Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026

Mosquito-Associated Virus Isolation from Field-Collected Mosquitoes
Published on: August 31, 2022
Chilodonella uncinata is not pathogenic to Culex pipiens mosquitoes
Kevin J Spring1, Rebecca A Zufall
1Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA. kevinjspring@gmail.com
Abstract:
Chilodonella uncinata was previously reported to be pathogenic to Culex and other mosquitoes based on the observation of high densities of ciliates inside of dead mosquito larvae. Here, we tested whether co-culturing Cx. pipiens with Ch. uncinata resulted in decreased survival of the mosquito larvae. We find no evidence that Ch. uncinata is pathogenic to Cx. pipiens. We suggest that Ch. uncinata may instead feed on already deceased larvae.
Related Concept Videos
Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae
Diversity of Protists II
Diversity of Protists I

