Identification of Wolbachia endosymbiont in Fleas (Siphonaptera) by molecular methods

Abstract

Wolbachia pipientis is a vertically transmitted, gram-negative obligate intracellular symbiont of arthropods. The bacterium is best known for its ability to manipulate host reproductive biology where it can induce cytoplasmic incompatibility, parthenogenesis, feminization and male-killing. The aim of this study was to carry out molecular identification of Wolbachia species and determine their prevalence in fleas. Fleas were collected from small mammals in 2013-2014 from different regions of Lithuania. Ten flea species were collected: Megabothris walkeri, M. turbidus, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Ct. uncinatus, Ct. assimilis, Hystrichopsylla talpae, H. orientalis, Nosopsyllus fasciatus, Peromyscopsylla bidentata, Paleopsylla soricis. A total 152 fleas was screened for Wolbachia using wsp81F and wsp691R primers which amplified 590-632 bp fragment of the wsp gene. Wolbachia DNA was detected in 21,7% (33/152) fleas.