[Evaluation of cellular response in engorged females of Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) inoculated with Metarhizium anisopliae, Beauveria bassiana, Penicillium corylophilum or Fusarium oxysporum].

The effect of Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Penicillium corylophilum or Fusarium oxysporum on the dynamic of hemocytes presented in the haemolymph of engorged females of Boophilus microplus was studied. The inoculation was carried out with conidia suspension of different fungi in the concentration of 10(8) conidia/ml. A negative control group was inoculated with 0.1% Tween 80 water solution and a testimony group was comprised of non inoculated ticks. The haemolymph samples were collected in 24, 48 and 72 hours post-challenge. In all the studied periods, prohemocytes, plasmatocytes, granulocytes, spherulocytes and oenocytoids were observed in the specimens inoculated with fungus and also in the controls groups (negative and testimony). Prohemocytes, plasmatocytes and spherulocytes were the most cells in the haemolymph. The absence of hemocytes 72h post-challenging was observed prior to the death of the specimens inoculated with B. bassiana suggesting a failure in the cellular response. Hyphae and conidia growth was observed in the samples treated with entomopathogenic fungi (B. bassiana or M. anisopliae). The groups treated with non entomopathogenic fungi (P. corylophilum or F. oxysporum) did not shown significant differences in relation to the negative control and testimony groups.