Title

Variation of Larval Susceptibility to Lagenidium giganteum in Three Mosquito Species

Document Type

Article

Date of Original Version

1-1-1993

Abstract

A significantly greater number of Lagenidium giganteum zoospores were found encysting on the dorsal thoracic surface of Anopheles gambiae larvae than on the larvae of Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens. However, germ tube penetration in the cuticle of A. gambiae provoked an intense and diffuse melanization which encapsulated the fungus and protected 56% from death. Although a small number of zoospores attach to and penetrate the cuticular surface of A. aegypti and C. pipiens approximately 99% of both species succumb to fungal infection. Melanization in A. aegypti is slower, weaker, more localized, and generally ineffective against L. giganteum infection compared to A. gambiae. Upward migration of L. giganteum zoospores to the water surface favored encounters with mosquito larvae and was speculated to be due to negative geotaxis rather than positive aerotaxis and phototaxis. Otherwise, initial contact between larva and zoospore was random. © 1993 Academic Press. All rights reserved.

Publication Title, e.g., Journal

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology

Volume

62

Issue

1

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