title: Unveiling the oxidative metabolism of Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae) experimentally exposed to entomopathogenic fungi.
abstract: Rhipicephalus microplus is an important tick in tropical regions due to the high economic losses caused by its parasitism. Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana are well-known entomopathogenic fungi that can afflict R. microplus ticks. The development of new targets and strategies to control this parasite can be driven by studies of this tick's physiology. Recently, it was reported that when exposed to adverse physiological conditions, ticks can activate fermentative pathways, indicating transition from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism by which entomopathogenic fungi influence R. microplus metabolism has not been clarified, limiting understanding of the tick-fungus association. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of infection of ticks by M. anisopliae and B. bassiana on the amount of selected carboxylic acids present in the hemolymph, enabling increased understanding of changes previously reported. The results showed preservation in the concentrations of oxalic, lactic, and pyruvic acids in the hemolymph 24 and 48 h after dropping from cattle; while there were variations in the concentration of these carboxylic acids after infection of female ticks to M. anisopliae and B. bassiana. Significant increases were observed in the concentration of oxalic and lactic acids and significant reduction of pyruvic acid for both observation times (24 and 48 h) after infection by entomopathogenic fungi. These results indicate that B. bassiana and M. anisopliae infection alters the basal metabolism of R. microplus females, resulting in the activation of fermentative pathways.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil. vinicius_menezestunholi@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Vinícius Menezes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Tunholi-Alves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Victor Menezes
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Tunholi Alves
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jairo Pinheiro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465, Km 7, 23890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nora Castro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Instituto de Ciências Exatas, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465, Km 7, 23890-000, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernanda Barbosa
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Salgueiro
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia, Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Ambientais e Biológicas, Cruz das Almas, BA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wendell Marcelo de Souza
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Perinotto
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Silva
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Gôlo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Guedes
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Camargo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia e Saúde Pública, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabele da Costa
authors.initials: Ida C
authors.lastname: Angelo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropédica, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vânia Rita Elias Pinheiro
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Bittencourt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052982:Beauveria / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000469:parasitology*; D001517:Coleoptera; D005260:Female; D052981:Metarhizium / Q000502:physiology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010572:Pest Control, Biological / Q000379:methods*; D048494:Rhipicephalus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: Beauveria bassiana; Lactic acids; Metarhizium anisopliae; Oxalic acids; Pyruvic acid