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Epidemiological survey of Phthorimaea operculella granulosis virus in Tunisia
Author(s) -
Laarif A.,
Fattouch S.,
Essid W.,
Marzouki N.,
Ben Salah H.,
Ben Hammouda M. H.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
eppo bulletin
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.327
H-Index - 36
eISSN - 1365-2338
pISSN - 0250-8052
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2338.2003.00656.x
Subject(s) - phthorimaea operculella , biology , virus , virology , pest analysis , gelechiidae , serology , lepidoptera genitalia , veterinary medicine , larva , ecology , botany , medicine , immunology , antibody
In Tunisia, Phthorimaea operculella is an important pest in traditional, unrefrigerated potato stores. An integrated control approach including the use of biological control agents and specifically insect viruses is being developed. From this perspective, we carried out a screening and an evaluation of local Phthorimaea operculella granulosis virus naturally present in Tunisian pest populations. On the basis of symptomatology, P. operculella larvae were collected from different regions (North, Cap Bon, Sahel). Indirect ELISA using a serum raised against the purified Tunisian isolate of the virus was used to establish the geographical distribution of the virus. Comparison of the two approaches showed that symptomatology is not so virus‐specific, as morphologically healthy insects were sometimes ELISA‐positive. The serological technique therefore gives better detection of the virus.