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Larvicidal activity and effects on post embrionary development of laboratory reared Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae), treated with Brevibacillus laterosporus (Laubach) spore suspensions

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jip.2016.04.009Get rights and content

Highlights

  • Larvae of Musca domestica were killed by Brevibacillus laterosporus (strain Bon707) in a dose dependent manner.

  • Strain Bon707 did not cause pupal mass variation, as such it did not inhibit feeding.

  • It did not cause variation in the duration of the developmental stages of M. domestica.

  • Histopathologic examination of the gut lumen revealed cellular vacuolization and cytoplasmic disorganization.

Abstract

The application of a spore suspension of Brevibacillus laterosporus (Laubach) (strain Bon707), at a concentration of 1.94 × 109 CFU/mL in the diet, induced a level of 70% mortality in larvae of Musca domestica. No sublethal effects, upon feeding activity or development were recorded. However, electron microscopic examination of the digestive tract of larvae fed with B. laterosporus, revealed cellular vacuolization and cytoplasmic disorganization.

Introduction

Musca domestica (Linnaeus, 1758) is a major anthropophilic urban pest, that acts as a mechanical vector of pathogens, can also cause significant annoyance to livestock animals (Malik et al., 2007) and facultative myiasis in wild animals (Dehghani et al., 2012) and humans (Sehgal et al., 2002, Ucan et al., 2011). M. domestica can also serve as a phoretic host for the human botfly Dermatobia hominis (Linnaeus, 1761) and as such is involved in the process of specific myiasis (Maia and Gomes, 1988).

Chemical insecticides are widely used for the control of M. domestica (van Emden and Peakall, 1996). However the excessive use of such compounds may create environmental problems and contribute to the emergence of resistance in insect populations (Shono et al., 2004). In this context, the World Health Organization actively encourages research on new strategies and resources for pest and vector insect control (Mörner et al., 2002).

Brevibacillus laterosporus (Laubach) shows broad entomopathogenic activities (Oliveira et al., 2004) including toxicity against blowflies (Pessanha et al., 2015, Carramaschi et al., 2015) and house flies (Ruiu et al., 2006, Zimmer et al., 2013).

The present study sought to evaluate potential lethal and sub-lethal entomopathogenic effects associated with the use of the Bon707 strain of B. laterosporus when added to the diet of M. domestica larvae. The possible effects of ingestion of this bacterium upon the integrity of the gastrointestinal tract of larva was assessed through transmission electron microscopy.

Section snippets

M. domestica colony

The bioassays were performed with fourth generation larvae obtained from adults adapted to laboratory colonies (Laboratório de Entomologia Médica e Forense, Fiocruz) and rearing conditions (27 ± 1 °C, 60 ± 10% R.H. and a 12 h artificial photoperiod).

Bacterial strain

Individual colonies of B. laterosporus strain Bon707, previously demonstrated to be toxic to a variety of invertebrates (Oliveira et al., 2004, Carramaschi et al., 2015, Pessanha et al., 2015) and to hold potential as an entomopathogen of M. domestica (

Results and discussion

Ruiu et al. (2006) observed that B. laterosporus was able to reduce the viability of larvae of M. domestica by inhibition of feeding, which was reflected in reduced pupal mass. In contrast, in our experiments no significant alteration in the pupae mass was recorded indicating that feeding activity was not affected by the test strain.

Treatment with B. laterosporus did not interfere in the development time of M. domestica larvae. However, a reduction in the duration of larval period was observed

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Tecnológico) process no. 485303/2013-2.

References (21)

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