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Nomuraea rileyi as biological control agents of Rhipicephalus microplus tick

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Abstract

Nomuraea rileyi, a fungus pathogenic to insects, has been widely used for biological control of agricultural pests in Brazil. This study investigates the effects of N. rileyi, isolates Nr 138, Nr 151, and Nr 177, to eggs, larvae, and engorged females of Rhipicephalus microplus tick. Specimens were immersed in 1 ml of conidial suspension for 3 min, whereas the control group was immersed in 0.01 % Tween 80 water solution. The isolate Nr 138 controlled 67.37 % of ticks when the highest conidial concentration was used, 108 conidia ml−1. The isolate Nr 177 significantly reduced the percentage of hatch of larvae from eggs treated with 108 conidia ml−1. Conversely, the isolate Nr 151 was not virulent to eggs, larvae, or adults. Variability in virulence was observed among the N. rileyi isolates investigated in the current study—Nr 138 was more virulent to engorged females, while Nr 177 was more virulent to unfed larvae. Although N. rileyi proved to be virulent to several stages of R. microplus, the results obtained in this study indicate that N. rileyi does not appear to be a remarkable biological control agent for R. microplus.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ). We also thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). V.R.E.P. Bittencourt is a CNPq researcher (1C).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Parasitologia Animal, Instituto de Veterinária, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), IV/DPA, BR465, Km. 7, Seropédica, RJ, 23890000, Brazil

    W. M. S. Perinotto, A. L. M. Terra, I. C. Angelo, P. S. Golo, M. G. Camargo & V. R. E. P. Bittencourt

  2. Laboratório de Patologia de Invertebrados, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, Brasil

    É. K. K. Fernandes

Authors
  1. W. M. S. Perinotto
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  2. A. L. M. Terra
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  3. I. C. Angelo
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  4. É. K. K. Fernandes
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  5. P. S. Golo
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  6. M. G. Camargo
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  7. V. R. E. P. Bittencourt
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Correspondence to V. R. E. P. Bittencourt.

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Perinotto, W.M.S., Terra, A.L.M., Angelo, I.C. et al. Nomuraea rileyi as biological control agents of Rhipicephalus microplus tick. Parasitol Res 111, 1743–1748 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3018-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-012-3018-3

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