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Lau E, Maccaro J, McFrederick QS, Nieh JC. Exploring the interactions between Nosema ceranae infection and the honey bee gut microbiome. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20037. [PMID: 39198535 PMCID: PMC11358482 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67796-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Managed colonies of the European honey bee, Apis mellifera, have faced considerable losses in recent years. A widespread contributing factor is a microsporidian pathogen, Nosema ceranae, which occurs worldwide, is increasingly resistant to antibiotic treatment, and can alter the host's immune response and nutritional uptake. These obligate gut pathogens share their environment with a natural honey bee microbiome whose composition can affect pathogen resistance. We tested the effect of N. ceranae infection on this microbiome by feeding 5 day-old adult bees that had natural, fully developed microbiomes with live N. ceranae spores (40,000 per bee) or a sham inoculation, sterile 2.0 M sucrose solution. We caged and reared these bees in a controlled lab environment and tracked their mortality over 12 d, after which we dissected them, measured their infection levels (gut spore counts), and analyzed their microbiomes. Bees fed live spores had two-fold higher mortality by 12 d and 36.5-fold more spores per bee than controls. There were also strong colony effects on infection levels, and 9% of spore-inoculated bees had no spore counts at all (defined as fed-spores-but-not-infected). Nosema ceranae infection had significant but subtle effects on the gut microbiomes of experimentally infected bees, bees with different infection levels, and fed-spores-but-not-infected vs. bees with gut spores. Specific bacteria, including Gilliamella ASVs, were positively associated with infection, indicating that multiple strains of core gut microbes either facilitate or resist N. ceranae infection. Future studies on the interactions between bacterial, pathogen, and host genotypes would be illuminating.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmund Lau
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jessica Maccaro
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA
| | - Quinn S McFrederick
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA, 92521, USA.
| | - James C Nieh
- School of Biological Sciences, Department of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Farhadi Z, Sadeghi AA, Motamedi Sedeh F, Chamani M. The effects of thymol, oxalic acid (Api-Bioxal) and hops extract (Nose-Go) on viability, the Nosema sp. spore load and the expression of vg and sod-1 genes in infected honey bees. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:4736-4745. [PMID: 36905146 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2023.2187409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2023]
Abstract
This study was done to investigate the effects of thymol, fumagillin, oxalic acid (Api-Bioxal) and hops extract (Nose-Go) on Nosema sp. spore load, the expression of vitellogenin (vg) and superoxide-dismutase-1 (sod-1) genes and mortality of bees infected with N. ceranae. Five healthy colonies were assigned as the negative control, and 25 Nosema sp. infected colonies were assigned to five treatment groups including: the positive control: no additive to sirup; fumagillin 26.4 mg/L, thymol 0.1 g/L, Api-Bioxal 0.64 g/L and Nose-Go 5.0 g/L sirup. The reduction in the number of Nosema sp. spores in fumagillin, thymol, Api-Bioxal and Nose-Go compared to the positive control was 54, 25, 30 and 58%, respectively. Nosema sp. infection in all infected groups increased (p < .05) Escherichia coli population compared to the negative control. Nose-Go had a negative effect on lactobacillus population compared to other substances. Nosema sp. infection decreased vg and sod-1 genes expression in all infected groups compared to the negative control. Fumagillin and Nose-Go increased the expression of vg gene, and Nose-Go and thymol increased the expression of sod-1 gene than the positive control. Nose-Go has the potential to treat nosemosis if the necessary lactobacillus population is provided in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Farhadi
- Department of Animal Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Asghar Sadeghi
- Department of Animal Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farahnaz Motamedi Sedeh
- Nuclear Agriculture Research School, Nuclear Science and Technology Research Institute, Karaj, Iran
| | - Mohammad Chamani
- Department of Animal Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Biganski S, Lester T, Obshta O, Jose MS, Thebeau JM, Masood F, Silva MCB, Camilli MP, Raza MF, Zabrodski MW, Kozii I, Koziy R, Moshynskyy I, Simko E, Wood SC. Comparison of individual and pooled sampling methods for estimation of Vairimorpha ( Nosema) spp. levels in experimentally infected honey bee colonies. J Vet Diagn Invest 2023; 35:639-644. [PMID: 37638692 PMCID: PMC10621544 DOI: 10.1177/10406387231194620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The microsporidian pathogens Vairimorpha apis and V. ceranae are known to cause intestinal infection in honey bees and are associated with decreased colony productivity and colony loss. The widely accepted method for determining Vairimorpha colony infection level for risk assessment and antibiotic treatment is based on spore counts of 60 pooled worker bees using light microscopy. Given that honey bee colonies consist of as many as 1,000 times more individuals, the number of bees collected for