Prevalence and genetic variability of the Cardinium symbiont of Brevipalpus phoenicis (Acari: Tenuipalpidae) populations from Brazil.

Brevipalpus phoenicis transmits Citrus leprosis virus (CiLV-C), the causal agent of citrus leprosis, which is considered the most important viral disease in citrus in Brazil due to the severe symptoms it induces and the high cost involved in controlling the mite vector.The presence of Cardinium symbiont has been reported and is associated with feminization in these mites and reproduction alterations in several other arthropod host. Here, we report the prevalence and genetic variability of this endosymbiont in B, phoenicis mite populations from different hosts and geographic regions of Brazil. The presence of these bacteria was confirmed by PCR amplification and transmission electron microscopy, and the variability was evaluated by analysis of the 16S rDNA gene region. High similarity was observed among Cardinium from different mite populations, regardless of the host or geographic origin. Interestingly, although the presence of the symbiont has been associated with the haploid thelytoky, two mite populations were aposymbiotic. These populations have been investigated and suggest that other factors have been involved in the reproduction of these mites