Sequencing and Analysis of Wolbachia Strains from A and B Supergroups Detected in Sylvatic Mosquitoes from Brazil

<i>Wolbachia</i> are endosymbiotic bacteria that infect a wide range of arthropods and filarial nematodes, often manipulating host reproduction. The efficacy of <i>Wolbachia</i>-based interventions for dengue and chikungunya control has been validated through numerous field studies in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the diversity and prevalence of <i>Wolbachia</i> infections in sylvatic mosquitoes from two locations in Recife, Brazil. Multiple mosquito species were screened for <i>Wolbachia</i> using both target marker gene amplification coupled with Sanger sequencing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) approaches. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to classify <i>Wolbachia</i> strains into supergroups and assess their evolutionary relationships. Results revealed the presence of <i>Wolbachia</i> in eleven mosquito species examined, with different infection rates. Both supergroups A and B of <i>Wolbachia</i> strains were identified, with <i>Aedes albopictus</i> showing co-infection by both supergroups through the WGS approach. We also detected indirect evidence of <i>Wolbachia</i> horizontal transmission among mosquitoes and other distant host orders. This study provides valuable insights into the distribution and diversity of <i>Wolbachia</i> in sylvatic mosquitoes from Brazil and adds new important data about <i>Wolbachia</i> detection through target marker gene amplicon coupled with Sanger sequencing and WGS methods, highlighting its complementarity to ascertain the presence of <i>Wolbachia</i> in mosquito samples.