title: Effect of per os Edhazardia aedis (Microsporida: Amblyosporidae) infection on Aedes aegypti mortality and body size.
abstract: Infection with Edhazardia aedis uninucleate spores had less effect on Aedes aegypti larval mortality and adult body size than did larval diet. Larval mortality averaged 60-81% in starved larvae and 2-16% in well-fed larvae. No significant amounts of larval mortality could consistently be attributed to exposure to the parasite at dosages of 1.5 x 10(3) or 1.5 x 10(5) spores/ml. Infection rates in adults surviving exposure to the parasites as larvae ranged from 30 to 59%. Infected adults had significantly smaller body sizes than uninfected adults or controls. Storage of spores in water reduced infectivity gradually over the course of 36 h. By 48 h, the spores were not able to infect mosquito larvae. Spore infectivity was eliminated by drying.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Science, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA 70609.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Nasci
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Becnel
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukuda
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D016816:Microsporida / Q000502:physiology*; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D013170:Spores; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000254:growth & development