MicrobeWorld

Bacteria infecting parasitic worms that cause river blindness and elephantiasis in people, as well as heart worms in dogs, lead to bigger egg batches in some infected insects.

Wolbachia bacteria are widespread parasites, infecting both insects and nematode worms. Infected worms are linked to serious human diseases, but the bacteria also interest researchers who have found their infections can lead to parthenogenesis in some insects and kill male ones early in development.