Rescuing the Inhibitory Effect of the Salivary Gland Hypertrophy Virus of Musca domestica on Mating Behavior

Marissa Gallagher; Arianna Ramirez; Christopher J Geden; John G Stoffolano Jr

doi:10.3390/insects14050416

Rescuing the Inhibitory Effect of the Salivary Gland Hypertrophy Virus of Musca domestica on Mating Behavior

Insects. 2023 Apr 27;14(5):416. doi: 10.3390/insects14050416.

Authors

Marissa Gallagher¹, Arianna Ramirez², Christopher J Geden³, John G Stoffolano Jr⁴

Affiliations

¹ Neuroscience Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
² Biology Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
³ Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA.
⁴ Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.

Abstract

Infection with salivary gland hypertrophy virus (MdSGHV) of Musca domestica prevents female flies from accepting copulation attempts by healthy or virus-infected males. This study focused on supplemental hormonal rescue therapy for mating behavior in virus-infected female house flies. The inhibitory effect of the virus on mating behavior in females injected with MdSGHV was reversed by hormonal therapy in the form of octopamine injections, topical application of methoprene, or both therapies combined along with 20-hydroxyecdysone. Infected females whose mating responsiveness had been restored continued to have other viral pathologies associated with infection such as hypertrophy of the salivary glands and a lack of ovarian development.

Keywords: corpus allatum; hormone supplemental rescue therapy; juvenile hormone; mating receptivity; methoprene; octopamine; sesquiterpenoids.

Grants and funding

This research was partially supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Massachusetts Agricultural Experiment Station and the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, under project number MAS00527/S51076 to J.G.S.J.