Natural Infections Caused by the Fungus Beauveria bassiana as a Pathogen of Musca domesticain the Neotropic

• DOI: 10.1007/s10526-005-1888-3
• Publication Date: 2005-10-28T18:30:57Z
• Authors: A. Siri; A. C. Scorsetti; V. E. Dikgolz; C. C. López Lastra
• Keywords: Bassiana; Animal ecology; Hyphomycetes; Entomopathogenic fungus; Mycology; Fungal pathogen; Entomology

A survey for entomopathogenic fungi of Musca domestica adults was conducted in poultry houses in La Plata, Buenos Aires province, Argentina, during the years 2002 and 2003. Adult house flies were found infected with the fungus Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) from field collections, with a natural infected prevalence between 0.4–1.45%. This is the first record of natural infections of house flies caused by B. bassiana for the neotropics. Pathogenicity assays under laboratory conditions showed 94% adult mortality at 14 days post challenge.