title: Vertical transmission of TnSNPV, TnCPV, AcMNPV, and possibly recombinant NPV in Trichoplusia ni.
abstract: Four viruses were tested for vertical transmission in Trichoplusia ni: T. ni nucleopolyhedrovirus (TnSNPV), T. ni cypovirus (TnCPV), Autographa californica nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), and AcMNPV engineered to express a scorpion toxin (AcMNPV.AaIT). Fifth instars were exposed to each virus, the survivors were reared and mated, and second-generation (F(1)) insects were examined for infection. TnSNPV was transmitted to offspring at a prevalence rate of 15.4%, TnCPV at 10.2%, and AcMNPV at 10.1%. Only one of 2484 F(1) insects was infected with AcMNPV.AaIT; this experiment was repeated, and none of 4774 insects was infected. Thus, vertical transmission is unlikely to contribute to AcMNPV.AaIT contacting non-target organisms after its field release. There was evidence that TnCPV and possibly TnSNPV were activated to overt infections by ingestion of a different virus. TnCPV, but not the NPVs, routinely infected 0.3-1.7% of non-treated insects, probably indicating that it is vertically transmitted at enzootic levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, Louisiana Agricultural Experiment Station, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, 402 Life Sciences Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA. jfuxa@lsu.edu
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fuxa
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ameen
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Hammock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000821:virology*; D017924:Nucleopolyhedroviruses / Q000235:genetics; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012088:Reoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000235:genetics; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000635:transmission*
chemical_list: D012604:Scorpion Venoms