Angiostrongylus cantonensis in urban populations of terrestrial gastropods and rats in an impoverished region of Brazil.

The nematode Angiostrongylus cantonensis is the most common cause of neuroangiostrongyliasis (manifested as eosinophilic meningitis) in humans. Gastropod molluscs are used as intermediate hosts and rats of various species are definitive hosts of this parasite. In this study, we identified several environmental factors associated with the presence and abundance of terrestrial gastropods in an impoverished urban region in Brazil. We also found that body condition, age and presence of co-infection with other parasite species in urban Rattus norvegicus, as well as environmental factors were associated with the probability and intensity of A. cantonensis infection. The study area was also found to have a moderate prevalence of the nematode in rodents (33% of 168 individuals). Eight species of molluscs (577 individuals) were identified, four of which were positive for A. cantonensis. Our study indicates that the environmental conditions of poor urban areas (presence of running and standing water, sewage, humidity and accumulated rain and accumulation of construction materials) influenced both the distribution and abundance of terrestrial gastropods, as well as infected rats, contributing to the maintenance of the A. cantonensis transmission cycle in the area. Besides neuroangiostrongyliasis, the presence of these hosts may also contribute to susceptibility to other zoonoses.

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a diesel oil-contaminated mangrove by plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.

In this study, Rhizophora mangle L. mangrove plants and plant growth-promoting bacteria were evaluated for their ability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in diesel oil-contaminated sediment. The diesel-contaminated soil was sown with plant growth-promoting bacteria in the R. mangle L. rhizosphere and monitored for 120 days in a greenhouse. The plant growth-promoting bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus sp. were analyzed for their ability to degrade eight priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, achieving a removal rate for naphthalene (80%), acenaphthene (> 60%), anthracene (> 50%), benzo(a)anthracene (> 60%), benzo(a)pyrene (> 50%) and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (> 90%) in the treatments with and without plants. R. mangle L. demonstrated a removal rate above 50% for acenaphthene and fluoranthene. The bacterial strains promoted the development of the plant propagule in 55% of sediment contaminated with diesel. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of biofilms by the strains in the roots of the plants in contact with the diesel. Thus, the interaction between Rhizophora mangle L. and the bacterial strains (Bacillus sp. and P. aeruginosa) demonstrated the potential of the strains to degrade diesel and bioremediate mangroves impacted by diesel oil.

The helminth community of a population of Rattus norvegicus from an urban Brazilian slum and the threat of zoonotic diseases.

Urban slums provide suitable conditions for infestation by rats, which harbour and shed a wide diversity of zoonotic pathogens including helminths. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with the probability and intensity of infection of helminths of the digestive tract in an urban slum population of Rattus norvegicus. Among 299 rats, eleven species/groups of helminths were identified, of which Strongyloides sp., Nippostrongylus brasiliensis and, the human pathogen, Angiostrongylus cantonensis were the most frequent (97, 41 and 39%, respectively). Sex interactions highlighted behavioural differences between males and females, as eg males were more likely to be infected with N. brasiliensis where rat signs were present, and males presented more intense infections of Strongyloides sp. Moreover, rats in poor body condition had higher intensities of N. brasiliensis. We describe a high global richness of parasites in R. norvegicus, including five species known to cause disease in humans. Among these, A. cantonensis was found in high prevalence and it was ubiquitous in the study area - knowledge which is of public health importance. A variety of environmental, demographic and body condition variables were associated with helminth species infection of rats, suggesting a comparable variety of risk factors for humans.

Virulence of Isaria sp. and Purpureocillium lilacinum to Rhipicephalus microplus tick under laboratory conditions.

