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Infection Levels of Coelomomyces indicus Iyengar in Larvae of Anopheles gambiae Giles, as Related to the Copepod Fauna in Breeding Sites at the Kenya Coast

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Abstract

An ecological study was conducted in two pools, one temporary and one semi-permanent at the Kenya coast to determine the relationship between infection levels of Coelomomyces indicus Iyengar in larvae of Anopheles gambiae Giles, and the species and density of copepods found in these sites. Microcyclops minutus Claus, an intermediate host of Coelomomyces indicus, was the predominant species in both pools. Other species were, Mesocyclops leuckarti Claus, Mesocyclops leuckarti pilosa Kiefer, and Mesocyclops (Thermocyclops) decipiens Kiefer. Infections occurred during the periods when M. minutus densities were above 12 cyclops per 250 ml of water. A positive relationship was shown between M. minutus density and infection levels in An. gambiae with C. indicus. The r-value for this relationship in the temporary pool was 0.726, and in the semi-permanent pool, 0.639.

Résumé

On a dirigé un étude écologique dans deux flaques, l’une temporaire et l’autre quasi-permanent, au cote de Kenya pour que determine le rapport entre les niveaux d’infection par Coelomomyces indicus Iyengar dans les larves de Anopheles gambiae Giles, et les espèces de copepods et leur densité a ces sites. Microcyclops minutus Claus, un hote intermedaire de C. indicus, était l’espèce predominant dans les deux flaques. D’autres espèces étaient Mesocyclops leuckarti Claus, Mesocyclops leuckarti pilosa Kiefer, et Mesocyclops (Thermocyclops) decipiens Kiefer. Les infections ont existé pendant le temps que les densités de M. minutus était plus que 12 cyclops/250 ml d’eau. On a demonstré un rapport positiv entre le densité de M. minutus et les niveaux d’infection avec C. indicus dans les larves de A. gambiae. Le valeur r pour ce rapport dans le flaque temporaire a été 0.726 et dans le flaque quasi-permanent, le valeur a été 0.639.

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Sabwa, D.M., Otieno, W.A. & Odindo, M.O. Infection Levels of Coelomomyces indicus Iyengar in Larvae of Anopheles gambiae Giles, as Related to the Copepod Fauna in Breeding Sites at the Kenya Coast. Int J Trop Insect Sci 8, 29–32 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742758400006901

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