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DeGrandi-Hoffman G, Corby-Harris V, Graham H, Chambers M, Watkins deJong E, Snyder L. Do diet and Fumagillin treatment impact Vairimorpha (Nosema) spp. (Microspora: Nosematidae) infections in honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and improve survival and growth of colonies overwintered in cold storage? JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2024:toae187. [PMID: 39340838 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
Vairimorpha (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) is a microsporidian that infects honey bees especially in winter. Fumagillin can reduce infections, but whether overwintering survival is improved is unclear. The diet also may influence the severity of Nosema infections. We examined the relationship between Nosema and colony size and survival in hives overwintered in cold storage facilities. In year 1, no Fumagillin treatments were applied. Colony size and survival after cold storage and almond bloom were comparable between groups with high and low pre-cold storage infections. In year 2, size and survival were compared among colonies with and without Fumagillin treatment that were fed either pollen or protein supplement prior to overwintering. Colonies treated with Fumagillin had lower spore numbers than untreated, but colony sizes and survival were similar among the treatments. However, more colonies with zero spores per bee could be rented for almond pollination and were alive after bloom than those averaging >1 million spores per bee. Fat body metrics can affect overwintering success. In both years, fat body weights and protein concentrations increased, and lipid concentrations decreased while bees were in cold storage. Fat body metrics did not differ with Nosema infection levels. However, Fumagillin negatively affected pre-cold storage fat body protein concentrations and colony sizes after cold storage and almond bloom. Treating with Fumagillin before overwintering in cold storage might result in greater colony survival if spore numbers are high, but undetectable or even negative effects when spore numbers are low.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vanessa Corby-Harris
- USDA-ARS, Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Henry Graham
- USDA-ARS, Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Mona Chambers
- USDA-ARS, Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Emily Watkins deJong
- USDA-ARS, Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Lucy Snyder
- USDA-ARS, Carl Hayden Bee Research Center, 2000 East Allen Road, Tucson, AZ, USA
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Aguado-López D, Urbieta Magro A, Higes M, Rodríguez JM, Martín-Hernández R. Influence of Age of Infection on the Gut Microbiota in Worker Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera iberiensis) Experimentally Infected with Nosema ceranae. Microorganisms 2024; 12:635. [PMID: 38674580 PMCID: PMC11051791 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota of honey bees has received increasing interest in the past decades due to its crucial role in their health, and can be disrupted by pathogen infection. Nosema ceranae is an intracellular parasite that affects the epithelial cells of the midgut, altering gut homeostasis and representing a major threat to honey bees. Previous studies indicated that younger worker bees are more susceptible to experimental infection by this parasite, although the impact of infection and of age on the gut bacterial communities remains unclear. To address this, honey bees were experimentally infected with a consistent number of N. ceranae spores at various ages post-emergence (p.e.) and the gut bacteria 7 days post-infection (p.i.) were analysed using real-time quantitative PCR, with the results compared to non-infected controls. Infected bees had a significantly higher proportion and load of Gilliamella apicola. In respect to the age of infection, the bees infected just after emergence had elevated loads of G. apicola, Bifidobacterium asteroides, Bombilactobacillus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Bartonella apis, and Bombella apis. Moreover, the G. apicola load was higher in bees infected at nearly all ages, whereas older non-infected bees had higher loads of Bifidobacterium asteroides, Bombilactobacillus spp., Lactobacillus spp., Ba. apis, and Bo apis. These findings suggest that N. ceranae infection and, in particular, the age of bees at infection modulate the gut bacterial community, with G. apicola being the most severely affected species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Aguado-López
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Almudena Urbieta Magro
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Mariano Higes
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.M.); (M.H.)
| | - Juan Miguel Rodríguez
- Departamento de Nutrición y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.M.); (M.H.)
