Laboratory and field studies for the control of Chagas disease vectors using the fungusMetarhizium anisopliae

Author(s)

Rangel, Drauzio E. N. ^{[1, 2]} ; Piedrabuena, Aquiles E. ^[1] ; Roitman, Isaac ^[3] ; Messias, Claudio L. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Dept Genet & Evolucao, Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Brasil, Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Brasilia, Dept Biol Celular, Brasilia, DF - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology; v. 105, n. 4, SI DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Chagas disease is one of the most important insect-vectored diseases in Brazil. The entomopathogenic fungusMetarhizium anisopliaewas evaluated against nymphs and adults ofPanstrongylus megistus, Triatoma infestans, andT. sordida. Pathogenicity tests at saturated humidity demonstrated high susceptibility to fungal infection. The shortest estimates of 50% lethal time (LT50) forP. megistusvaried from 4.6 (isolate E9) to 4.8 days (genetically modified strain 157p). ForT. infestans, the shortest LT(50)was 6.3 (E9) and 7.3 days (157p). ForT. sordida, the shortest LT(50)was 8.0 days (157p). The lethal concentration sufficient to kill 50% ofT. infestans(LC50) was 1.9 x 10(7)conidia/ml for strain 157p. In three chicken coops that were sprayed withM. anisopliae, nymphs especially were well controlled, with a great population reduction of 38.5% after 17 days. ThereforeM. anisopliaeperformed well, controlling Triatominae in both laboratory and field studies. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/50518-6 - Stress related genes are induced by visible light during mycelial growth resulting in increased conidial tolerance to stress conditions
• Grantee: Drauzio Eduardo Naretto Rangel
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 10/06374-1 - Visible light during growth enhances conidial tolerance to different stress conditions in fungi
• Grantee: Drauzio Eduardo Naretto Rangel
• Support type: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants