First Report of Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Causing Severe Disease in Allomyrina dichotoma in Korea

Abstract

Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) has been known to cause severe disease in coconut palm rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros, in Southeastern Asia and is used as a biological control to reduce the pest population. Here, we report for the first time that the OrNV may have landed on Korea and may be the major pathogen for diseased larvae of Korean horn beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma. After peroral inoculation, over 60% of infected larvae perished in 6 wk. This viral disease spreads very fast in several locations throughout Korea. This threat not only makes economic loss of local farms rearing A. dichotoma larvae but also may disturb the ecosystem by transmitting to wild A. dichotoma.

Title of Article: Current status of viral disease spread in Korean horn beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma (Coleoptera: Scarabeidae)

“…To diagnose the diseased larvae, DNA was isolated from diseased larvae and viral DNA was amplified by PCR with three pairs of primers (primer AdV-F1 and -R1, primer AdV-F2 and-R2, and primer AdV-F3 and -R3) which were previously designed in our lab (Lee et al, 2015). First, the hemolymph was extracted by cutting a leg of a diseased larva, and then it was centrifuged 2,000 x g for 15min at 4°C to remove cell debris.…”

“…Generally, these diseases occur in dense and large scaled larvae-rearing ground and in most case, the disease can be prevented or controlled by improving the insanitary condition including incompletely fermented fodder, too high humidity, and poor ventilation. Recently, we reported that a fatal viral disease is diagnosed in A. dichotoma larvae reared in local farms in Korea (Lee et al, 2015). The virus was identified as Oryctes rhinoceros nudivirus (OrNV) which is known to cause severe disease in coconut palm rhinoceros beetle, Oryctes rhinoceros, in Southeastern Asia, and there, it is used as biological control agent to reduce the pest population for coconut palm oil industry (Huger, 2005;Ramle et al, 2005).…”

Exosome isolation from hemolymph of Korean rhinoceros beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

“…The Korean rhinoceros beetle, Allomyrina dichotoma (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is important for in the insect industry for medical applications (Lee et al . ). The beetle is commercially reared to supply the pet trade and is used in traditional Korean medicine for liver‐related diseases.…”

“…However, recently several industries of A. dichotoma were threatened by diseases caused by bacteria, fungi and viruses, which have been increasingly reported in mass‐rearing facilities (Lee et al . ). Early and accurate diagnosis of these diseases is critical to reducing the economic loss from insect pathogens.…”

Comparing the mortality of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) caused by entomopathogenic bacteria and Serratia marcescens (Enterobacteriales: Enterobacteriaceae)

“…Some of these cases involved insects that are used as traditional medicines with proven efficacy (Chung et al 2013a;Chung et al 2013b;Kwon et al 2013). The distribution and sales of certain edible insects have accelerated the industrialization of insects; however, the mass breeding of insects has also caused an increase in diseases (Kwak et al 2014;Lee et al 2015). Accordingly, increased monitoring has been initiated for diseases occurring in farms of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae), an edible insect that is mass-reared in Korea, as well as the Japanese rhinoceros beetle Allomyrina dichotoma (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), and diseases with a high incidence were identified.…”