About Lesson
Protozoa:
- Enters the insects by way of the mouth and digestive tract.
- Unlike other types of entomopathogens, usually produce chronic infections.
- The usual signs and symptoms are irregular growth, sluggishness, loss of appetite, malformed pupae or adults with reduced vigor, fecundity, and longevity.
- Silkworm larvae: black pepper-like spots on the integument, micro sporadic disease, known as Pebrine.
- Transparent cuticles: mosquito and other aquatic insects.
- Whitish masses of microsporidian spores may be visible scattered throughout the hemocoel
- In most cases, dissection and examination are necessary to observe the reproductive form (cyst or spores) which is 2-20µm.
- Protozoa, the microsporidia are relatively host-specific.
- They are obligate parasites and cannot be grown on artificial media.
