Abstract of Dissertation Presented to the Graduate Council 

 of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the 

 Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy 



PATHOBIOLOGY OF BURENELLA DIMORPHA JOUVENAZ 

 AND HAZARD (MICROSPORA: MICROSPORIDA) 



By 

 Donald P. Jouvenaz 

 December, 1982 



Chairman: Donald W. Hall 



Major Department: Entomology and Nematology 



Burenella dimorpha Jouvenaz and Hazard is a host-specific, 

 dimorphic microsporidium that parasitizes the tropical fire 

 ant, Solenopsis geminata (F. ) . The red and black imported fire 

 ants, Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis richteri Forel, 

 can be infected perorally by B. dimorpha , but the parasite 

 survives only a few generations in colonies of these factitious 

 hosts. Nine species of ants other than fire ants (representing 

 eight genera) were refractory to infection. 



Infected pupae develop pathognomonic signs (eye teratology 

 and blister-like clearings in the occiput and petiole) that are 

 due to destruction of the cuticle. In an advanced stage of 

 disease, the pupa ruptures and is cannibalized by worker ants. 

 The spores and other particulate matter are not ingested, but 

 are diverted to the infrabuccal cavity, formed into a pellet, 



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