Abstract
THE water mould Coelomomyces (Chytridiomycetes, Blastocladiales) is an obligate parasite of mosquito larvae. The fungus develops in the haemocoel of the host and is first visible as small unwalled hyphal bodies, which later differentiate into masses of thick-walled resistant sporangia. In appropriate conditions, each sporangium releases a large number of posteriorly uniflagellate zoospores1. Field studies of this pathogen indicate that it may be responsible for significant epizootics of mosquito larvae and considerable interest has been generated over its possible use in biological control of these troublesome insects2–6. This potential has not been confirmed in the laboratory. The production of infected larvae in controlled environmental conditions has proved to be a difficult and erratic task1,7. Couch8 has devised a technique for the production of large numbers of infected mosquitoes but this method uses quantities of microalgae and water from the original infection site.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Couch, J. N., and Umphlett, C. J., in Insect Pathology: An Advanced Treatise (edit. by Steinhaus, E.), 2 (Academic Press, New York, 1963).
Walker, A. J., Ann. trop. Med. Parasitol., 32, 231–244 (1938).
Muspratt, J., Nature, 158, 202 (1946).
Muspratt, J., Ann. trop. Med. Parasitol, 40, 10–17 (1946).
Shemanchuk, J. A., Can. Entomol., 91, 743–744 (1959).
Laird, M., WHO Chronicle, 21, 18–26 (1965).
Madelin, M. F., J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc., 84, 115–124 (1968).
Couch, J. N., Proc. natn. Acad. Sci., U.S.A., 69, 2043–2047 (1972).
Weissenberg, R., Sitzungsber. ges. Naturfr. Freunde, 5, 299–305 (1912).
Weissenberg, R., Proc. Am. Soc. Protozool., 1, 4–5 (1950).
Vavra, J., and Joyon, L., Protistologia, 2, 5–16 (1966).
Whisler, H. C., Shemanchuk, J. A., and Travland, L. B., J. invert. Path., 19, 139–147 (1972).
Martin, W. W., J. Elisha Mitchell Sci. Soc., 87, 207–221 (1971).
Keilin, D., Parasitology, 13, 225–234 (1921).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
WHISLER, H., ZEBOLD, S. & SHEMANCHUK, J. Alternate host for mosquito parasite Coelomomyces. Nature 251, 715–716 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/251715a0
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/251715a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Fungal evolution and taxonomy
BioControl (2010)
-
The diversity of nuclear cycle in microcyclic rust fungi (Uredinales) and its ecological and evolutionary implications
Mycoscience (2002)
-
Gametogenesis inCoelomomyces dodgei Couch (Blastocladiales, Chytridiomycetes)
Protoplasma (1984)