Vairimorpha detection may significantly impact the estimated colony infection level, especially in the case of uneven distribution of high- and low-infected individuals within a hive. Hence, we compared the frequency and severity of Vairimorpha infection in individual bees to pooled samples of 60, 120, and 180 bees, as well as compared the Vairimorpha spp. prevalence in pooled samples of 60 and 180 bees. Overall, we did not find significant differences in spore counts in pooled samples containing incremental numbers of bees, although we observed that, in less-infected colonies, a low frequency of highly infected individuals influenced the estimated colony infection level. Moreover, Vairimorpha spp. prevalence did not differ significantly among the pooled bee samples tested. Increasing the number of pooled bees from the recommended 60 bees to 180 bees did not yield a more accurate representation of colony infection level for highly infected colonies, but the clinical importance of a low frequency of highly infected individuals in less-infected colonies needs to be addressed in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Biganski
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Tessa Lester
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Oleksii Obshta
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Midhun S. Jose
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Jenna M. Thebeau
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Fatima Masood
- Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Marina C. B. Silva
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Marcelo P. Camilli
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Muhammad F. Raza
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Michael W. Zabrodski
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Prairie Diagnostic Services, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Ivanna Kozii
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Prairie Diagnostic Services, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Roman Koziy
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Prairie Diagnostic Services, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Igor Moshynskyy
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Elemir Simko
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Sarah C. Wood
- Departments of Veterinary Pathology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Nekoei S, Rezvan M, Khamesipour F, Mayack C, Molento MB, Revainera PD. A systematic review of honey bee (Apis mellifera, Linnaeus, 1758) infections and available treatment options. Vet Med Sci 2023. [PMID: 37335585 PMCID: PMC10357250 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Honey bees and honeycomb bees are very valuable for wild flowering plants and economically important crops due to their role as pollinators. However, these insects confront many disease threats (viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi) and large pesticide concentrations in the environment. Varroa destructor is the most prevalent disease that has had the most negative effects on the fitness and survival of different honey bees (Apis mellifera and A. cerana). Moreover, honey bees are social insects and this ectoparasite can be easily transmitted within and across bee colonies. OBJECTIVE This review aims to provide a survey of the diversity and distribution of important bee infections and possible management and treatment options, so that honey bee colony health can be maintained. METHODS We used PRISMA guidelines throughout article selection, published between January 1960 and December 2020. PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Ovid databases were searched. RESULTS We have collected 132 articles and retained 106 articles for this study. The data obtained revealed that V. destructor and Nosema spp. were found to be the major pathogens of honey bees worldwide. The impact of these infections can result in the incapacity of forager bees to fly, disorientation, paralysis, and death of many individuals in the colony. We find that both hygienic and chemical pest management strategies must be implemented to prevent, reduce the parasite loads and transmission of pathogens. The use of an effective miticide (fluvalinate-tau, coumaphos and amitraz) now seems to be an essential and common practice required to minimise the impact of Varroa mites and other pathogens on bee colonies. New, alternative biofriendly control methods, are on the rise, and could be critical for maintaining honey bee hive health and improving honey productivity. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that critical health control methods be adopted globally and that an international monitoring system be implemented to determine honey bee colony safety, regularly identify parasite prevalence, as well as potential risk factors, so that the impact of pathogens on bee health can be recognised and quantified on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahin Nekoei
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahsa Rezvan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Faham Khamesipour
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Christopher Mayack
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Bioengineering, Sabanci University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Marcelo Beltrão Molento
- Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
- Microbiology, Parasitology, Pathology Program, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Pablo Damián Revainera
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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5
