Concomitant natural infections with the mermithid Strelkovimermis spiculatus and a mosquito iridescent virus in Culex pipiens.

EVANGELINA MUTTIS; JUAN J. GARCIA; MARIA V. MICIELI

Buenos Aires

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

Society for Invertebrate Patology

Abstract: Culex pipiens is a vector desease and important pest in their distribution area in the world. In Argentina, among the most common breeding sites of this mosquito specie is the man-drainage ditches located in suburban areas of the cities from which a high number of adults mosquitoes emerge throughout the year. During a survey for natural parasites and pathogens of Cx. pipiens in La Plata city, Argentina, we collected larvae of Cx. pipiens with mixed infections with a mosquito iridescens virus (MIV) and the neotropical mermithid specie Strelkovimermis spiculatus in suburban ditches with permanent water, rich in organic matter during 2010 and 2011. Prevalence data of virus and nematode in mosquito population was registered in each sample. This mermithid was observed in 87.5 % of samples positive for this virus. It was confirmed that this virus belongs to the family Iridoviridae by electron microscopy and molecular methods. Forty five larvae with patent infection of MIV were dissected under stereomicroscope, 42% of wich were recorded with the presence of S. spiculatus. Transmission tests were conducted at laboratory to study the interaction virus- mermithid in the mosquito host. Preliminary transmission tests suggested that preparasitic stages (J2) of S. spiculatus could be one way of entry through the cuticle for the MIV particles to hemocoele.