Host range of the parasite Strelkovimermis spiculatus(Nematoda: Mermithidae) in Argentina mosquitoes

Abstract

Strelkovimermis spiculatus (Poinar and Camino 1986) is a nematode parasite of mosquitoes isolated from the Neotropical region. We investigated the host range of this parasite in mosquito populations for a better understanding of the dynamics of temporary breeding sites. Five grassy-pool habitats filled by rainwater were sampled from the summer 2007 through the fall 2008. Eight mosquito species were collected: Anopheles albitarsis, Culex chidesteri, Culex dolosus, Culex maxi, Aedes albifasciatus, Psorophora ciliata, Psorophora cyanescens, and Psorophora albigenu. Six of these species were parasitized: Cx. chidesteri, Cx. dolosus, Cx. maxi, Ae. albifasciatus, Ps. ciliata, and Ps. cyanescens. The occurrence of this mermithid in natural mosquito populations was increased from the end of winter to the end of the spring. Prevalence ranged from 11% to 100%. High levels of infections were registered only in Ae. albifasciatus larvae, the most abundant mosquito species (95%), followed by Cx. dolosus (2.7%). Strelkovimermis spiculatus completed its development in all infected mosquito larvae. The presence of S. spiculatus in six natural mosquito populations increases the number of susceptible species to 24. Journal of Vector Ecology 38: (1): 69-73. 2013.

Prevalence of parasitism and adult survival time of Aedes albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) parasitized by Strelkovimermis spiculatus (Nematoda: Mermithidae)

“…Another report of high intensity parasitism caused by S. spiculatus under natural conditions was for floodwater mosquito larvae Ps. cyanescens , where up to eight nematodes parasitizing larvae (Achinelly and Micieli ) were observed. In this study, multiple parasitism occurred in 74% of the parasitized larvae of Ae.…”

“…For the remaining seven species of mosquitoes that are parasitized by S. spiculatus in nature, Culex chidesteri Dyar, Culex maxi Dyar, Culex mollis Dyar & Knab, Cx. pipiens, Aedes crinifer (Theobald), Psorophora ciliata (F), and Psorophora cyanescens (Coquillett) (Achinelly and Micieli ), parasitism has not been reported in the adult mosquito.…”

Behavior of Aedes albifasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae from eggs with different dormancy times and its relationship with parasitism by Strelkovimermis spiculatus (Nematoda: Mermithidae)

“…The most important natural enemy of Ae. albifasciatus is the mermithid parasite Strelkovimermis spiculatus (Campos and Sy 2003;Micieli et al 2012), which is specific to the immature stages of culicids (Becnel and Johnson 1998;Platzer 2007;Achinelly and Micieli 2013). Its life cycle involves a juvenile preparasite that searches for the host, penetrates its cuticle, and, once inside, develops for 6 to 8 days at the expense of the host.…”