Authors: B M Prakash H P Puttaraju
Publish Date: 2007/07/09
Volume: 32, Issue: 4, Pages: 671-676
Abstract
Wolbachia is a ubiquitous Gramnegative vertically transmitted alphaproteobacterium that causes an array of reproductive abnormalities including cytoplasmic incompatibility feminization of genetic males parthenogenesis in a number of insect species among others Wolbachia is now being exploited as an agent for pest and vector control Previous surveys indicated that it is commonly seen in 16–76 of arthropods In this paper using polymerase chain reaction assay based on specific amplification of the ftsZA andB supergroup Wolbachia gene fragments we found that 30 of insects and pests screened were positive for Wolbachia Among them 667 harbour double Wolbachia infection while 333 harbour single Wolbachia infection These results indicate widespread infection with both double and single Wolbachia and provide a wealth of information to exploit this endobacterium for the management of pests and vectors
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