The first gonocycle of the parasitic mite (Varroa juobsoni) in relation to preimaginal development of its host, the honey bee (Apis mellifra carnicar)

AbstractThe neonicotinoid Clothianidin has a negative impact on NF-κB signaling and on immune responses controlled by this transcription factor, which can boost the proliferation of honey bee parasites and pathogens. This effect has been well documented for the replication of deformed wing virus (DWV) induced by Clothianidin in honey bees bearing an asymptomatic infection. Here, we conduct infestation experiments of treated bees to show that the immune-suppression exerted by Clothianidin is associated with an enhanced fertility of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, as a possible consequence of a higher feeding efficiency. A conceptual model is proposed to describe the synergistic interactions among different stress agents acting on honey bees.

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Three QTL in the honey bee Apis mellifera L. suppress reproduction of the parasitic mite Varroa destructor

Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.1002/ece3.17 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 451-458 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Dieter Behrens ◽

Qiang Huang ◽

Cornelia Geßner ◽

Peter Rosenkranz ◽

Eva Frey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Parasitic Mite

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Water requirements of adult females of the honey bee parasitic mite,Varroa jacobsoni(Acari: Varroidae) and implications for control

International Journal of Acarology ◽

10.1080/01647959908684171 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 25 (4) ◽

pp. 329-335 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

J. A. Yoder ◽

D. Sammataro ◽

J. A. Peterson ◽

G. R. Needham ◽

W. A. Bruce

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Varroa Jacobsoni ◽

Water Requirements ◽

Adult Females ◽

Parasitic Mite

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Advances and perspectives in selecting resistance traits against the parasitic mite Varroa destructor in honey bees

Genetics Selection Evolution ◽

10.1186/s12711-020-00591-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matthieu Guichard ◽

Vincent Dietemann ◽

Markus Neuditschko ◽

Benjamin Dainat

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Environmental Effects ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Selection Strategy ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Colony Losses ◽

New Host ◽

Parasitic Mite ◽

Resistance Traits

Abstract Background In spite of the implementation of control strategies in honey bee (Apis mellifera) keeping, the invasive parasitic mite Varroa destructor remains one of the main causes of colony losses in numerous countries. Therefore, this parasite represents a serious threat to beekeeping and agro-ecosystems that benefit from the pollination services provided by honey bees. To maintain their stocks, beekeepers have to treat their colonies with acaricides every year. Selecting lineages that are resistant to infestations is deemed to be a more sustainable approach. Review Over the last three decades, numerous selection programs have been initiated to improve the host–parasite relationship and to support honey bee survival in the presence of the parasite without the need for acaricide treatments. Although resistance traits have been included in the selection strategy of honey bees, it has not been possible to globally solve the V. destructor problem. In this study, we review the literature on the reasons that have potentially limited the success of such selection programs. We compile the available information to assess the relevance of selected traits and the potential environmental effects that distort trait expression and colony survival. Limitations to the implementation of these traits in the field are also discussed. Conclusions Improving our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying resistance to V. destructor to increase trait relevance, optimizing selection programs to reduce environmental effects, and communicating selection outcomes are all crucial to efforts aiming at establishing a balanced relationship between the invasive parasite and its new host.

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First molecular detection of Apis mellifera filamentous virus in honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Hungary

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica ◽

10.1556/004.2019.017 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 67 (1) ◽

pp. 151-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Brigitta Zana ◽

Lili Geiger ◽

Anett Kepner ◽

Fanni Földes ◽

Péter Urbán ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Distribution Data ◽

Winter Mortality ◽

Pcr Screening ◽

Economic Role ◽

Parasitic Mite ◽

First Time

Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators in the ecosystem and also play a crucial economic role in the honey industry. During the last decades, a continuous decay was registered in honey bee populations worldwide, including Hungary. In our study, we used metagenomic approaches and conventional PCR screening on healthy and winter mortality affected colonies from multiple sites in Hungary. The major goal was to discover presumed bee pathogens with viral metagenomic experiments and gain prevalence and distribution data by targeted PCR screening. We examined 664 honey bee samples that had been collected during winter mortality from three seemingly healthy colonies and from one colony infested heavily by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor in 2016 and 2017. The subsequent PCR screening of honey bee samples revealed the abundant presence of Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) for the first time in Central Europe. Based on phylogeny reconstruction, the newly-detected virus was found to be most closely related to a Chinese AmFV strain. More sequence data from multiple countries would be needed for studying the detailed phylogeographical patterns and worldwide spreading process of AmFV. Here we report the prevalent presence of this virus in Hungarian honey bee colonies.

