Abstract
The present study is the first record of a natural neogregarine infection of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Turkey. The infection occurs in the fat body and hemolymph of the larvae. Typical fresh navicular oocysts of the pathogen were 12.1–16.2 μm in length and 5.9–8.5 in width (n = 50). Oocysts stained with Giemsa stain measured 11.7–14.2 μm in length and 5.9–8.5 μm in width. Polar plugs were recognizable using light and electron microscopy. The oocyst wall is quite thick, measuring 460 to 560 nm. Each oocyst contains 8 sporozoites. The described neogregarine has typical characteristics of members of the genus Mattesia (Family Lipotrophidaeorder Neogregarinorida) and shows similarities with Mattesia dispora in morphological and ultrastructural characteristics. The occurrence of the pathogen in different life stages of E. kuehniella was also studied. Total infection was observed as 66.98% in the investigated samples. The pathogen caused different infection levels in the larvae, pupae, and adults of the E. kuehniella, 57.06, 85, and 3.17%, respectively.
Highlights
The present study is the first record of a natural neogregarine infection of Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) in Turkey
Malpighian tubules, gut epithelium, and hemolymph were examined for the presence of oocyts of the neogregarine pathogen under a light microscope at × 400–1000 magnification (Yaman 2004 and Yaman 2007)
The oocysts detected by the light microscopy were measured and photographed using a microscope with a digital camera and Soft Imaging System
Summary
Samples of 63 adults, 20 pupae, and 538 larvae of E. kuehniella were randomly collected during a period of 2 years, 2012 and 2013. Collected samples were transferred to the laboratory and reared till dissection. After macroscopic examination, they were dissected in Ringer’s solution and wet smears were prepared. Yaman et al Egyptian Journal of Biological Pest Control (2019) 29:78 an infection with the oocysts of the neogregarine pathogen was observed, a part of the material was used for the preparation of Giemsa-stained smears. The oocysts detected by the light microscopy were measured and photographed using a microscope with a digital camera and Soft Imaging System. Another specimens were used for preparing samples for scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies using previously reported techniques (Yaman 2012, Yaman and Radek 2005, 2012)
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