Scanning electron microscopy of eggs of Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstracts

OBJECTIVE: To observe morphological details of the eggs of Haemagogus (Conopostegus) leucocelaenus, seen for the first time via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with morphometric analysis of the main structures. METHODS: Eggs of Hg. leucocelaenus were obtained from females captured in the Biological Reserve of Tinguá, State of Rio de Janeiro. Some of the eggs were kept for hatching and others underwent processing for scanning electron microscopy studies. Three eggs were submitted to morphometric analysis. The material was fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, both in 0.1M, pH 7.2 sodium cacodylate buffer, then dehydrated in ethanol and dried using the critical point method. This was then set up on metallic supports, covered with gold and observed using the Jeol 5310 scanning electron microscope. Measurements were made with the aid of the Semafore analysis software coupled to the electron microscope. RESULTS: The eggs presented elliptical outlines of approximately 574 mm in length and 169 mm in width, with an egg index (l/w ratio) of 3.39 mm. The exochorion was extremely regular and had ornamentation that was usually hexagonal but sometimes pentagonal. Tubercles were observed on the chorionic cells, symmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal axis. Inside the cells, there were smaller, individualized tubercles, some arranged peripherally and others grouped to a greater or lesser extent in the center. The surface of the chorionic reticulum did not present rugosity. The micropylar apparatus was formed by a prominent continuous collar of 8.32 mm in thickness, with a slightly irregular surface. The micropylar disk was very evident, and was continuous with the collar. The micropyle was seen at the center of this disk, measuring 1.6 mm and with a micropylar apparatus of 27.3 mm in diameter. CONCLUSIONS: The ornamentation of the exochorion presents differences in relation to the tubercles of chorionic cells and the external chorionic reticulum between the eggs of Hg. Leucocelaenus, in comparison with the eggs of Hg. janthinomys and Hg. equinus, and also in relation to those of Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Ae bahamensis. In various aspects, the eggs of Hg. leucocelaenus have more resemblance to those of Hg. Equinus than those of Hg. janthinomys, with greater differences presented in relation to the eggs of Hg. spegazzinii and Hg. lucifer.

Diptera; Culicidae; Eggs; Microscopy, electron, scanning; Haemagogus

OBJETIVO: Observar detalhes morfológicos de ovos de Haemagogus leucocelaenus visualizados pela primeira vez por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) e realizar morfometria das principais estruturas. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados ovos de Hg. leucocelaenus provenientes de fêmeas capturadas na Reserva Biológica do Tinguá, RJ, sendo parte destinada à eclosão e outra ao processamento de MEV, dos quais três foram submetidos à análise morfométrica. O material foi fixado em glutaraldeído 2,5% e pós-fixado em tetróxido de ósmio 1%, ambos em tampão cacodilato de sódio 0.1M, pH 7.2, processado e observado ao MEV Jeol 5310. Medições foram realizadas com o auxílio do software de análise Semafore. RESULTADOS: Os ovos apresentaram contorno elíptico com aproximadamente 574 µm de comprimento e 169 µm de largura, sendo o índice do ovo (l/wratio) 3,39 µm. O exocório é extremamente regular, possuindo ornamentação hexagonal e algumas vezes pentagonal. Nas células coriônicas, observaram-se tubérculos simetricamente dispostos com relação ao eixo longitudinal, e, no interior delas, tubérculos menores, individualizados, dispostos na periferia, e poucos agrupados no centro. A superfície do retículo coriônico não apresentou rugosidades. O aparelho micropilar apresenta colar proeminente, contínuo, com disco micropilar bem evidente. CONCLUSÕES: A ornamentação do exocório apresenta diferenças em relação aos tubérculos das células coriônicas e ao retículo coriônico externo entre os ovos de Hg. leucocelaenus comparados aos ovos de Hg. janthinomys e Hg. equinus, bem como com relação aos de Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus e Ae bahamensis.

Dipteros; Culicidae; Ovos; Microscopia eletrônica de varredura; Haemagogus

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Scanning electron microscopy of eggs of Haemagogus leucocelaenus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Jeronimo Alencar^I; Anthony Érico Guimarães^I; Rubens Pinto Mello^I; Catarina Macedo Lopes^I; Nicolas Dégallier^II; Jacenir R Santos-Mallet^I

^IDepartment of Entomology. Fundação Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz). Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

^IIInstituto de Pesquisa para o Desenvolvimento [Developmental Research Institute] Brasília, DF, Brazil

^{Correspondence}

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To observe morphological details of the eggs of Haemagogus (Conopostegus) leucocelaenus, seen for the first time by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), with morphometric analysis of the main structures.

METHODS: Eggs of Hg. leucocelaenus were obtained from females captured in the Biological Reserve of Tinguá, State of Rio de Janeiro. Some of the eggs were kept for hatching and others underwent processing for scanning electron microscopy studies. Three eggs were submitted to morphometric analysis. The material was fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, both in 0.1M, pH 7.2 sodium cacodylate buffer, then dehydrated in ethanol and dried using the critical point method. This was then set up on metallic supports, covered with gold and observed using the Jeol 5310 scanning electron microscope. Measurements were made with the aid of the Semafore analysis software coupled to the electron microscope.

