scholarly journals Concomitancy of Entomophilous and Soil Transmitted Nematodes in Selected Insects

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
C. U. Ozeum ◽  
S. O. Nzeako ◽  
M. C. Abajue ◽  
E. M. Maduike

Aim: To determine the occurrence of entomophilous and soil transmitted nematodes of three insect species; Zonocerus variegatus, Gryllotalpa orientalis and Mantis religiosa in Obio Akpor, Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: The insect samples were collected with entomological sweep net as described by Colwell [1] and pitfall traps as described by Davies [2]. Insect samples were dissected using Stubbins’ method [3] while nematodes in the insects were isolated and identified according to Cheesborough, (2005). Results: Two hundred and forty-eight (248) insect specimens comprising; Z. variegatus 193 (77.8%), G. orientalis 42(16.9%) and Mantis religiosa 13(5.2%) were collected from designated ecological settings based on availability and trapping efficiency. Out of the 248 insects sampled; 145 (58.5%) were infected with three genera of nematodes comprising; Ascaris lumbricoides; 17 (7.5%), Mermis Spp., 148 (65.5%) and Trilabiatus lignicolus 61(27.0%). Mermis Spp., an entomophilous nematode occurred in Z. variegatus and Mantis religiosa due to host specific factors. Nematode occurrence in the host did not indicate sex relationship (P>0.05) however, hosts age influenced parasite occurrence as older insects harbored more parasites (P<0.05). Trilabiatus lignicolus; a free-living soil nematode and A. lumbricoides; a soil transmitted helminthes found in the guts of Z. variegatus and G orientalis was attributed to the feeding habits of the insects. Conclusion: The study indicated that Z. variegatus and G. orientalis as veritable vectors of soil transmitted nematodes while Z. variegatus and Mantis religiose are suitable host of the entomophilous nematode Mermis Spp.

2003 ◽  
Vol 66 (9) ◽  
pp. 1543-1549 ◽  
Author(s):  
GARY L. ANDERSON ◽  
KRISHAUN N. CALDWELL ◽  
LARRY R. BEUCHAT ◽  
PHILLIP L. WILLIAMS

Free-living nematodes may harbor, protect, and disperse bacteria, including those ingested and passed in viable form in feces. These nematodes are potential vectors for human pathogens and may play a role in foodborne diseases associated with fruits and vegetables eaten raw. In this study, we evaluated the associations between a free-living soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Escherichia coli, an avirulent strain of Salmonella Typhimurium, Listeria welshimeri, and Bacillus cereus. On an agar medium, young adult worms quickly moved toward colonies of all four bacteria; over 90% of 3-day-old adult worms entered colonies within 16 min after inoculation. After 48 h, worms moved in and out of colonies of L. welshimeri and B. cereus but remained associated with E. coli and Salmonella Typhimurium colonies for at least 96 h. Young adult worms fed on cells of the four bacteria suspended in K medium. Worms survived and reproduced with the use of nutrients derived from all test bacteria, as determined for eggs laid by second-generation worms after culturing for 96 h. Development was slightly slower for worms fed gram-positive bacteria than for worms fed gram-negative bacteria. Worms that fed for 24 h on bacterial lawns formed on tryptic soy agar dispersed bacteria over a 3-h period when they were transferred to a bacteria-free agar surface. The results of this study suggest that C. elegans and perhaps other free-living nematodes are potential vectors for both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including foodborne pathogens in soil.


2008 ◽  
Vol 422 (1) ◽  
pp. 321-323
Author(s):  
T. B. Kalinnikova ◽  
A. Kh. Timoshenko ◽  
D. Yu. Galaktionova ◽  
T. M. Gainutdinov ◽  
M. Kh. Gainutdinov

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Peeters ◽  
Imre Foldi ◽  
Danièle Matile-Ferrero ◽  
Brian L. Fisher

Mutualisms between ants and sap-sucking insects generally involve clear benefits for both partners: the ants provide protection in exchange for honeydew. However, a single ant genus associates with armoured scale insects (Diaspididae) that do not excrete honeydew. We studied three colonies ofMelissotarsus emeryiants from two localities in Mozambique. Vast numbers of the diaspididMorganella conspicuaoccupied galleries dug by the ants under the bark of living trees. Unlike free-livingM. conspicuaand other diaspidids,M. conspicualiving with ants are known to lack shields, likely because they gain protection against enemies and desiccation. Nevertheless, we documented the occurrence of rare individuals with shields inside ant galleries, indicating that their glands continue to secrete wax and proteins as building material. This is likely to constitute a significant portion of the ants’ diet, in addition to diaspidid exuviae and excretions from the Malpighian tubules. Indeed,Melissotarsusworkers cannot walk outside the galleries due to modified middle legs, forcing them to obtain all nourishment within the tree.Melissotarsusfounding queens, however, must locate a suitable host tree while flying, and acquire diaspidid crawlers. This mutualism involves ants that are highly specialised to chew through living wood, and diaspidids that can also live freely outside the bark. It is extremely widespread in Africa and Madagascar, recorded from 20 tree families, and harmful effects on plant hosts require rapid study.


