In vitro isolation of a transovarially transmitted bacterium from the leafhopper Euscelidius variegatus (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) - Purcell, A.H.; Steiner, T.; Megraud, F.; Bove, J. (Elsevier)
Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria were present in the hemolymph of adults and nymphs from colonies of Euscelidius variegatus. the bacterium (designated BEV) was isolated from hemolymph of E. variegatus onto blood (sheep) agar or purple agar with or without added 10% horse or fetal bovine serum. BEV was microaerophilic, catalase- and oxidase-negative, and lacked flagella. Antisera to the cultured bacterium were used in fluorescent antibody staining of BEV-like isolates from E. variegatus or of macerated leafhoppers or smears from leafhoppers. Serological tests indicated that in vitro cultures of BEV were serologically and morphologically identical to the bacterium regularly seen in the hemolymph of E. variegatus from ''infected'' colonies. BEV was detected in and isolated from eggs and nymphs of E. variegatus reared without direct contact with their parents. BEV-free E. variegatus were injected with BEV cultures and the bacterium was reisolated from progeny of the injected insects. BEV appears to be a nonobligate symbiote of E. variegatus. It multiplied and was pathogenic to several other leafhopper species when inoculated by injection.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0022-2011(86)90144-8
Keywords: W