Comparison of bioassay responses to the potential fungal biopesticide Metarhizium anisopliae in Rhipicephalus(Boophilus) microplus and Lucilia cuprina

Leemon, D.M. and Jonsson, N.N. (2012) Comparison of bioassay responses to the potential fungal biopesticide Metarhizium anisopliae in Rhipicephalus(Boophilus) microplus and Lucilia cuprina. Veterinary Parasitology, 185(2-4), pp. 236-247. (doi: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.10.037)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

Quantal response bioassays were conducted with cattle ticks and sheep blowflies with three different isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae and different methods of inoculation. Ticks were either topically dosed with 2 μl or immersed in the conidial preparations. Blowflies were either topically dosed with 2 μl of the conidial preparation or fed on conidia mixed with sugar. Probit analyses were carried out on the mortality data to compare the virulence of these isolates to ticks and blowflies and look for indications of different virulence mechanisms employed by M. anisopliae isolates when invading these hosts. One isolate (ARIM16) showed high virulence to both hosts killing 95% of ticks after 2 days and 88 (±2)% of blowflies after 4 days. Strikingly different mortality patterns indicated that virulence is dependent on different mechanisms in ticks and blowflies. The pattern of mortality seen with ticks suggested that the number of conidia adhering per unit area of the cuticle was more important for rapid tick death than the total number of conidia contacting the entire tick surface. Blowflies fed conidia mixed with food died rapidly after an initial lag phase regardless of dose.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Jonsson, Professor Nicholas
Authors: Leemon, D.M., and Jonsson, N.N.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Veterinary Parasitology
ISSN:0304-4017
Published Online:04 November 2011

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record