Unmasking lethal potential: Investigating Leptolegnia chapmanii’s virulence against Aedes aegypti larvae

Abstract

Our commitment lies in advancing biological tools for mosquito control, with a specificfocus onLeptolegnia chapmanii, a straminipilous pathogen impacting disease-transmitting mosquitoes. Understanding its behaviour and pathogenic mechanisms holds paramount importance for the development of bioproducts. To achieve this objective, we conducted a study on the virulence of L. chapmanii against Aedes aegypti larvae. We determined the Lethal Concentrations (LC) of zoospores required to eliminate 50%and 90% of larvae, in addition to assessing Survival Times (ST) for larvae exposed tovarying concentrations of zoospores. Furthermore, we evaluated the viability of zoospores over time at different temperatures.