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Topic:- Symptom of Mascardine diseases in Silkworm and its prevention and control

                 :- Alemkumzuk  Asstt. Sericulture Officer 

            The silkworms are also attack by some common diseases during conducting of rearing. Among the diseases, a fungal disease which is known as Mascardine is usually occur during raining and winter season under low temperature and high humidity.

            Mascardine disease:- Depending on the colour of dead larvae(silkworm) and the causative agent, they are divided into White Mascardine, Green Mascardine, Yellow Mascardine, Red Mascardine, Purplish red Mascardine and Black Mascardine. Among these, White Mascardine and Green Mascardine are common.

A. White Mascardine:-

i) Causative agent:- Beawveria bassiana

ii) Route of infection:- Through body contamination, i.e. direct penetration of the skin by germinating conidia.

iii) Symptoms:-

-         loss of appetite, inactiveness and lethargic condition.

-         Diarrhea followed by vomiting and dead.

-         Soon after dead skin is very smooth.

-         0-10 hrs. after dead it harden (crystals of ammonium and magnesium) and within 24 hrs. it mummifies

B. Green Mascardine:-

i) Causative agent:- Nomuraea rileye

ii) Route of infection:- through skin.

iii) Symptoms:-

-         Dark brown irregular lesions appear on the ventral, dorsal and lateral sides.

-         In serious case the silkworm vomits fluid, has diarrhea and dies.

-         After death the soft corpse gradually hardens.

-         Initially the whole body is covered with mycelia.

-         After 10-15 days of dead the white mycelia produces fresh green conidia and worms look green.

PREVENTIVE AND CONTROL MEASURES:-

Both the diseases of white and green Mascardine can be control by observing the following methods:

-         Disinfect the rearing room and equipments before brushing.

-         Layings are surface sterilized with 2% formalin.

-         Avoid low temperature and high humidity.

-         Provide proper spacing and ventilation.

-         Keep bed dry and clean.

-         Change trays and seat paper.

-         Removal of disease larvae before mummification.

-         Destruction of disease material.

-         Use bed disinfectant like Labex, Formalin chaff, Reshamkeet Oshad and Dithane M45 or Captan with lavigated china clay(kaolin).

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