Infectivity of steinernematid and heterorhabditid nematodes for the human body louse Pediculus humanus humanus (Anoplura: Pediculidae)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1993
Authors:M. Weiss, Glazer, I., Mumcuoglu, K. Y., Elking, Y., Galun, R.
Journal:Fundamental and Applied Nematology
Volume:16
Issue:6
Pagination:489 - 493
Date Published:1993
Keywords:heterhabditidae, Nematoda, pdf, Pediculus humanus humanus, steinernematidae
Abstract:

The susceptibility of the human body louse Pediculus humanus humanus ro the entomopathogenic rhabditids is described. Exposure of female lice to infective juveniles (IJs) of Steinernema carpocapsae ''Pye'' strain and S. glaseri in a Petri-dish assay resulted in high mortality levels (> 85 %) within 24 h. Among female lice exposed to as of the ''HP88'' strain of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora 45 % mortality was recorded after 42 h exposure. Lice exposure to the ''Mexican'' strain of S. carpocapsae for 42 h resulted in 65 % mortality. The mortality of the louse females was directly related to increased dosage of S. glaseri IJs. Complete lice mortality was achieved with this nematode at 400 IJs/dish. Exposure of the lice to 800 IJs of H. bacteriophora HP88/dish resulted in 27.5 % mortality. The highest number of nematodes was recovered from dead lice infected with S. glaseri (7.7 nematodes/louse). Abnormal development was observed among females of S. glaseri. which were shrunken, whereas males developed normally. The lowest number (0.2 nematodes/louse) was recorded in the lice infected with the ''HP88'' strain of H. bacteriophora.

URL:http://www.phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/38450.pdf
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