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Urueña Á, Blasco-Lavilla N, De la Rúa P. Sulfoxaflor effects depend on the interaction with other pesticides and Nosema ceranae infection in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 264:115427. [PMID: 37666201 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees health is compromised by many factors such as the use of agrochemicals in agriculture and the various diseases that can affect them. Multiple studies have shown that these factors can interact, producing a synergistic effect that can compromise the viability of honey bees. This study analyses the interactions between different pesticides and the microsporidium Nosema ceranae and their effect on immune and detoxification gene expression, sugar consumption and mortality in the Iberian western honey bee (Apis mellifera iberiensis). For this purpose, workers were infected with N. ceranae and subjected to a sugar-water diet with field concentrations of the pesticides sulfoxaflor, azoxystrobin and glyphosate. Increased sugar intake and altered immune and cytochrome P450 gene expression were observed in workers exposed to sulfoxaflor and infected with N. ceranae. None of the pesticides affected Nosema spore production in honey bee gut. Of the three pesticides tested (alone or in combination) only sulfoxaflor increased mortality in honey bees. Taken together, our results suggest that the effects of sulfoxaflor were attenuated in contact with other pesticides, and that Nosema infection leads to increase sugar intake in sulfoxaflor-exposed bees. Overall, this underlines the importance of studying the interaction between different stressors to understand their overall impact not only on honey bee but also on wild bees health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Urueña
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Nuria Blasco-Lavilla
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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Hurná B, Sučik M, Staroň M, Tutka Š, Maková Z, Galajda R, Valenčáková A. Molecular Detection of Nosema spp. in Three Eco Regions of Slovakia. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:4814-4825. [PMID: 37367055 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45060306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Microsporidia are unicellular obligate intracellular parasitic fungi that infect a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates. There are two known species of microsporidia infecting honey bees in Slovakia- first Nosema apis and also Nosema ceranae. Our aim was to examine samples of honey bees collected from bee queen breeders in three ecoregions of the Slovak Republic in 2021 and 2022. First, microscopic diagnostics were used, and then randomly selected samples were examined using molecular methods. There were 4018 samples examined using microscopic diagnostics and the positivity was demonstrated in 922 samples. From the microscopically diagnosed positive samples, 507 samples were randomly selected, and using molecular methods, the positivity was proved in 488 samples. After sequencing the positive PCR products and comparing the sequences (BLAST) with the sequences stored in the gene bank, the Nosema ceranae species was detected in all positive samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beáta Hurná
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Monika Sučik
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Martin Staroň
- VÚŽV Nitra-Institute of Apiculture Liptovský Hrádok, Gašperíkova 599, 033 80 Liptovský Hrádok, Slovakia
| | - Štefan Tutka
- VÚŽV Nitra-Institute of Apiculture Liptovský Hrádok, Gašperíkova 599, 033 80 Liptovský Hrádok, Slovakia
| | - Zuzana Maková
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Richard Galajda
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
| | - Alexandra Valenčáková
- Department of Biology and Physiology, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Komenského 73, 041 81 Košice, Slovakia
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Jabal-Uriel C, Barrios L, Bonjour-Dalmon A, Caspi-Yona S, Chejanovsly N, Erez T, Henriques D, Higes M, Le Conte Y, Lopes AR, Meana A, Pinto MA, Reyes-Carreño M, Soroker V, Martín-Hernández R. Epidemiology of the Microsporidium Nosema ceranae in Four Mediterranean Countries. INSECTS 2022; 13:844. [PMID: 36135545 PMCID: PMC9505483 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is a highly prevalent intracellular parasite of honey bees' midgut worldwide. This Microsporidium was monitored during a long-term study to evaluate the infection at apiary and intra-colony levels in six apiaries in four Mediterranean countries (France, Israel, Portugal, and Spain). Parameters on colony strength, honey production, beekeeping management, and climate were also recorded. Except for São Miguel (Azores, Portugal), all apiaries were positive for N. ceranae, with the lowest prevalence in mainland France and the highest intra-colony infection in Israel. A negative correlation between intra-colony infection and colony strength was observed in Spain and mainland Portugal. In these two apiaries, the queen replacement also influenced the infection levels. The highest colony losses occurred in mainland France and Spain, although they did not correlate with the Nosema infection levels, as parasitism was low in France and high in Spain. These results suggest that both the effects and the level of N. ceranae infection depends on location and beekeeping conditions. Further studies on host-parasite coevolution, and perhaps the interactions with other pathogens and the role of honey bee genetics, could assist in understanding the difference between nosemosis disease and infection, to develop appropriate strategies for its control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Jabal-Uriel
- Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal de Castilla La Mancha (IRIAF), CIAPA de Marchamalo (Guadalajara, Spain), 19180 Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Laura Barrios
- Unidad de Estadística, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Anne Bonjour-Dalmon
- INRAE, Unité de Recherche Abeilles et Environnement, National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research, 84000 Avignon, France
| | - Shiran Caspi-Yona
