Molecular Detection of Nosema spp. in Honey in Bulgaria

Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are the two main microsporidian parasites causing nosematosis in the honey bee Apis mellifera. The aim of the present study is to investigate the presence of Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae in the area of Bulgaria. The 16S (SSU) rDNA gene region was chosen for analysis. A duplex PCR assay was performed on 108 honey bee samples from three different parts of the country (South, North and West Bulgaria). The results showed that the samples from the northern part of the country were with the highest prevalence (77.2%) for Nosema ceranae while those from the mountainous parts (the Rodopa Mountains, South Bulgaria) were with the lowest rate (13.9%). Infection with Nosema apis alone and co-infection N. apis/N. ceranae were not detected in any samples. These findings suggest that Nosema ceranae is the dominant species in the Bulgarian honey bee. It is not known when the introduction of Nosema ceranae in Bulgaria has occurred, but as in the rest of the world, this species has become the dominant one in Bulgarian Apis mellifera. In conclusion, this is the first report for molecular detection of Nosema infection of honey bee in Bulgaria. The results showed that N. ceranae is the main Nosema species in Bulgaria.

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The first report of the prevalence of Nosema ceranae in Bulgaria

10.7287/peerj.preprints.3342v1 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Hristov ◽

Any Georgieva ◽

Georgi Radoslavov ◽

Daniela Sirakova ◽

Gyulnas Dzhebir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Molecular Detection ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Nosema Apis ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

First Report ◽

Duplex Pcr Assay ◽

Different Parts ◽

Rate Of Invasion

Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are the two main microsporidian parasites causing nosematosis in honey bee Apis mellifera. The object of the present study is to investigate the presence of Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae in the Bulgarian honey bee. The 16S (SSU) rDNA gene region was chosen for analysis. A duplex PCR assay was performed on 108 honey bee samples from three different parts of the country (South, North and West Bulgaria). The results showed that the samples from the northern part of the country were with the highest rate of invasion (77.2%) for Nosema ceranae while those from the mountainous parts (the Rodopa Mountains, South Bulgaria) were with the lowest rate (13.9%). Infection with Nosema apis alone and co-infection N. apis/N. ceranae were not detected in any samples. These findings suggest that Nosema ceranae is the dominant species in the Bulgarian honey bee. It is not known when the introduction of Nosema ceranae in Bulgaria has occurred, but like in the rest of the world, this species has become the dominant one in Bulgarian Apis mellifera. In conclusion, this is the first report for molecular detection of Nosema infection in Bulgarian honey bee that confirms the worldwide dissemination and prevalence of Nosema ceranae.

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The first report of the prevalence of Nosema ceranae in Bulgaria

10.7287/peerj.preprints.3342 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Peter Hristov ◽

Any Georgieva ◽

Georgi Radoslavov ◽

Daniela Sirakova ◽

Gyulnas Dzhebir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Molecular Detection ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Nosema Apis ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

First Report ◽

Duplex Pcr Assay ◽

Different Parts ◽

Rate Of Invasion

Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are the two main microsporidian parasites causing nosematosis in honey bee Apis mellifera. The object of the present study is to investigate the presence of Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae in the Bulgarian honey bee. The 16S (SSU) rDNA gene region was chosen for analysis. A duplex PCR assay was performed on 108 honey bee samples from three different parts of the country (South, North and West Bulgaria). The results showed that the samples from the northern part of the country were with the highest rate of invasion (77.2%) for Nosema ceranae while those from the mountainous parts (the Rodopa Mountains, South Bulgaria) were with the lowest rate (13.9%). Infection with Nosema apis alone and co-infection N. apis/N. ceranae were not detected in any samples. These findings suggest that Nosema ceranae is the dominant species in the Bulgarian honey bee. It is not known when the introduction of Nosema ceranae in Bulgaria has occurred, but like in the rest of the world, this species has become the dominant one in Bulgarian Apis mellifera. In conclusion, this is the first report for molecular detection of Nosema infection in Bulgarian honey bee that confirms the worldwide dissemination and prevalence of Nosema ceranae.

