Ultrastructural detection of an unusual intranuclear bacterium in Pentastiridius leporinus (Hemiptera: Cixiidae).
Pentastiridius leporinus is an important vector of sugar beet pathogens in eastern France. An electron microscope survey on the insect-associated microflora revealed the occurrence of intranuclear prokaryotic cells in every internal organ analysed. These bacteria, which could also be found in the cytoplasm surrounding the nucleus, had a homogeneous coccoid (ca. 0.45 microm) or rod (0.45-1 microm) shape. The presence of three membrane layers was observed, the outermost forming a kind of vacuole containing generally a single microorganism. No cytopathological abnormalities were detected in the infected cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a hemipteran species infected by intranuclear bacteria. The possible identity of this microorganism is discussed.
Arneodo
J D
JD
UMR Plante Microbe Environnement, INRA Domaine d'Epoisses, BP 86510, 21065 Dijon Cedex, France. arneodoj@yahoo.com
Bressan
A
A
Lherminier
J
J
Michel
J
J
Boudon-Padieu
E
E
D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission