Bacillus thuringiensis, nucleopolyhedrosis virus, and pheromones: Environmental considerations and uncertainties in large-scale insect control

Infectivity and Effects of Gypsy Moth and Spruce Budworm Nuclear Polyhedrosis Viruses Ingested by Rainbow Trout

“…The 21-day experimental period should have been sufficient for viral replication in permissive fish tissues, given that the replication time for LdNPV in gypsy moth larvae is about 48 hr (Keating et al, 1989). The results lend further support to the contention that naturally occurring NPVs used as microbial insecticides are unlikely to pose a risk of adverse effects on fish in virus-contaminated water bodies (Burges et al, 1980;Ghassemi et al, 1983;Hicks et al, 1981;Gröner, 1986). The protocols outlined here should be applicable to determining infectivity and effects of genetically modified insect viruses on fish.…”

“…Savan et al (1979) were less conclusive when testing effects of spruce budworm NPV on white suckers (Catastomus commersoni) and rainbow trout, but they reported no behavioral aberrance or growth effects and equivocal alterations in histopathologic characteristics of treated fish. Several authors reviewed these and other studies and concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that insect NPVs are likely to cause adverse effects in fish (Ignoffo, 1968;Burges et al, 1980;Ghassemi et al, 1983;Gröner, 1986). In the present study, rainbow trout in the CfNPV experiment demonstrated a loss of weight during the experimental period.…”

“…To support the registration and use of NPVs as microbial insecticides, safety testing has been conducted to assess the potential for infectivity and adverse effects in nontarget species, including fish. Among several studies, there have been no reported incidents of cross-infection, replication, or adverse effects of naturally occurring NPVs in any vertebrate species or cell lines (Banowetz et al, 1976;Burges et al, 1980;Hicks et al, 1981;Ghassemi et al, 1983;Gröner, 1986). However, Canadian regulatory guidelines for wild-type and genetically engineered microbial pest control agents currently require studies to determine the infectivity and effects of microbial pesticides in fish exposed through the consumption of contaminated food items (Anonymous, 1993).…”

New record of nucleopolyhedroviruses in tea looper caterpillars in India

“…limits the chances of cross-infectivity between genera and families, and they persist longer in the soil and foliages (Ghassemi et al, 1983).…”

In situmortality ofHyposidra talaca(Geometridae: Lepidoptera) by its nucleopolyhedrovirus and comparison of tea production in untreated and chemical insecticide-treated plots

“…The severity of H. talaca attack is primarily controlled by chemical insecticides targeted at the caterpillar stages. Most nucleopolyhedroviruses (NPVs) are host-specific (Ghassemi, Painter, Painter, Quinlivan, & Dellarco, 1983) and are capable of killing large numbers of target larvae that depend on the density of inoculum virus occlusion bodies (OBs) on the foliage and the efficiency of the transmission process (Grzywacz, Mushobozi, Parnell, Jolliffe, & Wilson, 2008;Sciocco, Bideshi, Johnson, & Federici, 2009). Recently, a NPV was found to attack H. talaca caterpillars in tea (Sinu, Antony, & Mallick, 2011).…”