First report of natural Wolbachia infections in mosquitoes from Cuba
Acta Trop. 2023 Mar 10:106891. doi: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106891. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTMosquitoes are extensively responsible for the transmission of pathogens. Novel strategies using Wolbachia could transform that scenario, since these bacteria manipulate mosquito reproduction, and can confer a pathogen transmission-blocking phenotype in culicids. Here, we screened the Wolbachia surface protein region by PCR in eight Cuban mosquito species. We confirmed the natural infections by sequencing and assessed the phylogenetic relationships among the Wolbachia strains detected. We identified four Wolbachia hosts: Aedes albopictus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Mansonia titillans, and Aedes mediovittatus (first report worldwide). Knowledge of Wolbachia strains and their natural hosts is essential for future operationalization of this vector control strategy in Cuba.PMID:36907292 | DOI:10.1016/j.actatropica.2023.106891
Source: Acta Tropica - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Armando Ruiz Gladys Guti érrez-Bugallo Rosmari Rodr íguez-Roche Lissette P érez Ra úl González-Broche Luis A Piedra Liss C Mart ínez Zulema Men éndez Anubis Vega-R úa Juan A Bisset Source Type: research