Hemocyte quantitative changes in Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae infected by AgMNPV

• Autor(a) principal: Andrade,Fábio Goulart de
• Data de Publicação: 2010
• Outros Autores: Negreiro,Maria Cláudia Cordeiro de, Levy,Sheila Michele, Fonseca,Inês Cristina de Batista, Moscardi,Flávio, Falleiros,Ângela Maria Ferreira
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Brazilian Archives of Biology and Technology
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1516-89132010000200005
• topic: Velvetbean caterpillar; viral infection; cellular defense; DHC; THC

The initial effects of the infection by AgMNPV in the total and differential counts of the hemocytes in Anticarsia gemmatalis (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae were studied. The total number of the hemocytes did not decrease in infected larvae, as it occurred in non infected larvae. In infected larvae, the hemocyte types showed the following frequencies: plasmatocytes - 47.8%, esferulocytes - 25.9%, granulocytes - 15.8%, oenocytoids - 7.2%, prohemocytes - 2.8%, vermicytes - 0,5%. Only the percentage of the granulocytes was different among infected and non infected larvae, indicating that these cells responded quickly to the initial viral infection. These results showed the effective role of the hemocytes in the response of the A. gemmatalis to the infection by AgMNPV. The comprehension of the immunological mechanisms of this insect is an important tool to understand its biological control.