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Lang H, Wang H, Wang H, Zhong Z, Xie X, Zhang W, Guo J, Meng L, Hu X, Zhang X, Zheng H. Engineered symbiotic bacteria interfering Nosema redox system inhibit microsporidia parasitism in honeybees. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2778. [PMID: 37210527 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38498-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is an intracellular parasite invading the midgut of honeybees, which causes serious nosemosis implicated in honeybee colony losses worldwide. The core gut microbiota is involved in protecting against parasitism, and the genetically engineering of the native gut symbionts provides a novel and efficient way to fight pathogens. Here, using laboratory-generated bees mono-associated with gut members, we find that Snodgrassella alvi inhibit microsporidia proliferation, potentially via the stimulation of host oxidant-mediated immune response. Accordingly, N. ceranae employs the thioredoxin and glutathione systems to defend against oxidative stress and maintain a balanced redox equilibrium, which is essential for the infection process. We knock down the gene expression using nanoparticle-mediated RNA interference, which targets the γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase and thioredoxin reductase genes of microsporidia. It significantly reduces the spore load, confirming the importance of the antioxidant mechanism for the intracellular invasion of the N. ceranae parasite. Finally, we genetically modify the symbiotic S. alvi to deliver dsRNA corresponding to the genes involved in the redox system of the microsporidia. The engineered S. alvi induces RNA interference and represses parasite gene expression, thereby inhibits the parasitism significantly. Specifically, N. ceranae is most suppressed by the recombinant strain corresponding to the glutathione synthetase or by a mixture of bacteria expressing variable dsRNA. Our findings extend our previous understanding of the protection of gut symbionts against N. ceranae and provide a symbiont-mediated RNAi system for inhibiting microsporidia infection in honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyu Lang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Wang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Haoqing Wang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaopeng Zhong
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Xianbing Xie
- Department of Laboratory Animal Science, Nanchang University, 330006, Nanchang, China
| | - Wenhao Zhang
- Faculty of Agriculture and Food, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 650031, Kunming, China
| | - Jun Guo
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 650031, Kunming, China
| | - Liang Meng
- BGI-Qingdao, BGI-Shenzhen, 266555, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaosong Hu
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, 100083, Beijing, China.
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Berbeć E, Migdał P, Cebrat M, Roman A, Murawska A. Honeybee age and inoculum concentration as factors affecting the development of Nosema ceranae infection. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2022.2121009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- E. Berbeć
- Bee Division, Department of Environment, Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - P. Migdał
- Bee Division, Department of Environment, Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - M. Cebrat
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Immunology, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - A. Roman
- Bee Division, Department of Environment, Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - A. Murawska
- Bee Division, Department of Environment, Hygiene and Animal Welfare, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
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Bahreini R, Nasr M, Docherty C, de Herdt O, Feindel D, Muirhead S. In Vivo Inhibitory Assessment of Potential Antifungal Agents on Nosema ceranae Proliferation in Honey Bees. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11111375. [PMID: 36422626 PMCID: PMC9695399 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11111375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Nosema ceranae Fries, 1996, causes contagious fungal nosemosis disease in managed honey bees, Apis mellifera L. It is associated around the world with winter losses and colony collapse disorder. We used a laboratory in vivo screening assay to test curcumin, fenbendazole, nitrofurazone and ornidazole against N. ceranae in honey bees to identify novel compounds with anti-nosemosis activity compared to the commercially available medication Fumagilin-B®. Over a 20-day period, Nosema-inoculated bees in Plexiglas cages were orally treated with subsequent dilutions of candidate compounds, or Fumagilin-B® at the recommended dose, with three replicates per treatment. Outcomes indicated that fenbendazole suppressed Nosema spore proliferation, resulting in lower spore abundance in live bees (0.36 ± 1.18 million spores per bee) and dead bees (0.03 ± 0.25 million spores per bee), in comparison to Fumagilin-B®-treated live bees (3.21 ± 2.19 million spores per bee) and dead bees (3.5 ± 0.6 million spores per bee). Our findings suggest that Fumagilin-B® at the recommended dose suppressed Nosema. However, it was also likely responsible for killing Nosema-infected bees (24% mortality). Bees treated with fenbendazole experienced a greater survival probability (71%), followed by ornidazole (69%), compared to Nosema-infected non-treated control bees (20%). This research revealed that among screened compounds, fenbendazole, along with ornidazole, has potential effective antifungal activities against N. ceranae in a controlled laboratory environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rassol Bahreini
