Low-density genetically diverse natural Wolbachia infections in malaria vectors in Kayin state, Myanmar

<ns4:p><ns4:bold>Background</ns4:bold><ns4:bold>:</ns4:bold> Natural <ns4:italic>Wolbachia </ns4:italic>infections in malaria mosquitoes were recently reported in Africa, and negatively correlated with the development of <ns4:italic>Plasmodium falciparum</ns4:italic> in the vectors. The occurrence and effects of <ns4:italic>Wolbachia </ns4:italic>infections outside Africa have not been described and may have been underestimated.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Methods</ns4:bold><ns4:bold>:</ns4:bold> 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. <ns4:italic>Wolbachia</ns4:italic> infection rates were assessed with quantitative real-time PCR.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Results:</ns4:bold> Low titer of <ns4:italic>Wolbachia </ns4:italic>DNA was detected in 13/370 samples in six malaria vector species. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences revealed a high diversity of <ns4:italic>Wolbachia </ns4:italic>strains and identified lineages different from those described in the African malaria mosquitoes.</ns4:p><ns4:p> <ns4:bold>Conclusion:</ns4:bold> These low-density genetically diverse natural <ns4:italic>Wolbachia </ns4:italic>infections question the ecology and biology of <ns4:italic>Wolbachia</ns4:italic>-<ns4:italic>Anopheles</ns4:italic> interactions<ns4:italic> </ns4:italic>in Southeast Asia. Their effects on malaria transmission and mosquito vectors are yet to be determined.</ns4:p>