Multiple Wolbachia strains in Apis mellifera capensis from South Africa

Eggs of the honeybee Apis mellifera capensis from South Africa were screened for Wolbachia using degenerate primers designed to amplify a segment of the wsp A gene sequences. This strategy resulted in the identification of two new strains (wCap-B2, and -A1) in addition to the one (wCap-B1) characterized earlier from A. m. capensis and A. m. scutellata. Strain-specific primers were designed and used to assay eggs from both A. m. capensis and A. m. scutellata. The wCap-B1 sequence was amplified consistently from both A. m. capensis and A. m. scutellata, but the wCap-B2 and -A1 sequences were amplified sporadically only from A. m. capensis. This indicates that the wCap-B1 strain could be present at a higher titer or that wCap-B2 and -A1 are present only in some individuals in the wider A. m. capensis population. The detection of these new Wolbachia strains suggests that additional investigations are required to determine the role of Wolbachia in the biology of A. m. capensis workers.