Fecal Transmission of Nucleopolyhedroviruses: A Neglected Route to Disease?
Nucleopolyhedroviruses of lepidopteran larvae (<i>Alphabaculovirus</i>, <i>Baculoviridae</i>) form the basis for effective and highly selective biological insecticides for the control of caterpillar pests of greenhouse and field crops and forests. Horizontal transmission is u...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Insects |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/6/562 |
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| author | Trevor Williams |
| author_facet | Trevor Williams |
| author_sort | Trevor Williams |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Nucleopolyhedroviruses of lepidopteran larvae (<i>Alphabaculovirus</i>, <i>Baculoviridae</i>) form the basis for effective and highly selective biological insecticides for the control of caterpillar pests of greenhouse and field crops and forests. Horizontal transmission is usually achieved following the release of large quantities of viral occlusion bodies (OBs) from virus-killed insects. In the present review, I examine the evidence for productive midgut infection in different host species and the resulting transmission through the release of OBs in the feces (frass) of the host. This has been a neglected aspect of virus transmission since it was initially studied over six decades ago. The different host–virus pathosystems vary markedly in the quantity of OBs released in feces and in their ability to contaminate the host’s food plant. The release of fecal OBs tends to increase over time as the infection progresses. Although based on a small number of studies, the prevalence of transmission of fecal inoculum is comparable with that of recognized alternative routes for transmission and dissemination, such as cannibalism and interactions with predators and parasitoids. Finally, I outline a series of predictions that would affect the importance of OBs in feces as a source of inoculum in the environment and which could form the basis for future lines of research. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-888863fa04dc4189b69370cb2807a9d7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj-art-888863fa04dc4189b69370cb2807a9d72025-08-20T02:21:10ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502025-05-0116656210.3390/insects16060562Fecal Transmission of Nucleopolyhedroviruses: A Neglected Route to Disease?Trevor Williams0Instituto de Ecología AC, Xalapa, Veracruz 91073, MexicoNucleopolyhedroviruses of lepidopteran larvae (<i>Alphabaculovirus</i>, <i>Baculoviridae</i>) form the basis for effective and highly selective biological insecticides for the control of caterpillar pests of greenhouse and field crops and forests. Horizontal transmission is usually achieved following the release of large quantities of viral occlusion bodies (OBs) from virus-killed insects. In the present review, I examine the evidence for productive midgut infection in different host species and the resulting transmission through the release of OBs in the feces (frass) of the host. This has been a neglected aspect of virus transmission since it was initially studied over six decades ago. The different host–virus pathosystems vary markedly in the quantity of OBs released in feces and in their ability to contaminate the host’s food plant. The release of fecal OBs tends to increase over time as the infection progresses. Although based on a small number of studies, the prevalence of transmission of fecal inoculum is comparable with that of recognized alternative routes for transmission and dissemination, such as cannibalism and interactions with predators and parasitoids. Finally, I outline a series of predictions that would affect the importance of OBs in feces as a source of inoculum in the environment and which could form the basis for future lines of research.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/6/562frass<i>Baculoviridae</i><i>Alphabaculovirus</i>midgut infectionLepidoptera |
| spellingShingle | Trevor Williams Fecal Transmission of Nucleopolyhedroviruses: A Neglected Route to Disease? Insects frass <i>Baculoviridae</i> <i>Alphabaculovirus</i> midgut infection Lepidoptera |
| title | Fecal Transmission of Nucleopolyhedroviruses: A Neglected Route to Disease? |
| title_full | Fecal Transmission of Nucleopolyhedroviruses: A Neglected Route to Disease? |
| title_fullStr | Fecal Transmission of Nucleopolyhedroviruses: A Neglected Route to Disease? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Fecal Transmission of Nucleopolyhedroviruses: A Neglected Route to Disease? |
| title_short | Fecal Transmission of Nucleopolyhedroviruses: A Neglected Route to Disease? |
| title_sort | fecal transmission of nucleopolyhedroviruses a neglected route to disease |
| topic | frass <i>Baculoviridae</i> <i>Alphabaculovirus</i> midgut infection Lepidoptera |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/16/6/562 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT trevorwilliams fecaltransmissionofnucleopolyhedrovirusesaneglectedroutetodisease |