analysis revealed a distinct spatial distribution pattern between hsa_circ_0002233 and hsa-miR-188-3p. hsa_circ_0002233 was enriched in the cytoplasm in perilesional liver tissue, exhibiting strong red fluorescence signal, which was markedly weaker in the lesion tissue. Conversely, hsa-miR-188-3p showed weak fluorescence in perilesional liver tissue but stronger signal in the lesion tissue. The expression level of hsa_circ_0002233 was significantly lower in lesion tissue than in perilesional liver tissue (P<0.001), while the expression level of hsa-miR-188-3p was significantly higher in lesion tissue than in perilesional liver tissue (P=0.001). ConclusionsHsa_circ_0002233 and hsa-miR-188-3p exhibit a distinct complementary spatial pattern in HAE tissues. Hsa_circ_0002233 may participate in the occurrence and development of HAE by competitively adsorbing hsa-miR-188-3p and thereby regulating downstream gene expression; however, its specific downstream targets and associated signaling pathways remain to be elucidated.