Evaluation of histological techniques for the detection of fungal infections caused by Leptolegnia chapmanii (Oomycetes: Saprolegniales) in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) larvae

DIKGOLZ, V.E., TOLEDO, A.V., TOPA, P.E., SPINEDI, N. AND LOPEZ LASTRA, C.C.

Capital Federal

Congreso; XVII congreso latinoamericano de microbiología; 2004

Asociacion latinoamericana de microbiología

The observation of entomopathogenic fungal infections by means of histopathological studies requires theuse of fixation and staining techniques that provide a good contrast in order to distinguish between host tissues and fungal structures . Therefore the objective of the present work was to evaluate whcih of the fixatives and stainins most frequenly used for observation of insect tissues were the most appropiate to visualize Leptolegnia chapmanii fungal infection in larvae of Aedes aegypti . As a result of the present study it was evidenced that the best contrast between the host tissues and the fungal structures was obtained when using a combination of Carnoy fixatibve with Groccott stain contrasted with light green . Masson trichromic stain combines with Formaldehyde phosphate buffer 10 % also provided acceptable results.