title: Cuticle Fatty Acid Composition and Differential Susceptibility of Three Species of Cockroaches to the Entomopathogenic Fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Ascomycota, Hypocreales).
abstract: Differences in free fatty acids (FFAs) chemical composition of insects may be responsible for susceptibility or resistance to fungal infection. Determination of FFAs found in cuticular lipids can effectively contribute to the knowledge concerning insect defense mechanisms. In this study, we have evaluated the susceptibility of three species of cockroaches to the entomopathogenic fungi Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin by topical application. Mortality due to M. anisopliae was highly significant on adults and nymphs of Blattella germanica L. (Blattodea: Blattellidae). However, mortality was faster in adults than in nymphs. Adults of Blatta orientalis L. (Blattodea: Blattidae) were not susceptible to the fungus, and nymphs of Blaptica dubia Serville (Blattodea: Blaberidae) were more susceptible to the fungus than adults. The composition of cuticular FFAs in the three species of cockroaches was also studied. The analysis indicated that all of the fatty acids were mostly straight-chain, long-chain, saturated or unsaturated. Cuticular lipids of three species of cockroaches contained 19 FFAs, ranging from C14:0 to C24:0. The predominant fatty acids found in the three studied species of cockroaches were oleic, linoleic, palmitic, and stearic acid. Only in adults of Bl. orientalis, myristoleic acid, γ-linolenic acid, arachidic acid, dihomolinoleic acid, and behenic acid were identified. Lignoceric acid was detected only in nymphs of Bl. orientalis. Heneicosylic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were identified in adults of Ba. dubia.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores - CEPAVE (CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas -UNLP, Universidad Nacional de La Plata). Av. 120 s/n entre 61 y 62, CP 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Comisión de Investigaciónes Científicas Calle 526 entre 10 y 11 CP: 1900 - La Plata - Buenos Aires - Argentina.
authors.forename: Alejandra C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental and Human Health Protection, University of Gdańsk, ul. Wita Stwosza 63, 80-308 Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gołębiowski
authors.affiliation: Prevención del Infarto en Argentina PROPIA - UNLP - CIC Bs. As. Ministerio de Salud Bs. As. Cno. Centenario e/505 y 508 - (1897) - Gonet - Bs. As. - Argentina.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pennisi
authors.affiliation: Prevención del Infarto en Argentina PROPIA - UNLP - CIC Bs. As. Ministerio de Salud Bs. As. Cno. Centenario e/505 y 508 - (1897) - Gonet - Bs. As. - Argentina.
authors.forename: Graciela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores - CEPAVE (CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas -UNLP, Universidad Nacional de La Plata). Av. 120 s/n entre 61 y 62, CP 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Comisión de Investigaciónes Científicas Calle 526 entre 10 y 11 CP: 1900 - La Plata - Buenos Aires - Argentina. Corresponding author, e-mail: juan@cepave.edu.ar.
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: García
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores - CEPAVE (CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas -UNLP, Universidad Nacional de La Plata). Av. 120 s/n entre 61 y 62, CP 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Romina G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Manfrino
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Parasitológicos y de Vectores - CEPAVE (CONICET, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas -UNLP, Universidad Nacional de La Plata). Av. 120 s/n entre 61 y 62, CP 1900, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudia C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: López Lastra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D052981:Metarhizium / Q000502:physiology*; D009758:Nymph / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D010572:Pest Control, Biological
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids
keywords: Metarhizium anisopliae; cockroach; cuticle; entomopathogenic fungi; fatty acid