Abstract
The role of obligate endosymbiont-Wolbachia in the pathogenesis and immune response to dog heartworm disease is well documented. In the present study, we explored some of the molecular characterization and phylogenetic study of endosymbiont-Wolbachia of canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis) from Northeastern state of India. Understanding the role of this endosymbiont as specific biomarker for presence of canine heartworm, a molecular characterization and study the phylogenetic relationship among other isolates from different parts of the world is carried out using FtsZ gene. The nucleotide sequence was submitted to GenBank and accession number obtained (JX524742). The percent identity among the Wolbachia endosymbiont in D.immitis ranges from 99.4 to 99.8%. Phylogenetic characterization showed close identity with Wolbachia endosymbiont of USA isolate.

Key words: Wolbachia, Dirofilaria immitis, Northeastern States, India