Susceptibility of Atta sexdens worker ants treated with the immunosuppressant Sandimmun Neoral to Metarhizium anisopliae

Authors

  • Aline Silvestre Pereira Dornelas Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, Rua Badejós, Lote 7, Chácaras 69/72, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 66, CEP 77402-970 Gurupi, TO.
  • Renato de Almeida Sarmento Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, Rua Badejós, Lote 7, Chácaras 69/72, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 66, CEP 77402-970 Gurupi, TO.
  • Marçal Pedro-Neto Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, Rua Badejós, Lote 7, Chácaras 69/72, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 66, CEP 77402-970 Gurupi, TO.
  • Daniella Gonçalves da Silva Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, Rua Badejós, Lote 7, Chácaras 69/72, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 66, CEP 77402-970 Gurupi, TO.
  • Gil Rodrigues dos Santos Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, Rua Badejós, Lote 7, Chácaras 69/72, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 66, CEP 77402-970 Gurupi, TO.
  • Mariela Otoni do Nascimento Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, Rua Badejós, Lote 7, Chácaras 69/72, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 66, CEP 77402-970 Gurupi, TO.
  • Cléia Almeida Oliveira Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, Rua Badejós, Lote 7, Chácaras 69/72, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 66, CEP 77402-970 Gurupi, TO.
  • Danival José de Souza Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Campus Universitário de Gurupi, Rua Badejós, Lote 7, Chácaras 69/72, Zona Rural, Caixa Postal 66, CEP 77402-970 Gurupi, TO.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2017.v52.24256

Keywords:

biological control, Formicidae, immunity, immunosuppression

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate if the immunosuppressant Sandimmun Neoral enhances the activity of Metarhizium anisopliae against the leaf-cutting ant Atta sexdens. The vulnerability to the pathogen was measured by comparing the mortality rate of worker ants subjected to the following treatments: immunosuppressant+control, immunosuppressant+M. anisopliae, excipient+control, excipient+M. anisopliae, control+M. anisopliae, and control. Worker ants treated with immunosuppressant+M. anisopliae showed the highest mortality rate in comparison with those subjected to all other treatments. The use of the immunosuppressant together with entomopathogenic fungus controlled leaf-cutting ants in laboratory conditions.

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Published

2017-03-24

How to Cite

Pereira Dornelas, A. S., Sarmento, R. de A., Pedro-Neto, M., da Silva, D. G., dos Santos, G. R., Nascimento, M. O. do, … Souza, D. J. de. (2017). Susceptibility of <i>Atta sexdens</i> worker ants treated with the immunosuppressant Sandimmun Neoral to <i>Metarhizium anisopliae</i>. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 52(2), 133–136. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2017.v52.24256

Issue

v.52, n.2, fev. 2017

Section

SCIENTIFIC NOTES