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Virulence of Isaria sp. and Purpureocillium lilacinum to Rhipicephalus microplus tick under laboratory conditions

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Abstract

Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini) is an ectoparasite accountable for great economic losses. The use of entomopathogenic fungi to control arthropods has shown promising responses. The present study evaluated the virulence of Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) Fr., Isaria fumosorosea (Wize) Brown and Smith, and Purpureocillium lilacinum (=Paecilomyces lilacinus) (Thom.) Samson to engorged females, eggs, and larvae of R. microplus. There were four treatment groups (105, 106, 107, and 108 conidia ml−1) and the control group (water and Tween 80, 0.1 % v/v). The treatment was based on immersion of the specimen in 1 ml of the suspension or control solution. The study observed changes in egg viability and larval mortality after treatment. The results showed that I. farinosa, P. lilacinum, and I. fumosorosea caused alterations in the biological parameters of R. microplus ticks. I. fumosorosea presented the greatest potential to control R. microplus engorged females in vitro, causing a 49 % decrease in nutritional index. All fungal isolates presented significant reduction in the egg production index. I. farinosa reduced the hatching percentage if the eggs were treated with the two highest conidial concentrations. All conidial concentrations of I. fumosorosea were able to reduce the hatching percentage significantly. All tested isolates showed pathogenicity toward unfed R. microplus larvae. As far as we know, this is the first study reporting the effect in vitro of I. farinosa, I. fumosorosea, and P. lilacinum to different developmental stages of R. microplus ticks.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the National Center for Genetic Resources (CENARGEN)/Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) for providing the fungal isolate used in this study. This research was supported by grants from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Rio de Janeiro State Research Foundation (FAPERJ). We also thank the Office to Improve University Research (CAPES) for providing the M.Sc. and Ph.D. scholarship to I.C.A., É.K.K. F., T.C.B., W.M.S.P., P.S.G., and A.P.R.M. V.R.E.P. Bittencourt is CNPq researcher (1B).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Animal Parasitology Department, Veterinary Institute, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, Seropedica, Brazil

    Isabele C. Angelo, Wendell M. S. Perinotto, Patricia S. Golo, Ana Paula R. Moraes & Vânia R. E. P. Bittencourt

  2. Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goias, Brazil

    Éverton K. K. Fernandes

  3. Institute of Health Sciences, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Bahia, Brazil

    Thiago C. Bahiense

Authors
  1. Isabele C. Angelo
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  2. Éverton K. K. Fernandes
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  3. Thiago C. Bahiense
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  4. Wendell M. S. Perinotto
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  5. Patricia S. Golo
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  6. Ana Paula R. Moraes
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  7. Vânia R. E. P. Bittencourt
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Correspondence to Vânia R. E. P. Bittencourt.

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Angelo, I.C., Fernandes, É.K.K., Bahiense, T.C. et al. Virulence of Isaria sp. and Purpureocillium lilacinum to Rhipicephalus microplus tick under laboratory conditions. Parasitol Res 111, 1473–1480 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-2982-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-2982-y

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