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Honey as a Source of Environmental DNA for the Detection and Monitoring of Honey Bee Pathogens and Parasites

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci7030113 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 113

Author(s):

Anisa Ribani ◽

Valerio Joe Utzeri ◽

Valeria Taurisano ◽

Luca Fontanesi

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Environmental Dna ◽

Nosema Apis ◽

Acarapis Woodi ◽

Ascosphaera Apis ◽

Monitoring Tools ◽

Invasive Organisms ◽

Pcr Assays ◽

Lotmaria Passim

Environmental DNA (eDNA) has been proposed as a powerful tool to detect and monitor cryptic, elusive, or invasive organisms. We recently demonstrated that honey constitutes an easily accessible source of eDNA. In this study, we extracted DNA from 102 honey samples (74 from Italy and 28 from 17 other countries of all continents) and tested the presence of DNA of nine honey bee pathogens and parasites (Paenibacillus larvae, Melissococcus plutonius, Nosema apis, Nosema ceranae, Ascosphaera apis,Lotmaria passim, Acarapis woodi, Varroa destructor, and Tropilaelaps spp.) using qualitative PCR assays. All honey samples contained DNA from V. destructor, confirming the widespread diffusion of this mite. None of the samples gave positive amplifications for N. apis, A. woodi, and Tropilaelaps spp. M. plutonius was detected in 87% of the samples, whereas the other pathogens were detected in 43% to 57% of all samples. The frequency of Italian samples positive for P. larvae was significantly lower (49%) than in all other countries (79%). The co-occurrence of positive samples for L. passim and A. apis with N. ceranae was significant. This study demonstrated that honey eDNA can be useful to establish monitoring tools to evaluate the sanitary status of honey bee populations.

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Ecological characteristics of Varroa destructor (parasitiformes, varroidea) and its environmental capacity as a key factor for development of varroosis panzootia

Vestnik Zoologii ◽

10.2478/v10058-012-0034-9 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 46 (5) ◽

pp. 8-14

Author(s):

I. A. Akimov ◽

O. P. Korzh

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Host Species ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Varroa Mite ◽

Environmental Capacity ◽

Ecological Characteristics ◽

High Pathogenicity ◽

Key Factor

Ecological Characteristics of Varroa destructor (Parasitiformes, Varroidae) and Its Environmental Capacity as a Key Factor for Development of Varroosis Panzootia. Akimov I. A., Korzh O. P. - By means of formalized schematic models of relationship with hosts the varroa mite uniqueness as a parasite is shown. The life cycle of this species requires the change of a host species at different stages of their development and physiological states. Thus the mite parasitizes not only a separate bee but a whole hive. The fact that the whole hive but not a single bee dies during varroosis development supports this idea. The impetus for this type of parasitism is the relative constancy of the environment in the hive supported by bees even in winter. Exactly this fact causes high pathogenicity of the varroa for the honey bee and its control complexity.

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The Use of Some Bio-Agents in The Control of Varroa Mite, Varroa destructor Infected Honey Bee Colonies إستخدام بعض المواد الحيوية فى مکافحة حلم الفاروا الذى يصيب طوائف نحل العسل

Journal of Plant Protection and Pathology ◽

10.21608/jppp.2021.207495 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (10) ◽

pp. 745-748

Author(s):

Karima Elsaied ◽

R. Sanad ◽

H. Elsharkawy ◽

N. Omar

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Varroa Mite ◽

Bee Colonies

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Neonicotinoid Clothianidin reduces honey bee immune response and contributes to Varroa mite proliferation

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-020-19715-8 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Desiderato Annoscia ◽

Gennaro Di Prisco ◽

Andrea Becchimanzi ◽

Emilio Caprio ◽

Davide Frizzera ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Responses ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Asymptomatic Infection ◽

Varroa Mite ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Synergistic Interactions ◽

Parasitic Mite

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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Biology and Management of Varroa destructor (Mesostigmata: Varroidae) in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies

Journal of Integrated Pest Management ◽

10.1093/jipm/pmz036 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Morgan A Roth ◽

James M Wilson ◽

Keith R Tignor ◽

Aaron D Gross

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Varroa Destructor ◽

Sampling Methods ◽

Apis Cerana ◽

Varroa Mite ◽

Resistance Development ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

The Past ◽

Asian Honey Bee

Abstract Varroa mite (Varroa destructor Anderson and Trueman) infestation of European honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies has been a growing cause of international concern among beekeepers throughout the last 50 yr. Varroa destructor spread from the Asian honey bee (Apis cerana Fabricius [Hymenoptera: Apidae]) to A. mellifera populations in Europe in the 1970s, and subsequently traveled to the Americas. In addition to causing damage through feeding upon lipids of larval and adult bees, V. destructor also facilitates the spread of several viruses, with deformed wing virus being most prevalent. Several sampling methods have been developed for estimating infestation levels of A. mellifera colonies, and acaricide treatments have been implemented. However, overuse of synthetic acaricides in the past has led to widespread acaricide resistant V. destructor populations. The application of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques is a more recent development in V. destructor control and is suggested to be more effective than only using pesticides, thereby posing fewer threats to A. mellifera colonies. When using IPM methods, informed management decisions are made based upon sampling, and cultural and mechanical controls are implemented prior to use of acaricide treatments. If acaricides are deemed necessary, they are rotated based on their mode of action, thus avoiding V. destructor resistance development.

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