Abstract
BackgroundWolbachia, obligate intracellular bacteria, infect the majority of arthropods, including many mosquito species of medical importance. Some Wolbachia strains interfere with the development of Plasmodium parasites in female Anopheles, a major vector of malaria. The use of Wolbachia as a means to block malaria transmission is an emerging vector control strategy in highly endemic areas. Hence, identification of native Wolbachia strains in areas where malaria transmission is low may uncover a particular Wolbachia strain capable of Plasmodium interference. This study aims to identify native Wolbachia strains in female Anopheles spp. that are predominant in a low-malaria transmission area in mainland Southeast Asia.MethodsFollowing a 2-year survey of malaria vectors in Umphang Valley of Tak Province, Thailand, DNA extracts of female An. minimus, An. peditaeniatus, and An. maculatus were subjected to amplification of the conserved region of the 16S rRNA-encoding gene. The DNA sequences of the amplicons were phylogenetically compared with those of known Wolbachia strains.ResultsAmong three Anopheles spp., amplification was detected in only the DNA samples from An. minimus. The DNA sequencing of amplicons revealed 100% similarity to Wolbachia pipientis, confirming the specificity of amplification. The Wolbachia-positive An. minimus samples were devoid of Plasmodium 18S rRNA amplification. The phylogenetic trees indicate a close relationship with Wolbachia strains in subgroup B.ConclusionTo the best of our knowledge, the data presented herein provide the first molecular evidence of a Wolbachia strain in An. minimus, hereinafter named wAnmi, in a low-malaria transmission area in the Umphang Valley of western Thailand. Further biological characterization is required to examine its potential for malaria transmission control in the field.Graphical
Highlights
Wolbachia, obligate intracellular bacteria, infect the majority of arthropods, including many mosquito species of medical importance
Resistance to insecticides has emerged as a biological threat to malaria control and elimination efforts in endemic areas, including many regions located in forest-mountain landscapes along the Thailand-Myanmar [3] and Thailand-Laos PDR borders [4]
Considering the availability of DNA extracts from major Anopheles species obtained during a 2-year survey of malaria vectors [30] and Genus Anopheles (An). minimus is the important malaria vector carrying P. vivax sporozoites [31], this study aims to identify native Wolbachia strains in female Anopheles spp. that are predominant in a low-transmission area in Umphang Valley, located near the ThailandMyanmar border of mainland Southeast Asia
Summary
Obligate intracellular bacteria, infect the majority of arthropods, including many mosquito species of medical importance. Some Wolbachia strains interfere with the development of Plasmodium parasites in female Anopheles, a major vector of malaria. The use of Wolbachia as a means to block malaria transmission is an emerging vector control strategy in highly endemic areas. This study aims to identify native Wolbachia strains in female Anopheles spp. that are predominant in a low-malaria transmission area in mainland Southeast Asia. Given that Anopheles mosquitoes are malaria vectors, one of the effective strategies to control malaria transmission relies on the use of insecticides, including indoor residual spraying and the use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets. Resistance to insecticides has emerged as a biological threat to malaria control and elimination efforts in endemic areas, including many regions located in forest-mountain landscapes along the Thailand-Myanmar [3] and Thailand-Laos PDR borders [4].
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