First report on Wolbachia endosymbiosis in freshwater Aphelocheirus aestivalis (Heteroptera: Aphelocheiridae) and its potential impact on genetic diversity of host.

Alphaproteobacteria Wolbachia have been described as endosymbionts of approximately half of all aquatic insect species. These bacteria might affect not only reproduction but also the genetic diversity of its hosts. In the present study we identified Wolbachia endosymbiosis in freshwater true bug Aphelocheirus aestivalis F., 1794 (Heteroptera: Aphelocheiridae). Despite the fact that A. aestivalis is widely distributed in Europe, it occurs rather locally, often in isolated populations. Taking into account that Wolbachia, close relationships and past demographic phenomena could affect the genetic diversity of its host, we analyzed mitochondrial (COI and 16S) and nuclear (internal transcribed spacer 2) markers determined for A. aestivalis individuals collected from five populations. Moreover, we compared obtained COI sequences with those deposited in GenBank. Analyses revealed low genetic differentiation among samples tested, as well as low variation among determined COI sequences and those downloaded from the database. Although Wolbachia infection could correlate with decreasing mitochondrial diversity of its host, we suggest that low genetic variation observed in tested A. aestivalis samples (at both mitochondrial and nuclear levels) is a result of populations' close relationships, past demographic phenomena or is characteristic for this species. Detailed analysis of the wsp gene fragment revealed two distinct strains of Wolbachia infecting A. aestivalis. Both of them belong to supergroup A, also found in other arthropods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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