Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales: Cordycipitaceae) Reduces the Survival Time of Lutzomyia longipalpis (Diptera: Psychodidae), the Main Vector of the Visceral Leishmaniasis Agent in the Americas. Issue 6 (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Figueredo, Luciana Aguiar; Luna, Rafaela Lira Nogueira; Miranda, Débora Elienai de Oliveira; Silva, Fernando José; Otranto, Domenico; Cafarchia, Claudia; Figueiredo, Regina Célia Bressan Queiroz; Dantas-Torres, Filipe; Brandão-Filho, Sinval Pinto
• Editors: Johnson, Richard
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical entomology. Volume 57:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 2025
• Page End: 2029
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: biological control -- visceral leishmaniasis -- sand flies; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.968
• DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjaa131
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2585

Abstract

Abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania infantum (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) is a major neglected tropical disease and Brazil is the responsible for most cases reported in the Americas. In this region, L. infantum is primarily transmitted by Lutzomyia longipalpis and Migonemyia migonei (França) (Diptera: Psychodidae) is considered a permissive vector. We evaluated the susceptibility of Lu. longipalpis and Mg. migonei to Beauveria bassiana and to Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) essential oil. A spore suspension of B. bassiana was prepared and sand flies divided into five groups: test 1 (10 7 spores/ml of B. bassiana with E. globulus essential oil at 4 mg/ml), test 2 (10 7 spores/ml of B. bassiana ), test 3 ( E. globulus essential oil at 4 mg/ml), positive control (cypermethrin 0.1%), and negative control (sterile distilled water). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed on specimens from each group. A 50% reduction was recorded in the survival time of Lu. longipalpis in test 1 and 2, where hyphal adhesion and cuticle damage were observed by SEM. No significant differences in the survival time of Mg. migonei were found, probable due to the high mortality rate observed in the negative control group, which may be a result of the greater sensitivity of this species to laboratory conditions. The results obtained herein suggest that B. bassiana may be a potential biological control agent against Lu. longipalpis, the main vector of L. infantum in the Americas.