Rhipicephalus microplus (Canestrini) is an ectoparasite accountable for great economic losses. The use of entomopathogenic fungi to control arthropods has shown promising responses. The present study evaluated the virulence of Isaria farinosa (Holmsk.) Fr., Isaria fumosorosea (Wize) Brown and Smith, and Purpureocillium lilacinum (=Paecilomyces lilacinus) (Thom.) Samson to engorged females, eggs, and larvae of R. microplus. There were four treatment groups (10(5), 10(6), 10(7), and 10(8) conidia ml(-1)) and the control group (water and Tween 80, 0.1% v/v). The treatment was based on immersion of the specimen in 1 ml of the suspension or control solution. The study observed changes in egg viability and larval mortality after treatment. The results showed that I. farinosa, P. lilacinum, and I. fumosorosea caused alterations in the biological parameters of R. microplus ticks. I. fumosorosea presented the greatest potential to control R. microplus engorged females in vitro, causing a 49% decrease in nutritional index. All fungal isolates presented significant reduction in the egg production index. I. farinosa reduced the hatching percentage if the eggs were treated with the two highest conidial concentrations. All conidial concentrations of I. fumosorosea were able to reduce the hatching percentage significantly. All tested isolates showed pathogenicity toward unfed R. microplus larvae. As far as we know, this is the first study reporting the effect in vitro of I. farinosa, I. fumosorosea, and P. lilacinum to different developmental stages of R. microplus ticks.

An intensive search for promising fungal biological control agents of ticks, particularly Rhipicephalus microplus.

Entomopathogenic fungi have been investigated worldwide as promising biological control agents of the cattle tick Rhipicephalus microplus. The current study evaluates the virulence of several fungal isolates to R. microplus larva in the laboratory as part of an effort to identify isolates with promise for effective biocontrol of R. microplus in the field. Sixty fungal isolates, encompassing 5 Beauveria spp. and 1 Engyodontium albus (=Beauveria alba), were included in this study. In addition to bioassays, the isolates were characterized morphologically and investigated as to their potential for conidial mass production. These findings were correlated with previous reports on the same fungal isolates of their natural UV-B tolerance (Fernandes et al., 2007), thermotolerance and cold activity (Fernandes et al., 2008), and genotypes (Fernandes et al., 2009). R. microplus larvae obtained from artificially infested calves were less susceptible to Beauveria bassiana infection than ticks acquired from naturally infested cattle from a different location. Isolates CG 464, CG 500 and CG 206 were among the most virulent Beauveria isolates tested in this study. All fungal isolates presented morphological features consistent with their species descriptions. Of the 53 B. bassiana isolates, five (CG 481, CG 484, CG 206, CG 235 and CG 487) had characteristics that qualified them as promising candidates for biological control agents of R. microplus, viz., mean LC(50) between 10(7) and 10(8)conidiaml(-1); produced 5000 conidia or more on 60mm(2) surface area of PDAY medium; and, in comparison to untreated (control) conidia, had the best conidial tolerances to UV-B (7.04 kJ m(-2)) and heat (45°C, 2h) of 50% or higher, and conidial cold (5°C, 15d) activity (mycelial growth) higher than 60%. The current study of 60 Beauveria spp. isolates, therefore, singles out a few (five) with high potential for controlling ticks under field conditions.

Efficiency of Lecanicillium lecanii to control the tick Rhipicephalus microplus.

Rhipicephalus microplus, known as the cattle tick, causes serious economic losses in the Brazilian cattle industry each year. Traditional parasite control is primarily based on the use of chemical acaricides, which unfortunately have many negative side effects. Biological control is seen as a promising alternative to chemical acaricide use. This study evaluates the entomopathogenic fungus Lecanicillium lecanii for effectiveness in controlling engorged females, eggs, and larvae of R. microplus. Conidial formulations of L. lecanii, isolate CG 420, were prepared in both oil (15% mineral oil) and aqueous suspensions. Ticks were immersed in a 1ml oil-based conidial suspension at 1x10(8)conidiaml(-1) or one of several aqueous conidial suspensions at 1x10(5), 10(6), 10(7) or 10(8)conidiaml(-1). The control groups were immersed in water or oil solutions with no conidia. Treatments with aqueous conidial suspensions were conducted with 10 ticks per group (1x10(5), 10(6), 10(7), 10(8)conidiaml(-1) or control) whereas the oil treatments used 30 ticks per group (1x10(8)conidiaml(-1) or control). Bioassays were repeated twice on different days with different batches of conidia. After treatment, the biological parameters of engorged females were evaluated, while eggs and larvae were evaluated taking into consideration hatchability and mortality, respectively. The results indicate that L. lecanii has the potential to control engorged females, eggs and larvae of R. microplus. Better results were observed when conidial oil-based suspension was used. In general, engorged females treated with 1x10(8)conidiaml(-1) oil suspensions died before laying eggs, resulting in 97.6% of tick control. As far as we know, this is the first report of the effects of L. lecanii on R. microplus tick.

