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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 #118021
Title: MOSQUITO AND HUMAN NOSEMA ALGERAE ISOLATES HAVE DISTINCT ANTIGENIC PROFILESAND TEMPERATURE TOLERENCE

Author
item MOURA, H. - BRAZIL
item LEITCH, G. - MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MED
item WALLACE, S. - CDC/ATLANTA
item Becnel, James
item VISVESVARA, G. - CDC/ATLANTA

Submitted to: Society for Invertebrate Pathology Annual Meeting Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/15/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: NA

Technical Abstract: Microsporidia are ubiquitous intracellular protozoan parasites that infect all major animal groups including humans. Nosema algerae, a parasite originally described in Anopheles mosquitoes, was recently included among the 14 species of microsporidia that cause human disease. In this report, we discuss the temperature tolerance, growth characteristics in mammalian cells, and antigenic profiles of these four isolates as well as an isolate of N. algerae obtained from Helicoverpa zea larvae. Interestingly, all isolates, except the H. zea isolate, infected mammalian cells and produced spores at 30 degrees, 36 degrees and 37 degrees C. The H. zea isolate, however, infected the cells and produced spores at 30 degrees and 36 degrees C but failed to grow continuously at 37 degrees C. In conclusion, intra-isolate differences in growth properties and temperature tolerance as well as antigenic reactivity were detected among the five N. algerae isolates. This may represent the existence of distinct strains with differing biological characteristics including virulence and pathogenicity to animals.