- Plant and Bee Health Surveillance Section, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
- Correspondence:
| | - Medhat Nasr
- Plant and Bee Health Surveillance Section, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3, Canada
- Saskatchewan Beekeepers Development Commission, Prince Albert, SK S6V 6Z2, Canada
| | - Cassandra Docherty
- Plant and Bee Health Surveillance Section, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3, Canada
| | - Olivia de Herdt
- Plant and Bee Health Surveillance Section, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3, Canada
| | - David Feindel
- Plant and Bee Health Surveillance Section, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3, Canada
| | - Samantha Muirhead
- Plant and Bee Health Surveillance Section, Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, Edmonton, AB T5Y 6H3, Canada
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8
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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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Willis AR, Reinke AW. Factors That Determine Microsporidia Infection and Host Specificity. EXPERIENTIA SUPPLEMENTUM (2012) 2022; 114:91-114. [PMID: 35544000 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-93306-7_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microsporidia are a large phylum of obligate intracellular parasites that infect an extremely diverse range of animals and protists. In this chapter, we review what is currently known about microsporidia host specificity and what factors influence microsporidia infection. Extensive sampling in nature from related hosts has provided insight into the host range of many microsporidia species. These field studies have been supported by experiments conducted in controlled laboratory environments which have helped to demonstrate host specificity. Together, these approaches have revealed that, while examples of generalist species exist, microsporidia specificity is often narrow, and species typically infect one or several closely related hosts. For microsporidia to successfully infect and complete their life cycle within a compatible host, several steps must occur, including spore germination, host cell invasion, and proliferation of the parasite within the host tissue. Many factors influence infection, including temperature, seasonality, nutrient availability, and the presence or absence of microbes, as well as the developmental stage, sex, and genetics of the host. Several studies have identified host genomic regions that influence resistance to microsporidia, and future work is likely to uncover molecular mechanisms of microsporidia host specificity in more detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra R Willis
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Aaron W Reinke
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Özgör E. The Effects of Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae Infection on Survival and Phenoloxidase Gene Expression in Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Galleriidae) Compared to Apis mellifera. INSECTS 2021; 12:953. [PMID: 34680722 PMCID: PMC8538655 DOI: 10.3390/insects12100953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The study aims to prove the possibility of colonization of N. apis and N. ceranae to the intestine of the greater wax moth, detect the differences of greater wax moth based on the presence of Nosema species and examine the effect of Nosema species on the phenoloxidase level of greater wax moth compared with honeybees. Each group was fed on the 1st day of the experiment with its appropriate diet containing 106 Nosema spores per insect. Each group was checked daily, and dead insects were counted. Furthermore, changes in the level of expression of the phenoloxidase-related gene after Nosema spp. treatment on the 6th, 9th and 12th days, which was detected by Q-PCR, and the mRNA level of phenoloxidase gene were measured in all experiment groups with the CFX Connect Real-Time PCR Detection System. This study shows that Apis mellifera L. has a 66.7% mortality rate in mixed Nosema infections, a 50% mortality rate in N. ceranae infection, a 40% mortality rate in N. apis infection, while there is no death in G. mellonella. A significant difference was found in the mixed Nosema infection group compared to the single Nosema infection groups by means of A. mellifera and G. mellonella (Duncan, p < 0.05). G. mellonella histopathology also shows that Nosema spores multiply in the epithelial cells of greater wax moth without causing any death. The increase in the mRNA level of Phenoloxidase gene in A. mellifera was detected (Kruskal-Wallis, p < 0.05), while the mRNA level of the Phenoloxidase gene did not change in G. mellonella (Kruskal-Wallis, p > 0.05). These findings prove that the Nosema species can colonize into the greater wax moth, which contributes to the dissemination of these Nosema species between beehives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erkay Özgör
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cyprus International University, 99258 Mersin-10, Turkey; ; Tel.: +90-3926711111
- Cyprus Bee and Bee Products Research Centre, Cyprus International University, 99258 Mersin-10, Turkey
