Evaluation of Entomopathogenic Fungi Isolated from Adult Dog Fleas, Ctenocephalides canis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae).

The objective of this study was to evaluate the pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Ma) and Beauveria bassiana (Bb) isolates, obtained from adult Ctenocephalides canis, the dog flea, under laboratory conditions. Nine, monosporic cultures were isolated. Each were pathogenic when exposed by immersion at a concentration of 1x108 conidia/ml, causing between 10-100% mycosis at ten days post-inoculation. Four isolates identified as Bb9, Bb6, Ma9 and Ma10, were the most pathogenic as mycosis reached 100%, which places them as potential candidates to be used as biological control agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]