RESULTS: The eggs presented elliptical outlines of approximately 574 mm in length and 169 mm in width, with an egg index (l/w ratio) of 3.39 mm. The exochorion was extremely regular and had ornamentation that was usually hexagonal but sometimes pentagonal. Tubercles were observed on the chorionic cells, symmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal axis. Inside the cells, there were smaller, individualized tubercles, some arranged peripherally and others grouped to a greater or lesser extent in the center. The surface of the chorionic reticulum did not present rugosity. The micropylar apparatus was formed by a prominent and continuous collar of 8.32 mm in thickness, with a slightly irregular surface. The micropylar disk was very evident, and was continuous with the collar. The micropyle was seen at the center of this disk, measuring 1.6 mm and with a micropylar apparatus of 27.3 mm in diameter.

CONCLUSIONS: The ornamentation of the exochorion presents differences in relation to the tubercles of chorionic cells and the external chorionic reticulum between the eggs of Hg. Leucocelaenus, in comparison with the eggs of Hg. janthinomys and Hg. equinus, and also in relation to those of Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Ae bahamensis. In various aspects, the eggs of Hg. leucocelaenus have more resemblance to those of Hg. Equinus than those of Hg. janthinomys, with greater differences presented in relation to the eggs of Hg. spegazzinii and Hg. lucifer.

Keywords: Diptera, ultrastructure. Culicidae, ultrastructure. Eggs. Microscopy, electron, scanning. Haemagogus.

INTRODUCTION

The Haemagogus genus presents large specific diversity and consists of 32 species (Arnell,¹ 1973). Many of them are extremely important from an epidemiological point of view because of their involvement in the transmission of the forest yellow fever virus and other arboviruses, thereby acting in the maintenance of the natural cycle of these zoonoses. The forest yellow fever transmitters at present known in Brazil are exclusively mosquitoes and the vertebrate hosts, which are mainly primates, including man (Degallier et al,⁵ 1992).

Haemagogus (Conopostegus) leucocelaenus is an essentially forest species whose preferred habitat is the crown of trees. It is active during the daytime (Chadee et al,³ 1995; Forattini & Gomes,⁶ 1988). This mosquito is common in Brazil and its epidemiological importance is in relation to its role in the transmission of arboviruses, among which yellow fever (Kumm & Cerqueira,¹² 1961). Haemagogus (Conopostegus) leucocelaenus was recently implicated as a primary vector for forest yellow fever in southeastern Brazil.^* The arboviruses Wyeomyia, Ilhéus, Maguari, Tucunduba and Una have also been isolated from this species (Karabatsos,¹¹ 1985; Hervé et al,⁸ 1986). In the laboratory, it has been shown to be a more efficient vector for the yellow fever virus than Aedes aegypti (Waddell,¹⁵ 1949). Hg. leucocelaenus has recently received special attention due to its increasing medical importance (Forattini & Gomes,⁶ 1988). Its geographical distribution extends from Trinidad to southern Brazil and northern Argentina. In Brazil, it occurs mainly in the states of the southern, southeastern and western-central regions (Consoli & Lourenço-de-Oliveira,⁴ 1988).

The first study on mosquito eggs using scanning electron microscopy was made by Matsuo & Kunou¹³ (1972). Studies have only been made on the eggs of four species of Haemagogus: Hg. spegazzinii Brèthes, Hg. lucifer (Howard, Dyar & Knab) (Mattingly,¹⁴ 1973), Hg. equinus and Hg. janthinomys (Linley & Chadee,¹⁰ 1991). The present study had the objective of observing the eggs of Hg. leucocelaenus using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and performing morphometric analysis of the main structures.

METHODS

Eggs of Hg. leucocelaenus were obtained from females captured in the Biological Reserve of Tinguá, in the municipality of Nova Iguaçu, State of Rio de Janeiro, at the latitude of S 22º28 - 22º39^’ and longitude of W 43º13^’ - 43º34’. These were captured when already naturally engorged, using a manual mouth aspirator and taken to the laboratory on the same day. Only females in perfect condition were utilized. They were individually isolated in flat-bottomed glass tubes measuring 25 mm in diameter and 50 mm in height that, at the bottom, contained a piece of dampened cotton wool covered with filter paper. This had the function of serving as a substrate for egg-laying (Bates & Roca-Garcia,² 1945). Around 10 females were utilized, and 20 eggs were obtained. Three of these were submitted to morphometric analysis.

Immediately after being laid, the eggs were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde and postfixed in 1% osmium tetroxide, both in a 0.1M, pH 7.2 sodium cacodylate buffer. After washing in the same buffer, the eggs were dehydrated in a series of increasing ethanol concentrations and submitted to the critical point drying method, using superdry CO₂ in Balzer’s apparatus. Following this, the material was set up on metallic supports, covered with gold and observed using the Jeol 5310 scanning electron microscope.