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11
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Effect of feeding chitosan or peptidoglycan on Nosema ceranae infection and gene expression related to stress and the innate immune response of honey bees (Apis mellifera). J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 185:107671. [PMID: 34563551 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian parasite that causes nosema disease, an infection of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) midgut. Two pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs), chitosan and peptidoglycan, and N. ceranae spores were fed to worker bees in sucrose syrup and compared to non-inoculated and N. ceranae-inoculated bees without PAMPs. Both chitosan and peptidoglycan significantly increased bee survivorship and reduced spore numbers due to N. ceranae infection. To determine if these results were related to changes in health status, expression of the immune-related genes, hymenoptaecin and defensin2, and the stress tolerance-related gene, blue cheese, was compared to that of control bees. Compared to the inoculated control, bees with the dose of chitosan that significantly reduced N. ceranae spore numbers showed lower expression of hymenoptaecin and defensin2 early after infection, higher expression mid-infection of defensin2 and lower expression of all three genes late in infection. In contrast, higher expression of defensin2 early in the infection and all three genes late in the infection was observed with peptidoglycan treatment. Changes late in the parasite multiplication stage when mature spores would be released from ruptured host cells are less likely to have contributed to reduced spore production. Based on these results, it is concluded that feeding bees chitosan or peptidoglycan can reduce N. ceranae infection, which is at least partially related to altering the health of the bee by inducing immune and stress-related gene expression.
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Zhang Y, Su M, Wang L, Huang S, Su S, Huang WF. Vairimorpha ( Nosema) ceranae Infection Alters Honey Bee Microbiota Composition and Sustains the Survival of Adult Honey Bees. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10090905. [PMID: 34571782 PMCID: PMC8464679 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary The gut microbiota, in addition to the hosts and the pathogens, has become the third factor involved in gut disease developments, including honey bees. Interestingly, various studies reported positive associations between the gut bacteria and the most commonly found microsporidian pathogen instead of negative associations. To investigate the positive associations, a prebiotic that also exists in honey was added in the trials. Bees fed the prebiotics have slightly higher pathogen counts but lower mortalities. Microbiota analyses suggested that bees with the infection have a microbiota composition similar to that of bees with a longer lifespan, and the prebiotic seemed to enhance the similarities. Since microsporidia typically cause chronic infections, the positive associations may serve to sustain the host lifespans which is the optimal outcome for the pathogen that the survived bees can withstand pathogen proliferation and transmit the pathogens. Although the mechanisms underlying the associations were not revealed, this study indicated that nosema disease management in bees through changes in microbiota may shorten the lifespans or enhance both the infection and the bee population. Such results have appeared in recent field studies. More studies will be needed for the disease management using bee gut microbiota. Abstract Vairimorpha (Nosema) ceranae is the most common eukaryotic gut pathogen in honey bees. Infection is typically chronic but may result in mortality. Gut microbiota is a factor that was recently noted for gut infectious disease development. Interestingly, studies identified positive, instead of negative, associations between core bacteria of honey bee microbiota and V. ceranae infection. To investigate the effects of the positive associations, we added isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO), a prebiotic sugar also found in honey, to enhance the positive associations, and we then investigated the infection and the gut microbiota alterations using qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We found that infected bees fed IMO had significantly higher V. ceranae spore counts but lower mortalities. In microbiota comparisons, V. ceranae infections alone significantly enhanced the overall microbiota population in the honey bee hindgut and feces; all monitored core bacteria significantly increased in the quantities but not all in the population ratios. The microbiota alterations caused by the infection were enhanced with IMO, and these alterations were similar to the differences found in bees that naturally have longer lifespans. Although our results did not clarify the causations of the positive associations between the infections and microbiota, the associations seemed to sustain the host survival and benefit the pathogen. Enhancing indigenous gut microbe to control nosema disease may result in an increment of bee populations but not the control of the pathogen. This interaction between the pathogen and microbiota potentially enhances disease transmission and avoids the social immune responses that diseased bees die prematurely to curb the disease from spreading within colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yakun Zhang
