Ocurrence of Entomopathogenic Fungus from Flea Ctenocephalides canis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae)

Jonathan E. Ortega-Palomares¹, Hector G. Nuñez-Palenius², Ana M. Cruz-Avalos^3,4, Aarón A. Hernández-Rangel¹, Roberto Lezama-Gutiérrez⁵, César A. Angel-Sahagún^2*

¹Programa Educativo de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, División Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato, México.
²Departamento de Agronomía, División Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato, México.
³Instituto Tecnológico Superior de Irapuato, Abasolo, México.
⁴Posgrado en Biosciencias, División Ciencias de la Vida, Universidad de Guanajuato, Campus Irapuato-Salamanca, Irapuato, México.
⁵Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Colima, Colima, México.

DOI: 10.4236/ojvm.2014.412034                

Abstract

The objective of this study was to isolate entomopathogenic fungus from fleas (Ctenocephalides canis Curtis) collected from Cannis familiaris specimens. From 60 collected fleas, two dead insects presented white mycelia growth on the body surface, changing to a creamy color as time passed; the insects presented a mummified aspect, typical characteristic caused by entomopathogenic fungus. This fungus was identified as Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo-Crivelli) Vuillemin by their mycelia characteristics, macro- and micro-morphology. Up to our knowledge, this is the first report of entomopathogenic fungus isolated from adult C. canis fleas.

Keywords

Ectoparasite, Biological Control, Dog, Beauveria bassiana

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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