New Spiroplasma in parasitic Leptus mites and their Agathemera walking stick hosts from Argentina

• Published in: Journal of Invertebrate Pathology
• Main Authors: DiBlasi, Emily, Morse, Solon, Mayberry, Jason R., Avila, Luciano Javier, Morando, Mariana, Dittmar, Katharina
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Academic Press Inc Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Agathemera; Host-Parasite Interactions; Leptus; Mite Vector; Phylogeny; Spiroplasma; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.6; https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1; Argentina; Morse; Mite; morse
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11336/83153

Here we report the presence of Spiroplasma 16S rRNA in populations of two parasitic Leptus mites (Leptus sayi; Leptus lomani) and their Agathemera walking stick hosts. In walking sticks Spiroplasmas were detected in the gut, as well as muscle-tissues, but not in eggs. Throughout Argentina 15.4% of L. sayi populations and 14.3% of L. lomani populations surveyed screened positive for Spiroplasma. Phylogenetic analyses (ML, BCMC) place all sequences within the Ixodetis group. Most sequences form a well-supported sister subclade to the rest of Ixodetis. We briefly discuss the role of Leptus mites in the natural transmission of Spiroplasma. Fil: DiBlasi, Emily. State University of New York; Estados Unidos Fil: Morse, Solon. State University of New York; Estados Unidos Fil: Mayberry, Jason R. State University of New York; Estados Unidos Fil: Avila, Luciano Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina Fil: Morando, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentina Fil: Dittmar, Katharina. State University of New York; Estados Unidos