Mode of Transmission of a Newly Discovered Microsporidian and Its Effect on Fecundity and Hatching in Silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The mode of transmission, effect on fecundity, hatching and tissues specificity of a microsporidian $(Lb_{ms})$ recovered from Lamerin breed of the silkworm Bombyx mori L. was studied and compared with standard strain Nosema bombycis. Peroral inoculation of $Lb_{ms}$ or N. bombycis to zeroday of $4^{th}$ instar larvae of silkworm was the most suitable method for producing information on development of stage specific mortality, pupation and obtaining infected adults for transovarial transmission studies. It was observed that pupal mortality, the percentage of moths emerged and the percentage of moths infected were significantly high in N. bombycis infected batches as compared $(Lb_{ms})$ in all the three tested breeds of the silkworm. However no significant difference was observed in larval mortality. The fecundity and hatchability was not affected significantly in $(Lb_{ms})$ infected adults, however significant reduction in egg production, fecundity, hatchability and increased egg retention was observed in mother moths infected with N. bombycis. The $(Lb_{ms})$ is transmitted both horizontally and vertically at lower rate due to its low rate of proliferation. The trans ovarial transmission of $(Lb_{ms})$ to the $F_1$ progeny generation through eggs averaged only $61.33\pm5.10\%$ whereas N. bombycis was transmitted at $100\%$. The $(Lb_{ms})$ had low oral infectivity and low transovarial transmission in silkworm B. mori.