Impact of UV-radiation in entomopathogens in aquatic environments remains little investigated. The present study reports on the effect of UV-A on the larvicidal activity of Leptolegnia chapmanii zoospores in Aedes aegypti; on the production of zoospores in larvae killed by the pathogen and then exposed to UV-A; and on the activity of these zoospores against healthy larvae. Whereas the virulence of free zoospores in A. aegypti larvae was affected by a UV-A exposure time longer than 10min, production of zoospores in larvae and their virulence were not hampered at a maximal 8h exposure of dead larvae to UV-A. Findings suggest that dead larvae and zoosporangia provide a certain protection to zoospores against UV-A and emphasize the susceptibility of free encysted zoospores to such radiation.
Keywords: Entomopathogens; Mosquitoes; Oomycetes; UV-A radiation; Water molds.
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