Phytophagous larvae occurring in Central and Southeastern European oak forests as a potential host of Entomophaga maimaiga (Entomophthorales: Entomophthoraceae) - A field study

We evaluated the presence and impact of Entomophaga maimaiga on both target and non-target phytophagous larvae. All six study plots, with low gypsy moth population density, were situated in Central and Southeastern European oak forests and E. maimaiga had previously been reported from these plots. Totally, 45 of 4,045 (1.13%) collected non-target larvae died due to fungal infections. No non-target insect specimen was infected by E.maimaiga, although the presence of the pathogen could not be fully excluded in three cadavers. Out of 1,780L.dispar larvae collected, 15individuals (0.84%) were infected by E.maimaiga.

Natural occurrence of microsporidia infecting Lepidoptera in Bulgaria

We examined 34 lepidopteran species belonging to 12 families to determine presence and prevalence of microsporidian pathogens. The insects were collected from May 2009 to July 2012 from 44 sites in Bulgaria. Nosema species were isolated from Archips xylosteana, Tortrix viridana, Operophtera brumata, Orthosia cerasi, and Orthosia cruda. Endoreticulatus sp. was isolated from Eilema complana. The prevalence of all isolates in their hosts was low and ranged from 1.0% to 5.3%. Phylogenetic analyses of the new isolates based on SSU rDNA are presented.

The types and timing of the degenerative changes seen in the cysts during and after benzimidazole treatment of cystic echinococcosis

In a large-scale Bulgarian study, 122 patients with abdominal and/or lung echinococcosis were randomly selected for treatment with albendazole or mebendazole. The main aims were to evaluate the effect of each drug on the hydatid cysts, to follow the changes in cyst morphology during and after treatment, and to determine how quickly each drug produced the first, detectable, degenerative changes in the cysts. Follow-up was based on periodic ultrasonography, chest radiography and computed tomography. The abdominal cysts were categorised as small (<5 cm in diameter) or large. As albendazole treatment had effects that were almost identical to those of mebendazole treatment, the results for the two drugs were combined. In the lungs and, particularly, in the abdomen, the size of the cysts being treated influenced the character and timing of the degenerative changes seen in them. The initial change seen in each abdominal cyst was detachment of the endocyst, which occurred 1-3 months (small cysts) or 2-5 months (large cysts) after the initiation of treatment (P<0.05). The abdominal cysts then developed a hyper-echoic/hyper-dense appearance, became smaller, and finally disappeared 3.3-9.3 months (small cysts) or 5.6-13.9 months (large cysts) after treatment began (P<0.05). The first degenerative change noted in the lung cysts was cyst rupture, which occurred as early as day 10 of therapy but was generally observed 1 or 2 months after treatment began. After their complete evacuation, the ruptured lung cysts shrank and became deformed, some disappearing within 5-9 months of the initiation of treatment. The degenerative changes recorded, which began significantly earlier in the lung cysts than in abdominal cysts, indicate serious damage to the cysts and the parasiticidal, curative effect of each of the two benzimidazoles employed.

Prothallonema tomici n. sp. (Tylenchida: Sphaerulariidae) parasitising Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) in Bulgaria

Abstract

Prothallonema tomici n. sp. (Tylenchida: Sphaerulariidae) is described as a parasite of the bark beetle Tomicus piniperda (Linnaeus) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytidae). The new species is characterised by the relatively short body (0.3-0.5 mm) and short prolapsed uterus ((0.16-0.44) × (0.065-0.15) mm), relatively anterior position of the vulva (83.8-85.5%), stylet with fine asymmetrical basal knobs, hemizonid and hemizonion, four incisures, subterminal phasmids and tail terminus always curved dorsad. The entomoparasitic and mycetophagous generation were observed in the body cavity of T. piniperda. Comparing the two generations of J4 showed that the mycetophagous generation had a longer and more robust body, shorter pharynx and tail, longer reproductive system and vulva located further posteriorly. It can be concluded that, in the haemocoel, the entomoparasitic generation can develop through all stages whilst the mycetophagous generation develops to the J4 and then dies.