Biodiversity of beet webworm microsporidia in Eurasia

The beet webworm Loxostege sticticalis (LS) has eruptive type of population dynamics and high migratory activity. The LS outbreaks are therefore difficult to predict and the pest belongs to the category of highly dangerous pests. However, during periods of depressions this insect is not observed within the most of its range and is very susceptible to infection by pathogens, including various species of microsporidia, some of which are not specific parasites of the order Lepidoptera. The distribution of LS microsporidia in Eurasia is quite extensive. During the study period of LS from 2003 to 2019, we have found 6 species of microsporidia. The parasite list includes not only species known for Lepidoptera such as Nosema sp. and Vairimorpha thomsoni, but also Vairimorpha (Nosema) ceranae as the typical pathogen from Apis mellifera, as well as Endoreticulatus cf poecilimonae, a pathogen similar to Endoreticulatus poecilimonae from Poecilimon thoracicus. Moreover, two isolates from the genus Tubulinosema identified in LS belong to the group of parasites with a very wide host range, including humans. In laboratory experiments, LS proved high sensitivity to microsporidia N. pyrausta from Ostrinia nubilalis and N. tyriae from Tyria jacobaeae. Its susceptibility to Paranosema locustae from Locusta migratoria has also been discovered.

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Nosema Ceranae Interactions with Nosema apis and Black Queen Cell Virus

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11100963 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. 963

Author(s):

Anna Maria Gajda ◽

Ewa Danuta Mazur ◽

Andrzej Marcin Bober ◽

Michał Czopowicz

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Laboratory Tests ◽

Laboratory Experiments ◽

Genetic Material ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Nosema Apis ◽

Black Queen Cell Virus ◽

Queen Cell ◽

Type C

Nosema ceranae is a relatively new pathogen of the honeybee (Apis mellifera) and the course of type C nosemosis (the disease that it causes) is not entirely known. In order to better understand the course and the consequences of this disease, laboratory experiments were performed. They aimed to compare the course of N. ceranae infection with the course of Nosema apis infection, taking its influence on the black queen cell virus (BQCV) into account. Determination of the quantity of N. ceranae and BQCV genetic material in laboratory tests was performed using real-time PCR. In mixed Nosema infections, N. ceranae “wins” the competition and manages to outnumber N. apis significantly. BQCV exacerbates the course of both A and C nosemoses, but the data shows that in the case of nosemosis C and this viral infection, the mortality rate was the highest from all examined groups. Obtained results show that N. ceranae is more pathogenic for A. mellifera than N. apis, and the course of type C nosemosis is much heavier, which results in the shortened life spans of bees, and in connection with BQCV it becomes even more dangerous to bees.

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Genomic markers for the study of Ostrinia nubilalis population dynamics and traits conferring resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) crystalline toxins

10.31274/rtd-180813-2890 ◽

2005 ◽

Author(s):

Brad Steven Coates

Keyword(s):

Population Dynamics ◽

Bacillus Thuringiensis ◽

Ostrinia Nubilalis ◽

Genomic Markers

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Interactions between sublethal doses of thiamethoxam and Nosema ceranae in the honey bee, Apis mellifera†

Journal of Apicultural Research ◽

10.1080/00218839.2021.1880760 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-9

Author(s):

Zhiyong Liu ◽

Shouming Li ◽

Honghong Li

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Sublethal Doses

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Physiological effects of the interaction between Nosema ceranae and sequential and overlapping exposure to glyphosate and difenoconazole in the honey bee Apis mellifera

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety ◽

10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112258 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 217 ◽

pp. 112258

Author(s):

Hanine Almasri ◽

Daiana Antonia Tavares ◽

Marie Diogon ◽

Maryline Pioz ◽

Maryam Alamil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Physiological Effects

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Impact of Nosema Disease and American Foulbrood on Gut Bacterial Communities of Honeybees Apis mellifera

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12060525 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 525

Author(s):

Poonnawat Panjad ◽

Rujipas Yongsawas ◽

Chainarong Sinpoo ◽

Chonthicha Pakwan ◽

Phakamas Subta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Bacterial Communities ◽

454 Pyrosequencing ◽

Gut Bacteria ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Paenibacillus Larvae ◽

American Foulbrood ◽

Nosema Disease ◽

The Impact ◽

Pathogenic Infection

Honeybees, Apis mellifera, are important pollinators of many economically important crops. However, one of the reasons for their decline is pathogenic infection. Nosema disease and American foulbrood (AFB) disease are the most common bee pathogens that propagate in the gut of honeybees. This study investigated the impact of gut-propagating pathogens, including Nosema ceranae and Paenibacillus larvae, on bacterial communities in the gut of A. mellifera using 454-pyrosequencing. Pyrosequencing results showed that N. ceranae was implicated in the elimination of Serratia and the dramatic increase in Snodgrassella and Bartonella in adult bees’ guts, while bacterial communities of P. larvae-infected larvae were not affected by the infection. The results indicated that only N. ceranae had an impact on some core bacteria in the gut of A. mellifera through increasing core gut bacteria, therefore leading to the induction of dysbiosis in the bees’ gut.

