Biocontrol of pigeon tick Argas reflexus (Acari: Argasidae) by entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium Anisopliae (Ascomycota: Hypocreales)

The pigeon tick Argas reflexus is a pathogen-transmitting soft tick that typically feeds on pigeons, but can also attack humans causing local and systemic reactions. Chemical control is made difficult due to environmental contamination and resistance development. As a result, there is much interest in increasing the role of other strategies like biological control. In this study, the efficacy of three strains (V245, 685 and 715C) of entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae for biological control of three life stages of pigeon tick A. reflexus including eggs, larvae, engorged and unfed adults was investigated under laboratory conditions. Five concentrations of different strains of M. anisopliae ranging from 10³ to 10(7) conidia/ml were used. All fungal strains significantly decreased hatchability of A. reflexus eggs. Strain V245 was the most effective strain on the mortality of larval stage with nearly 100 percent mortality at the lowest concentration (10³ conidia/ml) at 10 days post-inoculation. The mortality rate of both engorged and unfed adult ticks were also increased significantly exposed to different conidial concentrations compared to the control groups (P < 0.05) making this fungus a potential biological control agent of pigeon tick reducing the use of chemical acaricides.

Rhinoentomophthoromycosis: a report of three cases.

Three cases of rhinoentomophthoromycosis involving the nasal region are presented diagnosis in the first two cases was made on surgical biopsy and in the third case by fine needle aspiration biopsy. A granulomatous inflammatory reaction was seen in tissue around hollow broad hyphae of the fungus. The hyphal strands were surrounded by eosinophilic deposits Splendore--Hoeppli phenomenon.

Isolamento de Conidiobolus coronatus (Costantin) Batko, 1964, de amostras de terra com e sem detritos vegetais / Isolation of Conidiobolus coronatus (Costantin) Batko, 1964, from soil samples with and without plant detritus

Os autores, empregando o método de Drechsler-Coremans-Pelseneer (1974), modificado, em 160 amostras de terra com e sem detritos vegetais, procedentes de diversas cidades do Brasil, isolaram em duas ocasiöes (1,25%) cultivos de Conidiobolus coronatus (Costantin) Batko, 1964. As amostras positivas procediam da regiäo de Matipó(regiäo leste de Minas Gerais). Simultaneamente, os autores utilizaram técnica de "double pour" para isolar Paracoccidioides brasiliensis das mesmas amostras, sem resultado satisfatório para este fungo. O interesse deste trabalho reside no fato de que os entomoftoráceos dos gêneros Conidiobolus e Basidiobolus, agentes de zigomicose subcutânea no homem, apresentam grande interesse na patologia tropical, tendo em vista, principalmente, o crescente número de casos registrados em nosso meio, especialmente na Bahia. O isolamento de C. coronatus de amostras de terra com e sem detritos vegetais, sugere na história natural da conidiobolomicose que os propágulos deste fungo possam penetrar no organismo do hospedeiro por via inalatória ou, entäo, por ferimentos cutâneos com corpos vulnerantes, de natureza vegetal. O presente trabalho foi realizado no período de cinco meses (janeiro a maio de 1984)

Basidiobolomicose: registro de um caso com aspectos incomuns / Basidiolomycosis: report of a case with unusual aspects

Registro de um caso de basidiobolomicose com lesöes múltiplas, com aspecto pseudo-tumoral, em criança de 4 anos. Constitui o sexto caso descrito na América do Sul, com o isolamento do agente etiológico. O tratamento com iodeto de potássio foi coroado de sucesso