Factors inhibiting parasitism of mosquito larvae by the mermithid nematode (Romanomermis iyengari) in a polluted habitat
Paily, K.P.; Jayachandran, S.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 86: 469-474
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 2895068 Document Number: 299182
The survival of Romanomermis iyengari in paper factory effluent was studied under laboratory and field conditions in Tamil Nadu, India, as was the effect that the effluent had on its infectivity to the larvae of Culex tritaeniorhynchus. R. iyengari could survive in the effluent for up to 48 h, but parasitism of C. tritaeniorhynchus breeding in the effluent was greatly reduced, with adult emergence continuing uninterupted under field conditions even after supplementary seeding by the nematode. Large amounts of suspended and dissolved solids, and high biological and chemical oxygen demands, appeared to supress infection of mosquito larvae by the nematode. This inhibition could be reversed by transferring both host and pathogen to clean tap water.