Isolation of a Novel Pythium Species, P. thermoculicivorax, and Trichoderma sp. from Natural Enzootic Mosquito Larval Infections.

ABSTRACT: Only a handful of microbial mosquito larval pathogens have been described to date. Sampling several natural enzootic infections of mosquito larvae in southwestern Florida indicated the presence of microbial pathogens capable of extensive larval mortality. A microscopic analysis of one sample site revealed extensive apparent growth of a Pythium-like microbe on mosquito larvae, with the highest degree of infection observed in the siphon and head regions. Structures consistent with sporangia were seen on infected insects after lactophenol blue staining, and higher-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs showed sporangia and encysted zoospores targeting the head and siphon regions. The isolate was single-colony purified, and molecular identification targeting the ITS a

SUBMITTER: Joseph R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10971675 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature