Estudios epizootiológicos de Strelkovimermis spiculatus Poinar y Camino, 1986 (Nematoda, Mermithidae) en una población natural de Aedes albifasciatus Macquart (Diptera, Culicidae) en la Argentina

Abstract

Epizoological studies of Strelkovirnerrnis spiculatus Poinary Camino, 1986 (Nematoda, Mermithidae) in a natural population of Aedes albifasciatus Macquart (Diptera, Culicidae) in Argentina
A nineteen month study was conducted under natural conditions on the mosquito parasite Strelkovimermis spiculatus in a population of its host Aedes albifasciatus in La Plata area, Argentina. The breeding site was sampled weekly frorn April, 1997 to October, 1998. lrnmature stages of Ae. albifasciatus were collected with a standard 300 rnl dipper. Each sarnple unit consisted of 100 dippers. Preparasitic stages of S. spiculatus, prevalence, intensity and sex ratio were determined. Prevalence ranged from 0% to 100%. Most infected larvae died dueto the parasite activity. The male-female ratio increased as the prevalence rate increased. Biological aspects of this nematod species under field conditions are also discussed.