Identification and ultrastructural characterization of the Wolbachia symbiont in Litomosoides chagasfilhoi.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Filarial nematodes are arthropod-transmitted parasites of vertebrates that affect more than 150 million people around the world and remain a major public health problem throughout tropical and subtropical regions. Despite the importance of these nematodes, the current treatment strategies are not efficient in eliminating the parasite. The main strategy of control is based on chemotherapy with diethylcarbamazine, albendazole and ivermectin. In the 1970s, it was found that some filarids possess endosymbiotic bacteria that are important for the development, survival and infectivity of the nematodes. These bacteria belong to the genus Wolbachia, which is a widespread and abundant intracellular symbiont in worms. Knowledge about the structure of the bacteria and their relatio

SUBMITTER: Chagas-Moutinho VA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4323257 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature