An endosymbiotic conidial fungus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, protects the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, from desiccation imposed by an entomopathogenic fungus

Yoder, Jay A.; Benoit, Joshua B.; Denlinger, David L.; Tank, Justin L.; Zettler, Lawrence W.

doi:10.1016/j.jip.2007.07.011

Cited by 27 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…It is also possible, as in fungal infections of invertebrates [29], that epidermal fungal growth may increase the evaporative surface area of bat wings or wick water from the wing membrane at points of exuberant fungal proliferation, such as skin glands. Aggressive invasion by G. destructans also destroys hair follicles, and sebaceous and apocrine glands (Figure 2a,b), and thus eliminates protective secretions in regions of infected skin [20,30-32].…”

Section: The Role Of Wings In Maintaining Homeostasis: Water Balance mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Laboratory experiments reveal that fungal infections cause death by dehydration in dog ticks ( Dermacentor variabilis ), even at higher levels of humidity (greater than 90% relative humidity at 25°C) than are typically sustained under natural conditions [29]. In certain insects, symbiotic fungi in the glands of normal cuticle help maintain homeostasis and prevent infection by pathogenic conidial fungi; without these symbionts, pathogenic fungi colonize the cuticle and subsequently cause death by dehydration [29]. …”

Section: Comparison With Other Cutaneous Fungal Pathogensmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wing pathology of white-nose syndrome in bats suggests life-threatening disruption of physiology

et al. 2010

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White-nose syndrome (WNS) is causing unprecedented declines in several species of North American bats. The characteristic lesions of WNS are caused by the fungus Geomyces destructans, which erodes and replaces the living skin of bats while they hibernate. It is unknown how this infection kills the bats. We review here the unique physiological importance of wings to hibernating bats in relation to the damage caused by G. destructans and propose that mortality is caused by catastrophic disruption of wing-dependent physiological functions. Mechanisms of disease associated with G. destructans seem specific to hibernating bats and are most analogous to disease caused by chytrid fungus in amphibians.

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Section: The Role Of Wings In Maintaining Homeostasis: Water Balance mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Comparison With Other Cutaneous Fungal Pathogensmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wing pathology of white-nose syndrome in bats suggests life-threatening disruption of physiology

et al. 2010

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“…Thus even in tick species such as D. variabilis, which can survive for extended periods of time after exposure to entomopathogenic fungi (Gomathinayagam et al 2002;Kirkland et al 2004), the fungus may still reduce the ability of infected individuals to perform normally. Recent work by Yoder et al (2008) however indicates that resistance to fungal infection in this tick is due to a symbiotic relationship between D. variabilis and the fungus Scopulariopsis brevicaulis (Saccardo) Bainer. The apparent difference in susceptibility exhibited by different tick species may be due to a difference in their relative abilities to repair cuticle post-penetration and endure periods of desiccation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological effects upon Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) infected with Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

Cradock

Needham

2010

Exp Appl Acarol

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Unfed adult Amblyomma americanum were exposed to the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. Ticks exposed to the fungus exhibited reduced survival and increased water loss as indicated by change in weight. Treated ticks survived 7.2 ± 0.22 days (mean ± SE) and controls survived 17.9 ± 0.73 days (P = 0.01; df = 57). At death, ticks exposed to the fungus had lost 25.2 ± 0.84% of their starting weight; control ticks had lost 14.1 ± 0.85% of their starting weight (P = 0.01; df = 96). Water loss was highest immediately following inoculation, although losses continued to be higher than in uninoculated ticks. This suggests that fungal penetration causes sufficient cuticle damage to cause desiccation, although other water-loss avenues exist, including increased time of spiracular opening. Additionally this study did not eliminate the possibility of a negative impact on water vapor uptake. This is the first study to investigate the effect of an entomopathogenic fungus on the water balance of a tick.

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“…S. brevicaulis is the species of this genus more frequently found on mammals (Filipello Marchisio et al 2000;Filipello Marchisio and Fusconi 2001). Recently, S. brevicaulis was found associated with the American dog tick Dermacentor variabilis with a dual functional role: a pathogenic role and protective one against other entomopathogenic fungi (Yoder et al 2003(Yoder et al , 2007. S. brevicaulis is considered a facultative D. variabilis parasite that can switch from saprophyte to parasite under certain environmental conditions (Yoder et al 2003).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isolation of Scopulariopsis spp. fungi from Psoroptes cuniculi body surface and evaluation of their entomopathogenic role

et al. 2008

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In this study, some in vitro trials were carried out to evaluate the association between Scopulariopsis spp. fungi with Psoroptes cuniculi (Acari: Psoroptidae) and their potential pathogenicity to this mite species. After cultivation on Sabouraud dextrose agar with chloroamphenicol at 26 degrees C for 20 days and macro- and microscopical examinations, from P. cuniculi mites taken from some infested rabbits fungi belonging to the genus Scopulariopsis were isolated. Investigations were carried out to evaluate in vitro the potential pathogenic role of Scopulariopsis to P. cuniculi; to this aim, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis isolated from a cat was tested. In several culture media, the dose-dependent P. cuniculi mortality with different concentrations of S. brevicaulis and the ability of S. brevicaulis to penetrate inside the body of infected mites were evaluated. Results obtained demonstrated that, in the rabbit, Scopulariopsis fungi can be associated with P. cuniculi, and that S. brevicaulis can be an entomopathogen for P. cuniculi in a dose-dependent manner. A more rapid mortality of the mites and a quicker S. brevicaulis growth in plates containing rabbit serum with respect to all other media used were also found. S. brevicaulis demonstrated the ability to invade the body of P. cuniculi.

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An endosymbiotic conidial fungus, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, protects the American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, from desiccation imposed by an entomopathogenic fungus

Cited by 27 publications

References 29 publications

Wing pathology of white-nose syndrome in bats suggests life-threatening disruption of physiology

Wing pathology of white-nose syndrome in bats suggests life-threatening disruption of physiology

Physiological effects upon Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) infected with Beauveria bassiana (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

Isolation of Scopulariopsis spp. fungi from Psoroptes cuniculi body surface and evaluation of their entomopathogenic role

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