Absence of Wolbachia endobacteria in Chandlerella quiscali, an avian filarial parasite.
Chandlerella quiscali is a filarial nematode parasite of the common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula), a widespread bird species found throughout most of North America. Worms collected from wild-caught birds were morphologically identified as C. quiscali and tested for the presence of Wolbachia, an alphaproteobacterial endosymbiont required for reproduction and maturation by many filarial species. Although various methods, including polymerase chain reaction, in situ hybridization, and immunohistology, were used, we were unable to detect evidence of colonization with Wolbachia. Due to the widespread distribution of the grackle host, localization within the host, and high prevalence, C. quiscali may be among the most easily obtainable of Wolbachia-free filarial species. Further studies of C. quiscali and other Wolbachia-free filarial species may help to clarify the reason(s) that some filarial species require Wolbachia but others do not.
Infectious Diseases Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, Campus Box 8051, 660 S. Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. smcnulty@wustl.edu
Samantha N
SN
McNulty
Kerstin
K
Fischer
Joseph O
JO
Mehus
Jefferson A
JA
Vaughan
Vasyl V
VV
Tkach
Gary J
GJ
Weil
Peter U
PU
Fischer
D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000276:immunology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005370:Filarioidea / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000382:microbiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D046109:Passeriformes / Q000469:parasitology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D018510:RNA, Helminth / Q000737:chemistry; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S / Q000737:chemistry; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D018509:DNA, Helminth; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D018510:RNA, Helminth; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012341:RNA, Ribosomal, 5S