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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 73(2), 2005, pp. 354-358
Copyright © 2005 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

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DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF WOLBACHIA INFECTIONS IN WUCHERERIA BANCROFTI (SPIRURIDA: ONCHOCERCIDAE) VAR. PACIFICA AND AEDES (STEGOMYIA) POLYNESIENSIS (DIPTERA: CULICIDAE)

CATHERINE PLICHART AND ANNE-MARIE LEGRAND*
Laboratoire de Recherche en Parasitologie Médicale, Institut Louis Malardé, Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Despite control programs based on mass drug administration (MDA) of microfilaricidal compounds, Bancroftian lymphatic filariasis remains a problem in French Polynesia. For an alternative strategy to MDA, we investigated the potential role of Wolbachia to control filarial transmission. Wolbachia are intracellular {alpha}-proteobacteria endosymbionts that infect a broad range of insects and nematodes. These bacteria have a suspected role in the pathogenesis of filariasis. They also may be useful in mosquito control through cytoplasmic incompatibility. To detect and characterize these bacteria in the filarial and mosquito-vectors in French Polynesia, a survey was conducted on field-collected mosquitoes and microfilariae from infected people. Samples were analyzed by a polymerase chain reaction and gene sequencing. The results indicate that these bacteria are widespread. Sequence analysis of the wsp and ftsZ genes positioned the Aedes polynesiensis Wolbachia in cluster A and Wuchereria bancrofti var. pacifica Wolbachia in cluster D. The implications for possible improved treatment and vector control are discussed.

Received February 17, 2005. Accepted for publication March 7, 2005.

Acknowledgments: We thank M. Faaruia, A. Tetuanui, and M. Germain for their technical assistance in collecting and rearing mosquitoes. We also thank Dr. Stephen Dobson and Dr. Tom Burkot for their helpful critical reading of the manuscript.

Financial support: This study was supported by the French Polynesia Government.

* Address correspondence to Dr. Anne-Marie Legrand, Laboratoire de Recherche en Parasitologie Médicale, Institut Louis Malardé, PO Box 30, Papeete, Tahiti 98713, French Polynesia. E-mail: alegrand{at}ilm.pf

Authors’ address: Catherine Plichart and Anne-Marie Legrand, Laboratoire de Recherche en Parasitologie Médicale, Institut Louis Malardé, PO Box 30, Papeete, Tahiti 98713, French Polynesia, Telephone: 689-416-434 and 689-416-460, Fax: 689-431-590, E-mails: cplichart{at}ilm.pf and alegrand{at}ilm.pf.






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Copyright © 2005 by the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.