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Infection effect of Nosema bombycis on the midgut of silkworm Bombyx mori and subsequent appearance of spores and the performance of larvae was studied. Autopsy of larvae showed white pustules on the surface of midgut at 5 days of post infection (pi). At later stage, important organs like midgut, silk gland and gonads reduced in size and all these organs showed white pustules. Light microscope observation of pustules revealed enormous spores. Spore multiplication was at a faster rate in young larvae. Infection of the adult larvae resulted in pebrinized pupa and moths. Larval weight, cocoon weight and cocoon shell ratio reduced as the post infection period increased. Transverse sections of midgut showed N. bombycis infection limited to a few columnar cells at 3-5 days of pi. At 7 days pi, cell volume increased, cells were swollen and elongated. Heavily infected cells looked like sacks filled with parasite and the apical region of certain cells were bulging into the gut lumen. Later at 8-9 days of pi, spores or its developing stages leaked into the lumen either freely or enclosed within the globules of host cytoplasm. Besides columnar cells, development of N. bombycis was observed in the regenerative cells and rarely in goblet cells. Development of N. bombycis was also observed in both longitudinal and circular muscles at the late pi period. The histopathological changes, deformities and spore production time in the host were all influenced by the spore dosage and age of the host.

Carbendazim, a benzimidazole compound is effective in curing pebrine disease in silkworm, Bombyx mori, caused by Nosema bombycis, if treatment is given within 48 h post-infection or before the parasite establishes itself in the host tissue. Ultrastructural evidence of the action of carbendazim showed an adverse effect of the drug on both merogonic and sporogonic stages of the parasite in the midgut and silk gland of the silkworm. The drug caused elongation, vacuolation and depletion of cytoplasmic contents of the meront, sporont, sporoblast and spore stages of N. bombycis.

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