Abbasi Ebrahim
Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2025 Jun 9. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2025.0057.
Ticks are significant vectors of various pathogens affecting humans and livestock, necessitating effective control strategies. The widespread use of chemical acaricides has led to resistance development and environmental concerns, highlighting the need for sustainable alternatives. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF), particularly and , have emerged as promising biocontrol agents due to their pathogenicity against arthropods. This study evaluates the efficacy of these fungi in controlling tick populations under laboratory and field conditions. Fungal isolates of and were cultured and applied to adult and nymphal ticks using direct immersion and topical application methods. Tick mortality was monitored over 14 days, and lethal time 50% (LT) and lethal concentration 50% (LC) values were determined using probit analysis. Environmental stability assays assessed conidial viability under different temperature and ultraviolet (UV) exposure conditions. A field trial was conducted to evaluate fungal efficacy in reducing tick populations in a natural setting. Both and induced significant mortality in ticks, with exhibiting slightly higher virulence. LT values were 5.8 ± 0.4 days for and 6.9 ± 0.5 days for . Conidial viability declined under high temperatures and prolonged UV exposure, but fungal application in shaded areas improved efficacy. The field trial showed a 67.3% reduction in tick populations after fungal treatment ( < 0.001). These findings demonstrate the potential of EPF as effective biocontrol agents for tick management. While environmental factors influence fungal persistence, protective formulations and targeted application strategies could enhance field performance. Integrating EPF with other control measures may provide a sustainable approach to tick population suppression.
蜱虫是多种影响人类和牲畜的病原体的重要传播媒介，因此需要有效的控制策略。化学杀螨剂的广泛使用导致了抗药性的产生和环境问题，凸显了对可持续替代方法的需求。昆虫病原真菌（EPF），特别是[具体真菌名称1]和[具体真菌名称2]，由于其对节肢动物的致病性，已成为有前景的生物防治剂。本研究评估了这些真菌在实验室和田间条件下控制蜱虫种群的效果。培养了[具体真菌名称1]和[具体真菌名称2]的真菌分离株，并使用直接浸泡和局部应用方法将其应用于成年蜱虫和若蜱。在14天内监测蜱虫死亡率，并使用概率分析确定致死时间50%（LT）和致死浓度50%（LC）值。环境稳定性试验评估了在不同温度和紫外线（UV）暴露条件下分生孢子的活力。进行了一项田间试验，以评估真菌在自然环境中减少蜱虫种群的效果。[具体真菌名称1]和[具体真菌名称2]均导致蜱虫显著死亡，[具体真菌名称1]的毒力略高。[具体真菌名称1]的LT值为5.8±0.4天，[具体真菌名称2]的LT值为6.9±0.5天。在高温和长时间紫外线暴露下，分生孢子活力下降，但在阴凉处施用真菌可提高效果。田间试验表明，真菌处理后蜱虫种群减少了67.3%（P<0.001）。这些发现证明了昆虫病原真菌作为蜱虫管理有效生物防治剂的潜力。虽然环境因素会影响真菌的持久性，但保护性制剂和有针对性的应用策略可以提高田间性能。将昆虫病原真菌与其他控制措施相结合可能提供一种可持续的蜱虫种群抑制方法。