Performance of Metarhizium anisopliae and Its combination with deltamethrin against a pyrethroid-resistant strain of Boophilus microplus in a stall test.

The use of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae, to control ticks is a promising alternative to chemical acaricides, but both chemical and biological products could also work together in an integrated management. The current study evaluated the performance of M. anisopliae and its combination with deltamethrin to control a Boophilus microplus strain resistant to pyrethroid. Calves were held in individual pens and artificially infested with B. microplus. They were treated with an aqueous conidial suspension of M. anisopliae, a deltamethrin solution, or both fungus and deltamethrin combined. After treatment, engorged females that naturally dropped off from calves were counted daily and evaluated in the laboratory. The mean mortality rate was 32.57% in the groups treated with M. anisopliae, 38.58% in those groups treated with deltamethrin, and 30.92% in those treated with fungus and chemical combined. Additionally, ticks that dropped off from calves after 2 days had a lower nutrient index (NI) and egg production index (EPI) than those that dropped off at a later day after treatment. This indicates that M. anisopliae may reduce B. microplus population only for a few days after treatment when a simple aqueous conidial suspension was used.

Avaliação do potencial de controle biológico do Metarhizium anisopliae sobre Boophilus microplus em teste de estábulo / Evaluation of the biological control potential of Metarhizium anisopliae toward Boophilus microplus in pen trials

Avaliou-se por meio de um teste de estábulo a capacidade de Metarhizium anisopliae em controlar o carrapato Boophilus microplus. Foram realizados tratamentos em bovinos estabulados, utilizando este fungo aplicando-se suspensão conidial em banhos por aspersão. Os resultados foram obtidos pelo percentual de mortalidade de carrapatos durante 28 dias após o tratamento e pelos índices biológicos após incubação destes em câmara climatizada. Constatou-se 33 por cento de mortalidade no período total observado, sendo o índice de produção de ovos e índice nutricional reduzidos somente em um curto período após o tratamento.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the capacity of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae to control Boophilus microplus tick in pen trials. Infested calves were held in individual pen and treated with fungus suspension through aspersion bath. The results were evaluated based on ticks' mortality rate for 28 days after treatment, and on the analysis of biology of tick's samples which were transferred to an incubation chamber. It was reported 33 percent of mortality during the total period analyzed, and the production of eggs and nutritional rates were decreased only for a short period after treatment.

[Evaluation of the biological control potential of Metarhizium anisopliae toward Boophilus microplus in pen trials]. / Avaliação do potencial de controle biológico do Metarhizium anisopliae sobre Boophilus microplus em teste de estábulo.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the capacity of the fungus Metarhizium anisopliae to control Boophilus microplus tick in pen trials. Infested calves were held in individual pen and treated with fungus suspension through aspersion bath. The results were evaluated based on ticks' mortality rate for 28 days after treatment, and on the analysis of biology of tick's samples which were transferred to an incubation chamber. It was reported 33% of mortality during the total period analyzed, and the production of eggs and nutritional rates were decreased only for a short period after treatment.

Laboratory evaluation of the compatibility and the synergism between the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and deltamethrin to resistant strains of Boophilus microplus.

Beauveria bassiana is one of the most promising agents for use as a bioacaricide to control the cattle tick Boophilus microplus, responsible for economic losses and transmission of infectious diseases. With the aim of optimizing the efficacy of chemical products, as well as the use of entomopathogens, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the compatibility and the synergism between this fungus and the drug deltamethrin on a strain of B. microplus that is resistant to this product.