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A mutualistic symbiosis between a parasitic mite and a pathogenic virus undermines honey bee immunity and health

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1523515113 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 113 (12) ◽

pp. 3203-3208 ◽

Cited By ~ 101

Author(s):

Gennaro Di Prisco ◽

Desiderato Annoscia ◽

Marina Margiotta ◽

Rosalba Ferrara ◽

Paola Varricchio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Stress Factors ◽

Colony Losses ◽

Viral Pathogen ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Mutualistic Symbiosis ◽

Bee Colony ◽

Parasitic Mite ◽

Honey Bee Colony ◽

Honey Bee Colony Losses

Honey bee colony losses are triggered by interacting stress factors consistently associated with high loads of parasites and/or pathogens. A wealth of biotic and abiotic stressors are involved in the induction of this complex multifactorial syndrome, with the parasitic mite Varroa destructor and the associated deformed wing virus (DWV) apparently playing key roles. The mechanistic basis underpinning this association and the evolutionary implications remain largely obscure. Here we narrow this research gap by demonstrating that DWV, vectored by the Varroa mite, adversely affects humoral and cellular immune responses by interfering with NF-κB signaling. This immunosuppressive effect of the viral pathogen enhances reproduction of the parasitic mite. Our experimental data uncover an unrecognized mutualistic symbiosis between Varroa and DWV, which perpetuates a loop of reciprocal stimulation with escalating negative effects on honey bee immunity and health. These results largely account for the remarkable importance of this mite–virus interaction in the induction of honey bee colony losses. The discovery of this mutualistic association and the elucidation of the underlying regulatory mechanisms sets the stage for a more insightful analysis of how synergistic stress factors contribute to colony collapse, and for the development of new strategies to alleviate this problem.

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Honey bee suppresses the parasitic mite Vitellogenin by antimicrobial peptide

10.1101/2020.02.29.970913 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yunfei Wu ◽

Qiushi Liu ◽

Benjamin Weiss ◽

Martin Kaltenpoth ◽

Tatsuhiko Kadowaki

Keyword(s):

Viral Replication ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Fruit Fly ◽

Mite Infestation ◽

Negative Effects ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Active Viral Replication ◽

Tropilaelaps Mercedesae ◽

Parasitic Mite ◽

Physiological Outcomes

AbstractThe negative effects of honey bee parasitic mites and deformed wing virus (DWV) on honey bee and colony health have been well characterized. However, the relationship between DWV and mites, particularly viral replication inside the mites, remains unclear. Furthermore, the physiological outcomes of honey bee immune responses stimulated by DWV and the mite to the host (honey bee) and perhaps the pathogen/parasite (DWV/mite) are not yet understood. To answer these questions, we studied the tripartite interactions between the honey bee, Tropilaelaps mercedesae, and DWV as the model. T. mercedesae functioned as a vector for DWV without supporting active viral replication. Thus, DWV negligibly affected mite fitness. Mite infestation induced mRNA expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), Defensin-1 and Hymenoptaecin, which correlated with DWV copy number in honey bee pupae and mite feeding, respectively. Feeding T. mercedesae with fruit fly S2 cells heterologously expressing honey bee Hymenoptaecin significantly downregulated mite Vitellogenin expression, indicating that the honey bee AMP manipulates mite reproduction upon feeding on bee. Our results provide insights into the mechanism of DWV transmission by the honey bee parasitic mite to the host, and the novel role of AMP in defending against mite infestation.

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