title: Host range of the parasite Strelkovimermis spiculatus (Nematoda: Mermithidae) in Argentina mosquitoes.
abstract: Strelkovimermis spiculatus (Poinar and Camino 1986) is a nematode parasite of mosquitoes isolated from the Neotropical region. We investigated the host range of this parasite in mosquito populations for a better understanding of the dynamics of temporary breeding sites. Five grassy-pool habitats filled by rainwater were sampled from the summer 2007 through the fall 2008. Eight mosquito species were collected: Anopheles albitarsis, Culex chidesteri, Culex dolosus, Culex maxi, Aedes albifasciatus, Psorophora ciliata, Psorophora cyanescens, and Psorophora albigenu. Six of these species were parasitized: Cx. chidesteri, Cx. dolosus, Cx. maxi, Ae. albifasciatus, Ps. ciliata, and Ps. cyanescens. The occurrence of this mermithid in natural mosquito populations was increased from the end of winter to the end of the spring. Prevalence ranged from 11% to 100%. High levels of infections were registered only in Ae. albifasciatus larvae, the most abundant mosquito species (95%), followed by Cx. dolosus (2.7%). Strelkovimermis spiculatus completed its development in all infected mosquito larvae. The presence of S. spiculatus in six natural mosquito populations increases the number of susceptible species to 24.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council Scientific and Technical (CONICET), Center for the Study of Parasites and Vectors, La Plata, Argentina. fachinelly@cepave.edu.ar
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Achinelly
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Micieli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001118:Argentina; D009033:Culicidae / Q000469:parasitology*; D058507:Host Specificity; D008632:Mermithoidea / Q000502:physiology*; D009348:Nematoda / Q000502:physiology*