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Effects of Prebiotics and Probiotics on Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Infected with the Microsporidian Parasite Nosema ceranae

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9030481 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 481

Author(s):

Daniel Borges ◽

Ernesto Guzman-Novoa ◽

Paul H. Goodwin

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Bifidobacterium Bifidum ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Food Supplementation ◽

Microsporidian Parasite ◽

Single Strain ◽

Acacia Gum ◽

Bee Health ◽

Commercial Probiotics

Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian fungus that parasitizes the midgut epithelial cells of honey bees, Apis mellifera. Due to the role that midgut microorganisms play in bee health and immunity, food supplementation with prebiotics and probiotics may assist in the control of N. ceranae. The dietary fiber prebiotics acacia gum, inulin, and fructooligosaccharides, as well as the commercial probiotics Vetafarm Probotic, Protexin Concentrate single-strain (Enterococcus faecium), and Protexin Concentrate multi-strain (Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. delbrueckii, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Streptococcus salivarius, and E. faecium) were tested for their effect on N. ceranae spore loads and honey bee survivorship. Bees kept in cages were inoculated with N. ceranae spores and single-dose treatments were administered in sugar syrup. Acacia gum caused the greatest reduction in N. ceranae spore numbers (67%) but also significantly increased bee mortality (62.2%). However, Protexin Concentrate single-strain gave similarly reduced spore numbers (59%) without affecting the mortality. In a second experiment, multiple doses of the probiotics revealed significantly reduced spore numbers with 2.50 mg/mL Vetafarm Probotic, and 0.25, 1.25, and 2.50 mg/mL Protexin Concentrate single-strain. Mortality was also significantly reduced with 1.25 mg/mL Protexin Concentrate single-strain. N. ceranae-inoculated bees fed 3.75 mg/mL Vetafarm Probotic had higher survival than N. ceranae-inoculated bees, which was similar to that of non-inoculated bees, while N. ceranae-inoculated bees fed 2.50 mg/mL Protexin Concentrate single-strain, had significantly higher survival than both N. ceranae-inoculated and non-inoculated bees. Protexin Concentrate single-strain is promising as it can reduce N. ceranae proliferation and increase bee survivorship of infected bees, even compared to healthy, non-infected bees.

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Silent effect of the fungicide pyraclostrobin on the larval exposure of the non-target organism Africanized Apis mellifera and its interaction with the pathogen Nosema ceranae in adulthood

Environmental Pollution ◽

10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115622 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 267 ◽

pp. 115622 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rafaela Tadei ◽

Vanessa B. Menezes-Oliveira ◽

Elaine C.M. Silva-Zacarin

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Nosema Ceranae

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Effects of Nosema ceranae (Dissociodihaplophasida: Nosematidae) and Flupyradifurone on Olfactory Learning in Honey Bees, Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Journal of Insect Science ◽

10.1093/jisesa/ieaa130 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Heather Christine Bell ◽

Corina N Montgomery ◽

Jaime E Benavides ◽

James C Nieh

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Learning And Memory ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Food Reward ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Olfactory Conditioning ◽

Agricultural Use ◽

High Doses ◽

Neonicotinoid Pesticides ◽

Term Field

Abstract The health of insect pollinators, particularly the honey bee, Apis mellifera (Linnaeus, 1758), is a major concern for agriculture and ecosystem health. In response to mounting evidence supporting the detrimental effects of neonicotinoid pesticides on pollinators, a novel ‘bee safe’ butenolide compound, flupyradifurone (FPF) has been registered for use in agricultural use. Although FPF is not a neonicotinoid, like neonicotinoids, it is an excitotoxic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist. In addition, A. mellifera faces threats from pathogens, such as the microsporidian endoparasite, Nosema ceranae (Fries et al. 1996). We therefore sought 1) to increase our understanding of the potential effects of FPF on honey bees by focusing on a crucial behavior, the ability to learn and remember an odor associated with a food reward, and 2) to test for a potential synergistic effect on such learning by exposure to FPF and infection with N. ceranae. We found little evidence that FPF significantly alters learning and memory at short-term field-realistic doses. However, at high doses and at chronic, field-realistic exposure, FPF did reduce learning and memory in an olfactory conditioning task. Infection with N. ceranae also reduced learning, but there was no synergy (no significant interaction) between N. ceranae and exposure to FPF. These results suggest the importance of continued studies on the chronic effects of FPF.

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