A new neogregarine pathogen of Rhizophagus grandis (Coleoptera: Monotomidae)

Yaman M., Radek R., Linde A.

NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY, vol.8, no.2, pp.353-357, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 8 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Journal Name: NORTH-WESTERN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.353-357
  • Karadeniz Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Here we provide the first description of a natural infection of members of the beetle family Monotomidae with neogregarines and specifically the first finding of such a pathogen in the predatory beetle Rhizophagus grandis. The fat body of the beetle is the site of infection, and the typical navicular oocysts are 11.87 +/- 0.67 pm in length and 6.96 +/- 0.43 pm in width (n = 60). Polar plugs are recognisable using light and electron microscopy. The oocyst wall is quite thick, measuring 400 to 500 nm. Oocysts are formed pairwise within a gamontocyst, and each oocyst has eight sporozoites. The described neogregarine pathogen in R. grandis has the typical characteristics of members of the genus Mattesia (family Lipotrophidae) within the order Neogregarinida.