Detection of Spiroplasma from the mite Macrocheles sp (Acari; Macrochelidae) ectoparasitic to the fly Drosophila hydei (Diptera; Drosophilidae): a possible route of horizontal transmission?

作者：Osaka Ryu; Watada Masayoshi; Kageyama Daisuke^*; Nomura Masashi

来源：Symbiosis, 2013, 60(2): 79-84.

DOI：10.1007/s13199-013-0241-3

• Drosophila hydei
• Ectoparasite
• Endosymbiont
• Macrocheles
• Spiroplasma

Some members of the genus Spiroplasma are vertically transmitted endosymbionts of insects. Among them, Spiroplasma sp. Dhd, a member of the Spiroplasma poulsonii clade, is highly prevalent among worldwide populations of Drosophila hydei. Here we found that 53 out of 3,763 wild-caught D. hydei (1.4 %) were ectoparasitized by the mite that belong to the genus Macrocheles. Many of the ectoparasitized flies (79 %) had a single mite, but some flies had up to five mites. Among 59 mites subjected to Spiroplasma-specific PCR, 15 individuals were found to be positive. Infection status of Spiroplasma in flies and the associated mites were incongruent. Partial nucleotide sequences of the Spiroplasma P58 gene suggest that some of the mites are infected with a Spiroplasma, which is identical or closely related to Spiroplasma sp. Dhd. This finding provides a potential route of horizontal Spiroplasma transmission between D. hydei individuals in natural populations. In addition, a Spiroplasma strain that does not form a monophyletic group with S. poulsonii was also found from a mite individual.

• 出版日期2013-6