Host age, sex, and pathogen exposure level as factors in the susceptibility of Musca domestica to Entomophthora muscae
1985
Mullens, Bradley A.
Adult Musca domestica were exposed to conidial showers from cadavers that were killed by Entomophthora muscae. Of the 4 host ages (14 days, 7 days, 3 days and <1 day), older flies were more likely to die without postmortem signs of infection, while younger flies were more likely to die with signs and produce primary conidia. The youngest fly group also succumbed to infection significantly sooner than older flies. Total mortality did not differ for the 2 sexes, but females died significantly more often with signs in one trial. Males died significantly earlier than did females, but differences were not significant when the sexes were paired by weight. Increased levels of pathogen exposure significantly increased both total mortality and the number of flies dying with signs; it also decreased incubation period. The potential significance of these findings in the epidemiology of the disease is discussed.
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