The measurements were made directly from the images obtained, with the aid of the Semafore analysis software coupled to the microscope. The following parameters were utilized: total length, total width, thickness of the micropylar collar and size of the micropyle. Maximums, minimums, averages and standard deviations are cited in the Table.

The terminology utilized for the description of the eggs follows Harbach & Knight⁷ (1980).

RESULTS

The eggs had a deep black color and were laid separately, with firm adherence to the substrate. They presented an elliptical outline of approximately 574 mm in length and 169 mm in width at their central region (Figure, part 1). At the extremities, the anterior region measured 50 mm at the level of the micropyle and 61.9 mm in the posterior region. The egg index, or in other words the ratio between length and width, was calculated by using the width of the central region, thus obtaining 3.39 mm.

The external coating of the eggs presented an extremely regular exochorion. The majority of the exochorion cells had ornamentation with a hexagonal appearance, but sometimes this was pentagonal (Figure, part 2).

On the margins of these chorionic cells, tubercles measuring 1.49 to 6.32 mm in diameter were observed, symmetrically arranged in relation to the longitudinal axis. Inside them, there were smaller, individualized tubercles, some arranged peripherally and others grouped to a greater or lesser extent in the center (Figure, part 3).

The tubercle density was 18 to 25 (21.1±2.08; n=10) per cell in the anterior ventral region. The tubercles had a smooth appearance, without any type of nodule on their surface. The surface of the chorionic reticulum did not present rugosity. The micropylar apparatus was observed in the anterior region of the egg. It was formed by a prominent and continuous collar of around 8.32 mm in thickness, with a slightly irregular surface (Figure, part 4).

In its center, a very evident micropylar disk was observed, measuring around 7.29 mm in diameter. It was continuous with the collar, in the form of membranous creases arranged uniformly in a helical manner. A very evident orifice, the micropyle, was viewed at the center of this disk, measuring 1.6 mm. The total external diameter of the micropylar apparatus was 27.3 mm (Figure, part 4).

DISCUSSION

The ornamentation of the exochorion is an excellent parameter for making comparisons between species and reveals significant differences, especially in relation to the presence of tubercles in the chorionic cells. The eggs of Hg. janthinomys and Hg. equinus examined by Linley & Chadee¹⁰ (1991) were differentiated by the shapes of the cells and distribution of these tubercles. In Hg. janthinomys, these authors observed chorionic cells with a hexagonal appearance and sometimes slightly ovaloid. In Hg. Equinus, these cells usually had a hexagonal appearance, but sometimes were pentagonal, which was also observed in the present study, in Hg. leucocelaenus (Figure, part 2). Hg. equinus presents small chorionic tubercles scattered uniformly in the center and periphery of the cell, while in Hg. janthinomys they are arranged at the center of the cell. No similarity was found in the distribution of these tubercles in Hg. leucocelaenus. In Hg. Equinus, many of the tubercles present fused appearance, while others are clearly scattered and differ from Hg. leucocelaenus by presenting small nodules on their surfaces. The external chorionic reticulum observed in Hg. leucocelaenus has a smooth appearance, thus differing from what was observed by Linley & Chadee¹⁰ (1991) in Hg. janthinomys and Hg. equinus. Linley⁹ (1989) observed that the external chorionic reticulum in Aedes aegypti, Ae. albopictus and Ae. bahamensis also presented rugosity, with a fine reticular mesh. The same author reported that, in these species, there was only one central tubercle inside the chorionic cells, thus diverging from observations made regarding Haemagogus.

In Hg. Spegazzinii, Mattingly¹⁴ (1973) did not view the micropyle in their observations under the optical microscope. Differing greatly from the eggs of Hg. spegazzinii and Hg. lucifer, which do not present a circular apical collar, the eggs of Hg. leucocelaenus resemble more those of Hg. equinus than those of Hg. janthinomys. The micropyle is also smaller than in those two species. The micropylar disk, located at the center of the micropylar apparatus, differs from what was observed in eggs of Hg. janthinomys (Linley & Chadee,¹⁰ 1991), since in the latter there was no continuity of the disk with the collar.

Linley & Chadee¹⁰ (1991) reported that, in Hg. janthinomys and Hg. Equinus, the dorsal surface of the egg was found to have adhered to the substrate by means of filamentous tubercles. These authors pointed out that these structures would have the possible function of making the egg more secure, thereby impeding physical removal by predators, as well as allowing them to float in rainwater. Such filaments were not observed in Hg. leucocelaenus.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

To the Laboratório de Biologia Celular Hertha Meyer of the Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho of the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, for allowing the use of the scanning electron microscope.

REFERENCES

Received on 16/10/2002.

Reviewed on 1/4/2003.

Approved on 8/5/2003.

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*

Personal communication from Professor Pedro Vasconcellos, Arbovirus Laboratory of Instituto Evandro Chagas.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  25 Mar 2004
• Date of issue
  Oct 2003

History

• Accepted
  08 May 2003
• Reviewed
  01 Apr 2003
• Received
  16 Oct 2002