[Changes of elements in Culex quinque fasciatus larvae after infected by Lagenidium giganteum (Oomycetes: Lagenidiales)].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the quantitative change of 18 elements in Culex quinque fasciatus Larvae infected by Lagenidium giganteum (Oomycetes: lagenidiales), and to explore possible mechanism of mosquito-killing by the fungus. METHODS: Elements in the mosquito larvae at different developmental stages from infected and non-infected (control) groups were detected with automatic bioassay machine. RESULTS: At the early stage of infection, content of Ca and Cu in the infected group was markedly lower while the content of Co and Cd were higher than the control. In 24 hrs after infection, the content of Ca, Mg, Na, P, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn and Cr was significantly lower while that of K, Mo, Co, Ni, Al, Cd and Pb were higher than those in non-infected larvae. No marked difference was found for the content of Sr and B between the two groups. In 48 hrs after infection, considerable difference was found in 17 elements between infected and noninfected larvae, with only one exception of Sr. CONCLUSION: Many elements which play an important role in maintaining the vitality of the mosquito larvae decreased and some of the heavy metal elements accumulated after the infection of Lagenidium giganteum. This might be a part of the killing mechanism to Culex quinque fasciatus larvae.