First detection of Wolbachia spp., including a new genotype, in sand flies collected in Marseille, France.

Pooled sand fly samples collected in Marseille, France, in July 2005 were examined by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the Anaplasmataceae. Two different sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were obtained that are similar to bacteria belonging to the genus Wolbachia. These findings were confirmed by amplification, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of the wsp gene of the genus Wolbachia. The Wolbachia species from Sergentomyia minuta has been named "Wolbachia sp. detected in Se. minuta".