Isolation af a Rickettsialike Microorganism (Wolbachia Persica, N. SP.) From Argas Persicus (Oken)

Reclassification of Wolbachia persica as Francisella persica comb. nov. and emended description of the family Francisellaceae

“…Previous phenotypic and electron microscopy evaluations showed that strain ATCC VR-331 T was a Gram-negative, non-motile coccobacillus bacterium with a diameter of 0.3-0.560.7-1.0 mm (Suitor & Weiss, 1961). Similarly, the Gram-negative, non-motile coccobacillus bacterium Francisella is 0.2-0.560.7-1.0 mm (Iwen, 2013).…”

“…In congruence with these characteristics, both strain ATCC VR-331 T and species of the genus Francisella are capable of infecting ticks and replicating intracellularly (Petersen et al, 2009;Sjöstedt, 2007;Suitor & Weiss, 1961). Previous animal studies showed that strain ATCC VR-331 T was slightly to moderately pathogenic for guinea pigs, mice and newborn chickens, but not for rats, rabbits or adult chickens (Suitor & Weiss, 1961). Similarly, F. tularensis subsp.…”

“…Species of the genus Wolbachia are closely related to the genera Rickettsia, Ehrlichia and Anaplasma, which are found in insects or are transmitted by arthropods such as ticks (O'Neill et al, 1992;Rousset et al, 1992). Wolbachia persica ATCC VR-331 T was the first tick endosymbiont isolated, and was extracted from the malpighian tubules of the soft tick Argus (Persicargas) arboreus (previously referred to as Argas persicus) that was feeding on a heron in a rookery near Cairo, Egypt (Suitor & Weiss, 1961). The classification of strain ATCC VR-331 T was originally based on (i) morphological similarity via light microscopy to the arthropod endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis and other transovarially transmitted bacteria; (ii) the inability to grow on standard cell-free media; (iii) the predilection for reproductive tissues; and (iv) the lack of reaction in serological tests with known tick-borne pathogens (Suitor, 1964;Suitor & Weiss, 1961;Weiss et al, 1984).…”

“…Wolbachia persica ATCC VR-331 T was the first tick endosymbiont isolated, and was extracted from the malpighian tubules of the soft tick Argus (Persicargas) arboreus (previously referred to as Argas persicus) that was feeding on a heron in a rookery near Cairo, Egypt (Suitor & Weiss, 1961). The classification of strain ATCC VR-331 T was originally based on (i) morphological similarity via light microscopy to the arthropod endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis and other transovarially transmitted bacteria; (ii) the inability to grow on standard cell-free media; (iii) the predilection for reproductive tissues; and (iv) the lack of reaction in serological tests with known tick-borne pathogens (Suitor, 1964;Suitor & Weiss, 1961;Weiss et al, 1984). Later studies have shown that the partially sequenced 16S rRNA gene from strain ATCC VR-331 T shared considerable similarity to the related gene in the genus Francisella (Dumler et al, 2001;Forsman et al, 1994;Niebylski et al, 1997;Noda et al, 1997;O'Neill et al, 1992;Weisburg et al, 1989).…”

“…The description for the species, including the morphological and biochemical properties, remains as was described by Suitor & Weiss (1961).…”