ARS | Publication request: Vavraia culicis (Weiser, 1947) Weiser, 1977 revisited: cytological characterisation of a Vavraia culicis-like microsporidium isolated from mosquitoes in Florida and the establishment of Vavraia culicis floridensis subsp. n.

Submitted to: Folia Parasitologica
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: June 15, 2007
Publication Date: December 15, 2007
Citation: Vavra, J., Becnel, J.J. 2007. Vavraia culicis (Weiser, 1947) Weiser, 1977 revisited: cytological characterisation of a Vavraia culicis-like microsporidium isolated from mosquitoes in Florida and the establishment of Vavraia culicis floridensis subsp. n. Folia Parasitologica. 54:259-271.

Interpretive Summary: Mosquitoes are important vectors of diseases to man and animals. Naturally occurring diseases of mosquitoes are being evaluated as alternative control agents by ARS Scientists at the Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville Florida. This article discusses the current knowledge of a protozoan pathogen (microsporidia) isolated in Florida from mosquitoes. Information on this mosquito pathogen is reviewed to describe features that make it an important reference species for researchers conducting morphological and molecular studies.

Technical Abstract: A brief nomeclatural history of Vavraia culicis, the type species for the genus Vavraia, is presented together with a detailed description of the structural characters of the only known isolate propagated in laboratory culture. The isolate has been used in several molecular phylogeny and host-parasite relationship studies and the method for its laboratory propagation is described. Due to its availability, this isolate is proposed to represent the standard type material for the genus Vavraia to be used in future studies.