REPRODUCTIVE STRATEGIES AND ADAPTATIONS FOR SURVIVAL AMONG OBLIGATORYMICROSPORIDIAN AND FUNGAL PARASITES OF MOSQUITOS - A COMPARATIVE-ANALYSIS OF AMBLYOSPORA AND COELOMOMYCES

Amblyospora (Microsporida: Amblyosporidae) and Coelomomyces (Chytridio mycetes: Blastocladiales) have independently evolved a diverse array o f unique and highly specialized mechanisms that have allowed them to m ore fully exploit their mosquito hosts and the aquatic environment tha t their hosts inhabit. Amblyospora and Coelomomyces both have complex life cycles that include obligatory development in an intermediate mic rocrustacean host and 2 mosquito generations for completion. Amblyospo ra is polymorphic with 3 separate and distinct developmental sequences , asexual and sexual reproduction, and aspects of both vertical (trans ovarial) and horizontal transmission. Infective stages of Coelomomyces are motile, a temporal gating mechanism coordinates gamete release, a nd, even though there is no transovarial transmission, infection of pr imary host ovaries is important in dissemination of the fungus to new habitats. The intent of this review is to examine how these and other strategies and adaptations facilitate parasite reproduction within the host(s) and enhance transmission and survival between hosts.