PCR-Based Detection of Densovirus Infection in Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.)

Two pairs of DNA primers were designed for the detection of the Zhenjiang (China) strain of Bombyx mori densonucleosis virus (BmDNV-Z). These primers were designed from the nucleotide sequence of major structural protein gene (putative VD1-ORF2). PCR amplification was attempted from different issues (including silk gland, blood, skin and midgut) and feces of the silkworm which infected wit BmDNV-Z were amplified by PCR. Both of the primers gave expected size of in the DNA bands from midgut and feces, but not in the DNA of silk gland, blood and skin. The two bands were sequenced, and their sequence were same as the sequence designed for. BmDNV-Z could be successfully detected in single silkworm after it was infected for 12 hrs, and could not be detected before 9 hrs after infected.