title: Culex pipiens affected by joint infection of a mosquito iridescent virus and Strelkovimermis spiculatus.
abstract: Dual infections with a mosquito iridescent virus (MIV) and the mermithid nematode, Strelkovimermis spiculatus were recorded in natural Culex pipiens populations around La Plata city, Argentina. S. spiculatus was detected in 82% of samples that were positive for MIV infection. Dissected larvae of Cx. pipiens with patent MIV infection presented 42% infection with S. spiculatus. Larvae of Cx. pipiens exposed to MIV and S. spiculatus under laboratory conditions produced a high joint infection rate (82.5%) while no infection was recorded on larvae exposed to virus suspension only. Field and laboratory results suggest a strong association between S. spiculatus and MIV in natural populations of Cx. pipiens, in which S. spiculatus could be a mode of entry for the virus into the mosquito hemocele.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y Vectores (CEPAVE CONICET-CCT-La Plata-UNLP), Calle 2 No. 584, 1900 La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Electronic address: evangelinamuttis@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Muttis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Evangelina
authors.forename: Micieli María
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Victoria
authors.forename: García Juan
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: José
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D007814:Larva / Q000469:parasitology / Q000821:virology; D009348:Nematoda / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Culex pipiens; Iridoviridae; Mermithidae