The effects of microbes and larval conditioning on Phlebotomus papatasi oviposition site selection
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Lindsey Rae Faw (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Gideon Wasserberg
Abstract: Leishmaniases are a group of neglected, vector-borne diseases vectored by sand fly species. Phlebotomus papatasi is incriminated as the vector of Leishmania major parasites, the causative agent of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), a disfiguring disease that leaves persistent wounds. The lack of a vaccine and the lack of effective population control calls for novel control methods. One method is that of oviposition-site attractants which operate by bringing the vector to the insecticide rather than vice-versa. Previous studies have shown that larval rearing medium conditioned by foraging larvae (conditioned medium) is the most attractive source material to gravid sand flies and it is suspected to be mediated by the microbial composition. Conditioned medium is representative of a suitable place for larval development and gravid females will be attracted to conditioned medium compared to unconditioned medium. We also hypothesize that gravid females will be attracted to medium with bacteria present. With respect to oviposition, there is no evidence for a preference to conditioned medium. With attraction, there is a significant trend for the preference to conditioned medium. Temporal effects are evident for attraction and oviposition and indicate that bacterial communities in the medium change over time.
The effects of microbes and larval conditioning on Phlebotomus papatasi oviposition site selection
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Created on 8/1/2020
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2020
- Keywords
- Leishmaniasis, Neglected tropical diseases, Phlebotomus papatasi, Sand flies
- Subjects
- Phlebotomus papatasi
- Sand flies
- Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous