Relationship Between the Lesser Mealworm, Fowl Pox, and Newcastle Disease Virus in Poultry12

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Abstract
Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer) was investigated under laboratory conditions to determine its importance as a potential carrier of 2 avian viruses. The lesser mealworm, exposed to a medium contaminated with the fowl pox virus, ingested the virus within the 1st 6 h but retained it less than 7 days. Artificially infected lesser mealworms transferred fowl pox virus through their excrement into a noncontaminated medium within the 1st 6 h. The virus failed to multiply inside the lesser mealworms. All attempts to recover the Newcastle disease virus from the lesser mealworm were unsuccessful with the exception of adult beetles fed on highly infected chorioallantoic membranes. The toxicity of a bacterial-free suspension of the lesser mealworm on the Newcastle disease virus was demonstrated.

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