Endosymbiotic relationship between a rickettsia-like microorganism and the male germ-cells of Culex tigripes.
The male mosquitoes of the species Culex tigripes possess endosymbionts localized in the cytoplasm of the germ-cells. The somatic cells of the testis do not exhibit this particularity. The spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids all possess a few symbionts. They are eliminated in the residual body at the end of spermiogenesis when the spermatozoon matures. They are absent from the seminal vesicles. A few spermatocytes and spermatids show a proliferation of the endosymbionts. This seems to be associated with an abnormal spermiogenesis. These symbionts are comparable to the Wolbachia described in two other species of mosquitoes: Culex pipiens and Aedes scutellaris.
Ndiaye
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M
Faculty of Sciences, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal.
Mattei
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X
D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions; D008297:Male; D012281:Rickettsia / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012282:Rickettsia Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013559:Symbiosis; D013737:Testis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000648:ultrastructure