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.Z.); (M.S.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
| | - Meiling Su
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.Z.); (M.S.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
| | - Long Wang
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.Z.); (M.S.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
| | - Shaokang Huang
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.Z.); (M.S.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
- Fujian Honey Bee Biology Observation Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Songkun Su
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.Z.); (M.S.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
| | - Wei-Fone Huang
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; (Y.Z.); (M.S.); (L.W.); (S.H.); (S.S.)
- Fujian Honey Bee Biology Observation Station, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Fuzhou 350002, China
- Correspondence:
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Galajda R, Valenčáková A, Sučik M, Kandráčová P. Nosema Disease of European Honey Bees. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7090714. [PMID: 34575752 PMCID: PMC8468538 DOI: 10.3390/jof7090714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 08/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nosematosis is currently a frequently discussed honey bee disease caused by two types of Microsporidia: Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. Nosematosis as an intestinal disease caused by these species is one of the main factors associated with the weakening and loss of hives, with none of the stressors acting in isolation and all having an important synergistic or additive effect on the occurrence of parasitic infection. The most important factors are exposure to pesticides and nutritional stress, both worsening the immune response. Honey bees Apis mellifera become more susceptible to parasites and subsequently the disease manifests itself. Choosing the right laboratory diagnostics is important to determine the prevalence of both species. Our review summarizes the most commonly used methodologies, especially polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is a reliable method for detecting nosematosis, as well as for distinguishing between the two species causing the disease.
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Betti M, Shaw K. A Multi-Scale Model of Disease Transfer in Honey Bee Colonies. INSECTS 2021; 12:700. [PMID: 34442266 PMCID: PMC8396591 DOI: 10.3390/insects12080700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Inter-colony disease transfer poses a serious hurdle to successfully managing healthy honeybee colonies. In this study, we build a multi-scale model of two interacting honey bee colonies. The model considers the effects of forager and drone drift, guarding behaviour, and resource robbing of dying colonies on the spread of disease between colonies. Our results show that when drifting is high, disease can spread rapidly between colonies, that guarding behaviour needs to be particularly efficient to be effective, and that for dense apiaries drifting is of greater concern than robbing. We show that while disease can put an individual colony at greater risk, drifting can help less the burden of disease in a colony. We posit some evolutionary questions that come from this study that can be addressed with this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Betti
- Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB E4L 1E2, Canada
| | - Karalyne Shaw
- Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3, Canada;
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Nosema ceranae Infections in Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera) Treated with Pre/Probiotics and Impacts on Colonies in the Field. Vet Sci 2021; 8:vetsci8060107. [PMID: 34200566 PMCID: PMC8226692 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8060107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternatives to the antibiotic fumagillin for the control of Nosema ceranae, a gut parasite of the honey bee, are needed. The prebiotics eugenol, chitosan, and naringenin and the probiotic Protexin® (Enterococcus faecium) provided in sugar syrup or protein patty either in spring or fall were evaluated for their effects on N. ceranae infection, colony population, honey yield and winter survivorship using field colonies. In the first year, spring treatments with eugenol, naringenin, and Protexin® significantly reduced N. ceranae infection and increased honey production, while Protexin® also increased adult bee populations and chitosan was ineffective. Fall treatments increased survivorship and decreased N. ceranae infection the following spring. In the second year, selected compounds were further tested with a larger number of colonies per treatment and only protein patty used in the spring and sugar syrup in the fall. Protexin® and naringenin significantly decreased N. ceranae infections and increased the population of adult bees after spring treatment, but did not affect honey yields. There were no differences between treatments for colony winter mortality, but surviving colonies that had been treated with Protexin® and naringenin were significantly more populated and had lower N. ceranae spore counts than control, non-treated colonies. Protexin® and naringenin were the most promising candidates for controlling N. ceranae and promoting honey bee populations, warranting further investigation. Future research should investigate the optimal colony dose and treatment frequency to maximize colony health.
