Pathogenic effect of 3 parasitic nematodes in Aedes aegypti larvae under laboratory conditions in Cuba

The pathogenic effect of three parasitic nematodes, Romanomermis culicivorax Ross y Smith, 1976, Romanomermis iyengari Welch, 1964, and Strelkovimermis spiculatus Poinar and Camino, 1986, was evaluated at different application doses in larvae of Aedes aegypti. For each experimental unit, one hundred second instar larvae of this mosquitoe were infested with preparasites of the three nematode species in the following proportions: 3:1, 5:1, 10:1, 15:1 and 20:1. Both infestation mean and parasitism rate increased as the doses augmented. Romanomermis culicivorax proved to be more effective at low doses when compared to other species; however, with the 10:1 proportion, all the nematodes caused 100% of mortality. S. spiculatus showed the highest infestation rate. For this reason, a proportion of 10:1 could be recommended to evaluate these nematodes under natural conditions in useless artificial containers as a biological alternative for Aedes aegypti control.