- Mina and Aberhard Gudman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Nor Chejanovsly
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Tal Erez
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
- Department of Environmental Economics and Management, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 7610001, Israel
| | - Dora Henriques
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Mariano Higes
- Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal de Castilla La Mancha (IRIAF), CIAPA de Marchamalo (Guadalajara, Spain), 19180 Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRAE, Unité de Recherche Abeilles et Environnement, National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research, 84000 Avignon, France
| | - Ana R. Lopes
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Aránzazu Meana
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Alice Pinto
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Maritza Reyes-Carreño
- INRAE, Unité de Recherche Abeilles et Environnement, National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research, 84000 Avignon, France
| | - Victoria Soroker
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal de Castilla La Mancha (IRIAF), CIAPA de Marchamalo (Guadalajara, Spain), 19180 Marchamalo, Spain
- Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain
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Martínez-López V, Ruiz C, Muñoz I, Ornosa C, Higes M, Martín-Hernández R, De la Rúa P. Detection of Microsporidia in Pollinator Communities of a Mediterranean Biodiversity Hotspot for Wild Bees. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 84:638-642. [PMID: 34585291 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01854-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Insect pollination is crucial for the maintenance of natural and managed ecosystems but the functioning of this ecosystem service is threatened by a worldwide decline of pollinators. Key factors in this situation include the spread and interspecific transmission of pathogens worldwide through the movement of managed pollinators. Research on this field has been mainly conducted in some particular species, while studies assessing the interspecific transmission of pathogens at a community level are scarce. However, this information is pivotal to design strategies to protect pollinators. Herein, we analysed the prevalence of two common microsporidia pathogens of managed honey bees (Nosema ceranae and N. apis) in bee communities of semiarid Mediterranean areas from the Southeast of the Iberian Peninsula. Our results confirm the ability of N. ceranae to disperse across wild bee communities in semiarid Mediterranean ecosystems since it was detected in 36 Apoidea species (39% of the sampling; for the first time in nine genera). The prevalence of the pathogen did not show any phylogenetic signal which suggests a superfamily host range of the pathogen or that wild bees may be acting only as vectors of N. ceranae. In addition, N. apis was detected in an Eucera species, which is the second time it has been detected by molecular techniques in a host other than the honey bee. Our study represents the primary assessment of the prevalence of microsporidia at community level in Mediterranean areas and provides outstanding results on the ability of Nosema pathogens to spread across the landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Martínez-López
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 7ZB, UK.
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Murcia, Murcia, 30100, Spain.
| | - Carlos Ruiz
- Department of Animal Biology and Edaphology and Geology, University of La Laguna, San Cristobal de la Laguna, 38200, Spain
| | - Irene Muñoz
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Murcia, Murcia, 30100, Spain
| | - Concepción Ornosa
- Department of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution, Complutense University, Madrid, 28040, Spain
| | - Mariano Higes
- Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Honey Bee Pathology Laboratory, Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Marchamalo, 19180, Guadalajara, Spain
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Honey Bee Pathology Laboratory, Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Marchamalo, 19180, Guadalajara, Spain
- Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT, ESF), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Albacete, Albacete, 02006, Spain
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, University of Murcia, Murcia, 30100, Spain
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Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Arthropod, Fungal, Protozoan, Bacterial and Viral Pathogens of Honeybees. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9050221. [PMID: 35622749 PMCID: PMC9145064 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9050221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The honeybee Apis mellifera is highly appreciated worldwide because of its products, but also as it is a pollinator of crops and wild plants. The beehive is vulnerable to infections due to arthropods, fungi, protozoa, bacteria and/or viruses that manage to by-pass the individual and social immune mechanisms of bees. Due to the close proximity of bees in the beehive and their foraging habits, infections easily spread within and between beehives. Moreover, international trade of bees has caused the global spread of infections, several of which result in significant losses for apiculture. Only in a few cases can infections be diagnosed with the naked eye, by direct observation of the pathogen in the case of some arthropods, or by pathogen-associated distinctive traits. Development of molecular methods based on the amplification and analysis of one or more genes or genomic segments has brought significant progress to the study of bee pathogens, allowing for: (i) the precise and sensitive identification of the infectious agent; (ii) the analysis of co-infections; (iii) the description of novel species; (iv) associations between geno- and pheno-types and (v) population structure studies. Sequencing of bee pathogen genomes has allowed for the identification of new molecular targets and the development of specific genotypification strategies.
