ISOLATION OF INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE VIRUS FROM THE LESSER MEALWORM, ALPHITOBIUS-DIAPERINUS (PANZER)

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was isolated from adult lesser mealworms, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), up to 14 d after exposure, but isolation of the virus was erratic over this period of time. The virus was undetected after 24 h in beetle larvae. Virus was isolated f rom the adult beetle's mouth parts, foregut, midgut, hindgut, and bloo d 24 h after they fed on feed inoculated with IBDV. Ten days after exp osure, virus was isolated from the foregut but not the blood, mouthpar ts, or remaining digestive tract of the adult beetles. The adult lesse r mealworm is capable of serving as a reservoir for IBDV, rather than a fomite, between broiler growouts.