The effects of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum on different stages of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae).
The control of Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) vector is often based on the application of chemical residual insecticide. However, this strategy has not been effective. The continuing search for an appropriate vector control may include the use of biological control. This study evaluates the effects of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum on Lutzomyia longipalpis. Five concentrations of the fungus were utilized, 1 x 10(4) to 1 x 10(8) conidia/ml, accompanied by controls. The unhatched eggs, larvae and dead adults previously exposed to fungi were sown to reisolate the fungi and analysis of parameters of growth. The fungus was subsequently identified by PCR and DNA sequencing. M. anisopliae var. acridum reduced egg hatching by 40%. The mortality of infected larvae was significant. The longevity of infected adults was lower than that of negative controls. The effects of fungal infection on the hatching of eggs laid by infected females were also significant. With respect to fungal growth parameters post-infection, only vegetative growth was not significantly higher than that of the fungi before infection. The revalidation of the identification of the reisolated fungus was confirmed post-passage only from adult insects. In terms of larvae mortality and the fecundity of infected females, the results were significant, proving that the main vector species of VL is susceptible to infection by this entomopathogenic fungus in the adult stage.
Amóra
Sthenia Santos Albano
SS
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará 60740-000, Brazil. stheniasantos@yahoo.com.br
Bevilaqua
Claudia Maria Leal
CM
Feijó
Francisco Marlon Carneiro
FM
Pereira
Romeika Hermínia de Macedo Assunção
RH
Alves
Nilza Dutra
ND
Freire
Fúlvio Aurélio de Morais
FA
Kamimura
Michel Toth
MT
de Oliveira
Diana Magalhães
DM
Luna-Alves Lima
Elza Aurea
EA
Rocha
Marcos Fábio Gadelha
MF
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D005260:Female; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D052981:Metarhizium / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010063:Ovum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000382:microbiology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods; D011576:Psychodidae / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000382:microbiology*; D016019:Survival Analysis