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Jabal-Uriel C, Albarracín VN, Calatayud J, Higes M, Martín-Hernández R. Age and Season Effect the Timing of Adult Worker Honeybee Infection by Nosema ceranae. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 11:823050. [PMID: 35155274 PMCID: PMC8836290 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.823050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The microsporidia Nosema ceranae is an intracellular parasite of honeybees’ midgut, highly prevalent in Apis mellifera colonies for which important epidemiological information is still unknown. Our research aimed at understanding how age and season influence the onset of infection in honeybees and its development in the colony environment. Adult worker honeybees of less than 24h were marked and introduced into 6 different colonies in assays carried out in spring and autumn. Bees of known age were individually analyzed by PCR for Nosema spp. infection and those resulting positive were studied to determine the load by Real Time-qPCR. The age of onset and development of infection in each season was studied on a total of 2401 bees and the probability and the load of infection for both periods was established with two statistical models. First N. ceranae infected honeybees were detected at day 5 post emergence (p.e.; spring) and at day 4 p.e. (autumn) and in-hive prevalence increased from that point onwards, reaching the highest mean infection on day 18 p.e. (spring). The probability of infection increased significantly with age in both periods although the age variable better correlated in spring. The N. ceranae load tended to increase with age in both periods, although the age-load relationship was clearer in spring than in autumn. Therefore, age and season play an important role on the probability and the development of N. ceranae infection in honeybees, bringing important information to understand how it spreads within a colony.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Jabal-Uriel
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Verónica N. Albarracín
- Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Joaquín Calatayud
- Departamento de Biología, Geología, Física y Química inorgánica, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariano Higes
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
- Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT – ESF/EC-FSE), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla – La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
- *Correspondence: Raquel Martín-Hernández,
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Truong AT, Sevin S, Kim S, Yoo MS, Cho YS, Yoon B. Rapidly quantitative detection of Nosema ceranae in honeybees using ultra-rapid real-time quantitative PCR. J Vet Sci 2021; 22:e40. [PMID: 34056881 PMCID: PMC8170219 DOI: 10.4142/jvs.2021.22.e40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae is a global problem in honeybee populations and is known to cause winter mortality. A sensitive and rapid tool for stable quantitative detection is necessary to establish further research related to the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of this pathogen. OBJECTIVES The present study aimed to develop a quantitative method that incorporates ultra-rapid real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (UR-qPCR) for the rapid enumeration of N. ceranae in infected bees. METHODS A procedure for UR-qPCR detection of N. ceranae was developed, and the advantages of molecular detection were evaluated in comparison with microscopic enumeration. RESULTS UR-qPCR was more sensitive than microscopic enumeration for detecting two copies of N. ceranae DNA and 24 spores per bee. Meanwhile, the limit of detection by microscopy was 2.40 × 10⁴ spores/bee, and the stable detection level was ≥ 2.40 × 10⁵ spores/bee. The results of N. ceranae calculations from the infected honeybees and purified spores by UR-qPCR showed that the DNA copy number was approximately 8-fold higher than the spore count. Additionally, honeybees infected with N. ceranae with 2.74 × 10⁴ copies of N. ceranae DNA were incapable of detection by microscopy. The results of quantitative analysis using UR-qPCR were accomplished within 20 min. CONCLUSIONS UR-qPCR is expected to be the most rapid molecular method for Nosema detection and has been developed for diagnosing nosemosis at low levels of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tai Truong
- Department of Life Science, College of Fusion Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Korea.,Faculty of Biotechnology, Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen 250000, Vietnam.,Parasitic and Honeybee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal & Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Korea
| | - Sedat Sevin
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara 06560, Turkey
| | - Seonmi Kim
- Department of Life Science, College of Fusion Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Korea
| | - Mi Sun Yoo
- Parasitic and Honeybee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal & Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Korea
| | - Yun Sang Cho
- Parasitic and Honeybee Disease Laboratory, Bacterial Disease Division, Department of Animal & Plant Health Research, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon 39660, Korea.
