Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and Its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: <i>Solenopsis</i>) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina
Microsporidia are natural pathogens of arthropods and have been used as biological control against insect pests. In the United States, efforts to control the invasive Red Imported Fire Ant, <i>Solenopsis invicta</i>, and Black Imported Fire Ant, <i>Solenopsis richteri</i>, ha...
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/901 |
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| author | Marina S. Ascunce Gebreyes Kassu Andrew Bouwma David L. Reed Juan Briano David H. Oi DeWayne Shoemaker |
| author_facet | Marina S. Ascunce Gebreyes Kassu Andrew Bouwma David L. Reed Juan Briano David H. Oi DeWayne Shoemaker |
| author_sort | Marina S. Ascunce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microsporidia are natural pathogens of arthropods and have been used as biological control against insect pests. In the United States, efforts to control the invasive Red Imported Fire Ant, <i>Solenopsis invicta</i>, and Black Imported Fire Ant, <i>Solenopsis richteri</i>, have included the use of the microsporidium, <i>Kneallhazia solenopsae</i>. However, there is limited information about the genetic differences among the microsporidian variants found in <i>S. invicta</i> and in <i>S. richteri</i>. In this study, we assessed the prevalence and genetic diversity of <i>K. solenopsae</i> in native populations of <i>S. richteri</i> in Argentina (South America). Additionally, we examined the social parasitic ant, <i>Solenopsis daguerrei</i>, which is found in some <i>S. richteri</i> nests, for the presence of this microsporidium. The survey of 219 <i>S. richteri</i> nests revealed <i>K. solenopsae</i> infections in all five sites analyzed, with 28 colonies (12.8%) positive for the microsporidium. Among the 180 <i>S. daguerrei</i> individuals collected, seven ants (3.9%) from three sites tested positive for <i>K. solenopsae</i>. Phylogenetic analyses of the microsporidian variants present in <i>S. richteri</i> and <i>S. daguerrei</i> based on partial small subunit ribosomal gene sequences (SSU rRNA) showed that both ant species shared the same variant, which is different from the ones found in <i>S. invicta</i>. Further studies are needed to determine the pathogenicity of genetically different <i>K. solenopsae</i> variants among <i>Solenopsis</i> species. |
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| format | Article |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:40:04Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad191ec0167d41309bb5941815c151ba2023-12-22T14:16:10ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-11-01141290110.3390/insects14120901Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and Its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: <i>Solenopsis</i>) in Buenos Aires Province, ArgentinaMarina S. Ascunce0Gebreyes Kassu1Andrew Bouwma2David L. Reed3Juan Briano4David H. Oi5DeWayne Shoemaker6USDA-ARS, Fire Ant Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE), Gainesville, FL 32608, USAFlorida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USADepartment of Integrative Biology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USAFlorida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USAFundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI) (ex USDA-ARS South American Biological Control Laboratory), Hurlingham, Buenos Aires B1686EFA, ArgentinaUSDA-ARS, Fire Ant Unit, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology (CMAVE), Gainesville, FL 32608, USADepartment of Entomology and Plant Pathology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USAMicrosporidia are natural pathogens of arthropods and have been used as biological control against insect pests. In the United States, efforts to control the invasive Red Imported Fire Ant, <i>Solenopsis invicta</i>, and Black Imported Fire Ant, <i>Solenopsis richteri</i>, have included the use of the microsporidium, <i>Kneallhazia solenopsae</i>. However, there is limited information about the genetic differences among the microsporidian variants found in <i>S. invicta</i> and in <i>S. richteri</i>. In this study, we assessed the prevalence and genetic diversity of <i>K. solenopsae</i> in native populations of <i>S. richteri</i> in Argentina (South America). Additionally, we examined the social parasitic ant, <i>Solenopsis daguerrei</i>, which is found in some <i>S. richteri</i> nests, for the presence of this microsporidium. The survey of 219 <i>S. richteri</i> nests revealed <i>K. solenopsae</i> infections in all five sites analyzed, with 28 colonies (12.8%) positive for the microsporidium. Among the 180 <i>S. daguerrei</i> individuals collected, seven ants (3.9%) from three sites tested positive for <i>K. solenopsae</i>. Phylogenetic analyses of the microsporidian variants present in <i>S. richteri</i> and <i>S. daguerrei</i> based on partial small subunit ribosomal gene sequences (SSU rRNA) showed that both ant species shared the same variant, which is different from the ones found in <i>S. invicta</i>. Further studies are needed to determine the pathogenicity of genetically different <i>K. solenopsae</i> variants among <i>Solenopsis</i> species.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/901microsporidia<i>Kneallhazia solenopsae</i><i>Thelohania solenopsae</i>fire antssocial parasiteSouth America |
| spellingShingle | Marina S. Ascunce Gebreyes Kassu Andrew Bouwma David L. Reed Juan Briano David H. Oi DeWayne Shoemaker Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and Its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: <i>Solenopsis</i>) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina Insects microsporidia <i>Kneallhazia solenopsae</i> <i>Thelohania solenopsae</i> fire ants social parasite South America |
| title | Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and Its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: <i>Solenopsis</i>) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina |
| title_full | Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and Its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: <i>Solenopsis</i>) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and Its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: <i>Solenopsis</i>) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and Its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: <i>Solenopsis</i>) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina |
| title_short | Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of a Microsporidian Parasite in the Black Imported Fire Ant and Its Social Parasitic Ant (Formicidae: Myrmicinae: <i>Solenopsis</i>) in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina |
| title_sort | prevalence and genetic diversity of a microsporidian parasite in the black imported fire ant and its social parasitic ant formicidae myrmicinae i solenopsis i in buenos aires province argentina |
| topic | microsporidia <i>Kneallhazia solenopsae</i> <i>Thelohania solenopsae</i> fire ants social parasite South America |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/12/901 |
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