STUDIES ON BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES DURING TROPICAL TASAR SILKWORM-PEBRINE INTERACTION

Tropical Tasar Silkworm, Antheraea mylitta D is infected by different pathogens. Among the different pathogens infecting tasar silkworm, pebrine disease caused by protozoa, Nosema mylitta is most destructive due to its transovarial nature. In the present study, the variation in the protein, peroxidase, catalase, acid phosphatase, amylase and endogenous hydrogen peroxide concentration during early stages of pebrine infection to tasar silkworm was analyzed. The results revealed the up-regulation in protein concentration, peroxidase, acid phosphatase, amylase enzymes activities and endogenous hydrogen peroxide concentration where as down-regulation in catalase activity. Based on the results of the present study, the changes in the reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes can be used as markers to analyze the health status of the tropical tasar silkworm infected with pebrine disease.