Cryopreservation of embryos of Culicoides sonorensis (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

The successful long-term storage of insects that are used for research purposes can eliminate the need for ongoing colony maintenance on a large scale. In addition, rare and valuable genotypes of insects can be preserved. This study was conducted to determine whether cryopreservation is a suitable means of storing embryos of Culicoides sonorensis Wirth & Jones, an important vector of animal pathogens. We determined that eggs of C. sonorensis can withstand vigorous treatments of dechorionation, permeabilization, and loading with the cryoprotectant, elthylene glycol. Although their viability was reduced, an average of 80.3% of the embryos developed into larvae. Dehydration in vitrification solution caused a much greater reduction in egg viability (42.7% survival), and freezing in liquid propane further reduced the number of eggs that developed into larvae (40.1%), pupae (22.9%) and adults (18.8%). This work demonstrated that this procedure may prove useful for the cryopreservation of standard laboratory colonies and genetic lines of C. sonorensis.

Ultrastructure of the eggs of Culicoides molestus (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae).

The eggs of Culicoides molestus (Skuse) are described and illustrated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Eggs are elongate with a slight dorsoventral curvature. No outer chorionic tubercles are present. Aeropyles are present in large numbers at the anterior end and in lower numbers at the posterior end and lateral regions. The chorion has 5 layers. An outer, rough, proteinaceous layer covers a smoother inner surface, which in turn encloses a layer of columns and meshwork that appears capable of containing air. These columns are underlain by an additional 2 layers. The aeropylar region, in combination with the chorionic meshwork, appears to provide a plastron that may aid in the survival and development of inundated eggs.

Primer caso de Microfilariasis de ocurrencia fatal en Santa Cruz-Bolivia / The first of case microfilariasis probably fatal in Santa Cruz-Bolivia

Se presenta el primer caso de Microfilariasis patogena probable Mansonella Ozzardi, diagnosticado por estudio Histopalogico, en un nino de 12 anos de edad, procedente de la ciudad de Santa Cruz, con un cuadro clinico atipico y desenlace fatal