| | - Byoungsu Yoon
- Department of Life Science, College of Fusion Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Korea.
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Buendía-Abad M, Higes M, Martín-Hernández R, Barrios L, Meana A, Fernández Fernández A, Osuna A, De Pablos LM. Workflow of Lotmaria passim isolation: Experimental infection with a low-passage strain causes higher honeybee mortality rates than the PRA-403 reference strain. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY-PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2020; 14:68-74. [PMID: 33532238 PMCID: PMC7829110 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The impact of trypanosomatid parasites on honeybee health may represent a major threat to bee colonies worldwide. However, few axenic isolates have been generated to date and with no details on cell culture passages, a parameter that could influence parasite virulence. To address this question, a trypanosomatid isolation protocol was developed and a new strain was obtained, named L. passim C1. Using experimental infection of worker honeybees, we compared the virulence and mortality rates of the ATCC PRA-403 reference strain and C1 strain, the latter showing higher virulence from 10 days post-infection onward. This study highlights the impact of cell culture passages on the pathogenicity of L. passim in honeybees, providing new evidence of its negative effects on honeybee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Buendía-Abad
- IRIAF - Regional Institute for Agrifood and Forestry Research and Development, Laboratory of Bee Pathology, Center for Beekeeping and Agro-environmental Research (CIAPA), Community of Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Mariano Higes
- IRIAF - Regional Institute for Agrifood and Forestry Research and Development, Laboratory of Bee Pathology, Center for Beekeeping and Agro-environmental Research (CIAPA), Community of Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- IRIAF - Regional Institute for Agrifood and Forestry Research and Development, Laboratory of Bee Pathology, Center for Beekeeping and Agro-environmental Research (CIAPA), Community of Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain.,Institute of Human Resources for Science and Technology (INCRECYT-FEDER), Science and Technology Park Foundation from Castilla - La Mancha, Albacete, Spain
| | - Laura Barrios
- Statistics Department, Computing Center SGAI-CSIC, 28006, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aranzazu Meana
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Fernández Fernández
- Department of Parasitology, Biochemical and Molecular Parasitology Group CTS-183, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio Osuna
- Department of Parasitology, Biochemical and Molecular Parasitology Group CTS-183, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.,Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel De Pablos
- Department of Parasitology, Biochemical and Molecular Parasitology Group CTS-183, University of Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain.,Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
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Lannutti L, Mira A, Basualdo M, Rodriguez G, Erler S, Silva V, Gisder S, Genersch E, Florin-Christensen M, Schnittger L. Development of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) and a direct LAMP for the specific detection of Nosema ceranae, a parasite of honey bees. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:3947-3956. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06915-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Gómez-Moracho T, Buendía-Abad M, Benito M, García-Palencia P, Barrios L, Bartolomé C, Maside X, Meana A, Jiménez-Antón MD, Olías-Molero AI, Alunda JM, Martín-Hernández R, Higes M. Experimental evidence of harmful effects of Crithidia mellificae and Lotmaria passim on honey bees. Int J Parasitol 2020; 50:1117-1124. [PMID: 32822679 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2020.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The trypanosomatids Crithidia mellificae and Lotmaria passim are very prevalent in honey bee colonies and potentially contribute to colony losses that currently represent a serious threat to honey bees. However, potential pathogenicity of these trypanosomatids remains unclear and since studies of infection are scarce, there is little information about the virulence of their different morphotypes. Hence, we first cultured C. mellificae and L. passim (ATCC reference strains) in six different culture media to analyse their growth rates and to obtain potentially infective morphotypes. Both C. mellificae and L. passim grew in five of the media tested, with the exception of M199. These trypanosomatids multiplied fastest in BHI medium, in which they reached a stationary phase after around 96 h of growth. Honey bees inoculated with either Crithidia or Lotmaria died faster than control bees and their mortality was highest when they were inoculated with 96 h cultured L. passim. Histological and Electron Microscopy analyses revealed flagellated morphotypes of Crithidia and Lotmaria in the lumen of the ileum, and adherent non-flagellated L. passim morphotypes covering the epithelium, although no lesions were evident. These data indicate that parasitic forms of these trypanosomatids obtained from the early stationary growth phase infect honey bees. Therefore, efficient infection can be achieved to study their intra-host development and to assess the potential pathogenicity of these trypanosomatids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Gómez-Moracho