Zoosymposia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
LIANA JOHANN ◽  
GUILHERME LIBERATO DA SILVA

The family Tydeidae consists of small, free-living, soft-bodied mites with a diversity of feeding habits, including phytophages, pollen feeders and even predators, but the majority are scavengers or fungivores. Approximately 330 species in 30 genera have been described from throughout the world, but only a few species (<1% of all species) have been studied for their life history. This review provides a survey of their life history with a focus on their lifespan.


2021 ◽  
pp. 185-215
Author(s):  
Nabil Majdi ◽  
Tom Moens ◽  
Walter Traunspurger

Abstract This chapter provides overview of the feeding habits and food sources of aquatic nematodes. The environmental constraints on feeding, food recognition, and feeding selectivity are also addressed, together with the complex, indirect trophic interactions between nematodes and their microbial prey. To raise awareness of the inherent methodological and/or interpretational problems in studies of nematode feeding ecology, the chapter ends with a brief look at the methods that have been adapted to quantify feeding rates in nematodes.


Author(s):  
J. Llewellyn

Gastrocotyle trachuri and Pseudaxine trachuri infect young Trachurus trachurus at Plymouth as soon as the 3- or 4-month-old adolescent fishes descend to the sea bottom in October. The parasites normally mature in 3 or 4 months, but, exceptionally, in about 1 month, and the life-span is normally no longer than 1 year. Trachurus specimens at the beginning of their second year pick up a largely new infection of parasites.G. trachuri and P. trachuri are much less frequent on 2- and 3-year-old specimens of Trachurus and probably occur only very rarely on still older fishes, the limiting factor being not an age-immunity but a post-spawning migration of the host from the concentration of free-living infective stages of the parasites in coastal waters.The parasites have adapted themselves to a seasonal change in the feeding habits of Trachurus by ceasing to produce larvae in anticipation of the summer disappearance of scad from the sea bottom in pursuit of pelagic food-organisms.


Author(s):  
Leslie Newman ◽  
Lester Cannon

Marine Flatworms provides a fascinating introduction to the intriguing world of polyclad flatworms, a group of large, free-living marine Platyhelminthes, which are found throughout the world but are most colourful in tropical waters. Although not related to molluscs, they are often mistaken for sea slugs because of their brilliant colour patterns. Written in an accessible style by two leading experts in the field, this book explores flatworms’ unusual structure, feeding habits, their curious reproductive behaviour (including ‘penis fencing’), their mimicry and toxicology. With a foreword by Professor Reinhardt Kristensen of the Copenhagen Zoological Museum, Marine Flatworms is the first comprehensive guide to polyclad families and genera. It contains more than 300 colour photographs from every part of the world.


2011 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 124-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Čermák ◽  
V. Gaar ◽  
L. Háněl ◽  
K. Široká

AbstractComposition and vertical distribution of soil nematode communities within soil profile were investigated in eight hop gardens in Czech Republic. In total, the presence of 78 nematode genera was confirmed. Genus Drilocephalobus (Coomans & Coomans, 1990) is new for fauna of the Czech Republic. The highest abundance of soil nematodes was found at a depth of 0–10 cm and declined with increasing depth of soil profile. The most dominant genus was Bitylenchus, followed by genera Acrobeloides, Ditylenchus, Chiloplacus and Cervidelus. Ten genera of plant parasitic nematodes were recorded: Bitylenchus (with prevalence of B. dubius), Helicotylenchus, Heterodera (with absolute prevalence of H. humuli), Geocenamus, Longidorella, Longidorus (only L. elongatus), Merlinius (with prevalence of M. brevidens), Paratylenchus and Pratylenchus. Low population densities of predators and omnivores, low values of the community indices (MI, ΣMI, SI, and CI), and high values of NCR, EI, and PPI/MI ratio indicated disturbed nematode communities in hop gardens and bacteria-dominated decomposition pathways in the soil food web.


Nematology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 553-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert McSorley

AbstractFree-living nematodes in soil ecosystems are vital in the decomposition of organic matter and recycling of nutrients. The effects of various types of disturbances on nematode assemblages were examined in several experiments on a single soil: a short-term detrimental disturbance from solarisation, a short-term beneficial disturbance from amendment addition, and a long-term detrimental disturbance from bare ground without plant cover. Comparison of solarised and non-solarised field plots revealed lower numbers of fungivores in solarised plots. As a result, indices involving ratios of fungivores to bacterivores and fungivores to total free-living nematodes were decreased as well. Addition of an amendment increased numbers of bacterivores. This change was also reflected in calculated indices that expressed trophic groups as percentages of the total free-living nematodes. A severely disturbed site with bare ground that was without plant cover for more than 5 years was compared with an adjacent site maintained in grass. No plant-parasitic nematodes were recovered from the bare ground site, which contained lower numbers of nematodes in all trophic groups than the grass site. However, the structure of the free-living nematode assemblages in both sites was similar, as indicated by the proportions of various trophic groups and by ratios of fungivores and bacterivores. The free-living nematode assemblage in a site with a perceived severe long-term disturbance maintained a trophic structure similar to a site with perennial plant cover.


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