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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #193916
Title: INFECTIVITY OF TWO ISOLATES OF HELICOSPORIDIUM SPP. (CHLOROPHYTA: TREBOUXIOPHYCEAE) IN HETEROLOGOUS HOST INSECTS

Author
item CONKLIN, TRACY - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item BLASKE-LIETZE, VERENA-ULRIKE - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item Becnel, James
item BOUCIAS, DRION - UNIV OF FLORIDA

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/2005
Publication Date: 12/31/2005
Citation: Conklin, T., Blaske-Lietze, V., Becnel, J.J., Boucias, D.G. 2005. Infectivity of two isolates of helicosporidium spp. (chlorophyta: trebouxiophyceae) in heterologous host insects. Florida Entomologist 88(4):431-440.

Interpretive Summary: Naturally occurring protozoan parasites of insects are under study to evaluate and develop these disease causing organisms as biological control agents. A new species of Helicosporidia has been found in black flies in Florida. Helicosporida are known from a number of arthropods, but fundamental knowledge on their life cycles, modes of transmission and taxonomic placement are incomplete. In this investigation we have conducted basic biological studies of this Helicosporidium sp. against mosquitoes and a weevil host to determine infectivity and virulence.

Technical Abstract: Members of the genus Helicosporidium are the first described algal insect pathogens. They have a close affinity to the non-photosynthetic algae of the genus Prototheca, and have a wide host range, infecting many species of aquatic and terrestrial insects. In this study the infectivity of two Helicosporidium spp. isolates, originating from a black fly (SjHe) and an aquatic weevil (CsHe), was tested against a weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) and three mosquito species Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, and Aedes aegypti (L.). The weevil constitutes a new experimental host record for helicosporidia. The CsHe isolate was more virulent than the SjHe isolate in D. abbreviatus. Anopheles quadrimaculatus was the most susceptible mosquito species measured by infection rate and mortality. The infectivity and virulence of SjHe and CsHe isolates did not differ in any of the mosquito species.