- Research Centre on Animal Cognition (CRCA), Centre for Integrative Biology (CBI), University Paul Sabatier, CNRS, UPS, France
| | - María Buendía-Abad
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - María Benito
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Pilar García-Palencia
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura Barrios
- Consejo Superior Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), SGAI, Departamento de Estadística, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carolina Bartolomé
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain; Grupo de Xenómica Comparada de Parásitos. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Xulio Maside
- Grupo de Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, 15782, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain; Grupo de Xenómica Comparada de Parásitos. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago (IDIS), 15706, Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
| | - Aránzazu Meana
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - María Dolores Jiménez-Antón
- Department of Animal Health, Group ICPVet, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Isabel Olías-Molero
- Department of Animal Health, Group ICPVet, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José María Alunda
- Department of Animal Health, Group ICPVet, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain; Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT-FEDER), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla - La Mancha, Spain
| | - Mariano Higes
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Marchamalo, Spain.
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Urbieta-Magro A, Higes M, Meana A, Barrios L, Martín-Hernández R. Age and Method of Inoculation Influence the Infection of Worker Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera) by Nosema ceranae. INSECTS 2019; 10:E417. [PMID: 31766667 PMCID: PMC6956240 DOI: 10.3390/insects10120417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 11/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae is a highly prevalent, global honey bee pathogen. Apis mellifera is considered to be a relatively recent host for this microsporidia, which raises questions as to how it affects its host's physiology, behavior and longevity, both at the individual and colony level. As such, honey bees were inoculated with fresh purified spores of this pathogen, both individually (Group A) or collectively (Group B) and they were studied from 0 to 15 days post-emergence (p.e.) to evaluate the effect of bee age and the method of inoculation at 7 days post-infection. The level of infection was analyzed individually by qPCR by measuring the relative amount of the N. ceranae polar tubule protein 3 (PTP3) gene. The results show that the bee's age and the method of infection directly influence parasite load, and thus, early disease development. Significant differences were found regarding bee age at the time of infection, whereby the youngest bees (new-born and 1 day p.e.) developed the highest parasite load, with this load decreasing dramatically in bees infected at 2 days p.e. before increasing again in bees infected at 3-4 days p.e. The parasite load in bees infected when older than 4 days p.e. diminished as they aged. When the age cohort data was pooled and grouped according to the method of infection, a significantly higher mean concentration and lower variation in N. ceranae infection was evident in Group A, indicating greater variation in experimental infection when spores were administered collectively to bees through their food. In summary, these data indicate that both biological and experimental factors should be taken into consideration when comparing data published in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Almudena Urbieta-Magro
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.-M.); (M.H.)
| | - Mariano Higes
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.-M.); (M.H.)
| | - Aránzazu Meana
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Laura Barrios
- Statistics Department, Computing Center SGAI-CSIC, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- IRIAF. Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha, Camino de San Martín s/n, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (A.U.-M.); (M.H.)
- Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT-FEDER), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla—La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain
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