Incidence of Citrus leprosis virus C and Orchid fleck dichorhavirus Citrus Strain in Mites of the Genus Brevipalpus in Mexico

Abstract

Abstract The incidences of Citrus leprosis virus C (CiLV-C) and Orchid fleck dichorhavirus Citrus strain (OFV-citrus) were determined in field populations of Brevipalpus mites from 15 citrus-producing states in Mexico. Mites were collected from orange, grapefruit, mandarin, lime, and sweet lime orchards. Brevipalpus yothersi (Baker) (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae) was the most abundant species followed by Brevipalpus californicus (Banks) (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), which confirmed previous reports. The viruses CiLV-C and OFV-citrus were found in both mite species. The incidence of CiLV-C, OFV-citrus and both viruses simultaneously (CiLV-C and OFV-citrus) was 17.2, 10.3, and 3.4% (n = 116) for B. yothersi, and 12.5, 20.8, and 4.1% (n = 24) for B. californicus, respectively. No significant difference was found when the incidence of these viruses was compared between both mite species. The importance of our results in relation to the epidemiology of leprosis is discussed.