The distribution of Wolbachia pipientis strains in natural populations of Culex pipiens mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract

Abstract Wolbachia is a group of maternally inherited endosymbiotic bacteria that infect and induce cytoplasmic incompatibility in a wide range of arthropods. Wolbachia species are involved and play a significant role in some evolutionary processes, e.g. those of rapid speciation. We have investigated the distribution of Wolbachia strains based upon the polymorphism of transposable element Tr1 and pk1 gene, in natural populations of the Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes from Russian Federation, Republic of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Republic of Belarus.