First record of the genus Protomagalhaensia (Eugregarinida: Hirmocystidae) Pinto, 1918 in cockroaches from Argentina.

ALEJANDRA GUTIERREZ; DELLAPÉ, M.; LÓPEZ LASTRA, C; GARCÍA, J.J

Buenos Aires

Congreso; International Congress on Invertebrate Pathology and Microbial Control, 45th Annual Meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology; 2012

Society for Invertebrate Pathology

Parasites and pathogens of cockroaches from the Neotropical region are poorly known. During a survey of natural enemies of cockroaches from La Plata city, Argentina, we found nymphs and adults of Blaptica dubia Serville, 1839 (Blattodea: Blaberidae) infected with gregarines. Specimens were dissected and their digestive tube examined under a compound microscope with phase contrast. Gamonts were observed in the gastric caeca and the descending ventriculus. Measurements and characteristics of the trophozoite epimerite, gamont protomerite and the caudofrontal association, also the gametocyst dehiscence by simple rupture, and the oocysts characteristics place this gregarine into the genus Protomagalhaensia, Order Eugregarinida, Suborder Septatina, Family Hirmocystidae. DNA from each pooled sample was maintained in 70% alcohol and stored at -20ºC for future molecular analysis. This genus is cited for the first time in this cockroach in Argentina.