Entomopathogenic fungi, Metarhizium anisopliae and Beauveria bassiana reduce the survival of Xenopsylla brasiliensis larvae (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

By:

Ladslaus L Mnyone

Contributor(s):

Material type: Text

TextPublisher number: Phone: +255 28 298 3384 Fax: +255 28 298 3386 Email: vc@bugando.ac.tz Website: www.bugando.ac.tz Language: English Series: ; Parasites & vectors Volume 5 Issue 1 Publication details: Mwanza: BioMed Central & Tanzania Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] 19 September 2012Description: Pages 1-3ISSN:

1756-3305

Online resources:

Click here to access online

Summary: Abstract Background: Entomopathogenic fungi, particularly those belonging to the genera Metarhizium and Beauveria have shown great promise as arthropod vector control tools. These agents, however, have not been evaluated against flea vectors of plague. Findings: A 3-h exposure to the fungi coated paper at a concentration of 2 × 108 conidia m-2 infected >90% of flea larvae cadavers in the treatment groups. The infection reduced the survival of larvae that had been exposed to fungus relative to controls. The daily risk of dying was four- and over three-fold greater in larvae exposed to M. anisopliae (HR = 4, p<0.001) and B. bassiana (HR = 3.5, p<0.001) respectively. Both fungi can successfully infect and kill larvae of X. brasiliensis with a pooled median survival time (MST±SE) of 2±0.31 days post-exposure. Conclusion: These findings justify further research to investigate the bio-control potential of entomopathogenic fungi against fleas.

Item type: RESEARCH ARTICLES

Tags from this library: No tags from this library for this title. Log in to add tags.

Average rating: 0.0 (0 votes)

Holdings
Item type	Current library	Collection	Status	Barcode
RESEARCH ARTICLES	MWALIMU NYERERE LEARNING RESOURCES CENTRE-CUHAS BUGANDO	NFIC	-1	RA0491

Total holds: 0

Abstract

Background: Entomopathogenic fungi, particularly those belonging to the genera Metarhizium and Beauveria have shown great promise as arthropod vector control tools. These agents, however, have not been evaluated against flea vectors of plague.

Findings: A 3-h exposure to the fungi coated paper at a concentration of 2 × 108 conidia m-2 infected >90% of flea larvae cadavers in the treatment groups. The infection reduced the survival of larvae that had been exposed to fungus relative to controls. The daily risk of dying was four- and over three-fold greater in larvae exposed to M. anisopliae (HR = 4, p<0.001) and B. bassiana (HR = 3.5, p<0.001) respectively. Both fungi can successfully infect and kill larvae of X. brasiliensis with a pooled median survival time (MST±SE) of 2±0.31 days post-exposure.

Conclusion: These findings justify further research to investigate the bio-control potential of entomopathogenic fungi against fleas.

There are no comments on this title.

to post a comment.

Click on an image to view it in the image viewer