Abstract
Background: Natural Wolbachia infections in malaria mosquitoes were recently reported in Africa, and negatively correlated with the development of Plasmodium falciparum in the vectors. The occurrence and effects of Wolbachia infections outside Africa have not been described and may have been underestimated. Methods: Mosquitoes were collected by human-landing catch during May and June 2017 in ten villages in Kayin state, Myanmar. Closely related species of malaria vectors were identified with molecular assays. Wolbachia infection rates were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Malaria vectors were identified in the Funestus, Maculatus and Leucosphyrus Groups. Wolbachia were detected in 6/6 Anopheles species and in 5/10 villages. Mean prevalence of Wolbachia infection was 2.7% (95%CI= [1.3; 4.9]). The median Wolbachia load was seven orders of magnitude less in naturally infected malaria vectors than in artificially infected laboratory-reared Aedes aegypti. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences revealed a high diversity of Wolbachia strains and identified lineages different from those described in Africa. Conclusion: Natural Wolbachia infections are common and widespread in malaria vectors in Kayin state, Myanmar. Their effects on Anopheles mosquitoes and malaria transmission is yet to be determined.
Highlights
Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria that infect a wide variety of arthropods and filarial nematodes
We report the occurrence of 12 Anopheles taxa among which nine were groups of closely related or sibling species (Maculatus, Funestus, Jamesii, Leucosphyrus, Annularis, Barbirostris, Subpictus, Hyrcanus and Asiaticus Groups) and only three were sensu stricto species (An. karwari, An. kochi and An. tessellatus)
The low-density genetically diverse natural Wolbachia infections reported in this study warrant further investigations to understand better the ecology and biology of Anopheles-Wolbachia interactions in Southeast Asia
Summary
Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria that infect a wide variety of arthropods and filarial nematodes. Wolbachia can interfere with the development of some pathogens in the mosquito host, including dengue virus[5], Plasmodium malaria parasites[6] and filarial nematodes[7]. Including references 5 & 6 in the context of pathogen blocking is not appropriate given this was work which was proposing to use cytoplasmic incompatibility to reduce Culex mosquito populations and artificial Wolbachia-infected mosquito lines were only established in the mid 2000s. Natural Wolbachia infections in malaria mosquitoes were recently reported in Africa, and negatively correlated with the development of Plasmodium falciparum in the vectors. Their effects on malaria transmission and mosquito vectors are yet to be determined
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