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Glavinic U, Stevanovic J, Ristanic M, Rajkovic M, Davitkov D, Lakic N, Stanimirovic Z. Potential of Fumagillin and Agaricus blazei Mushroom Extract to Reduce Nosema ceranae in Honey Bees. INSECTS 2021; 12:282. [PMID: 33806001 PMCID: PMC8064457 DOI: 10.3390/insects12040282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Depending on the infection level and colony strength, Nosema ceranae, a microsporidian endoparasite of the honey bee may have significant consequences on the health, reproduction and productivity of bee colonies. Despite exerting some side effects, fumagillin is most often used for Nosema control. In this study, in a cage experiment, N. ceranae infected bees were treated with fumagillin or the extract of Agaricus blazei mushroom, a possible alternative for Nosema control. Bee survival, Nosema spore loads, the expression levels of immune-related genes and parameters of oxidative stress were observed. Fumagillin treatment showed a negative effect on monitored parameters when applied preventively to non-infected bees, while a noticeable anti-Nosema effect and protection from Nosema-induced immunosuppression and oxidative stress were proven in Nosema-infected bees. However, a protective effect of the natural A. blazei extract was detected, without any side effects but with immunostimulatory activity in the preventive application. The results of this research suggest the potential of A. blazei extract for Nosema control, which needs to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uros Glavinic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Jevrosima Stevanovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Marko Ristanic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Milan Rajkovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
| | - Dajana Davitkov
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Forensic Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Nada Lakic
- Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Statistics, University of Belgrade, Nemanjina 6, 11080 Zemun-Belgrade, Serbia;
| | - Zoran Stanimirovic
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biology, University of Belgrade, Bul. Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia; (J.S.); (M.R.); (M.R.); (Z.S.)
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Rodríguez-García C, Heerman MC, Cook SC, Evans JD, DeGrandi-Hoffman G, Banmeke O, Zhang Y, Huang S, Hamilton M, Chen YP. Transferrin-mediated iron sequestration suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for controlling Nosema disease in the honey bee, Apis mellifera. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009270. [PMID: 33600478 PMCID: PMC7891791 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Nosemosis C, a Nosema disease caused by microsporidia parasite Nosema ceranae, is a significant disease burden of the European honey bee Apis mellifera which is one of the most economically important insect pollinators. Nevertheless, there is no effective treatment currently available for Nosema disease and the disease mechanisms underlying the pathological effects of N. ceranae infection in honey bees are poorly understood. Iron is an essential nutrient for growth and survival of hosts and pathogens alike. The iron tug-of-war between host and pathogen is a central battlefield at the host-pathogen interface which determines the outcome of an infection, however, has not been explored in honey bees. To fill the gap, we conducted a study to investigate the impact of N. ceranae infection on iron homeostasis in honey bees. The expression of transferrin, an iron binding and transporting protein that is one of the key players of iron homeostasis, in response to N. ceranae infection was analysed. Furthermore, the functional roles of transferrin in iron homeostasis and honey bee host immunity were characterized using an RNA interference (RNAi)-based method. The results showed that N. ceranae infection causes iron deficiency and upregulation of the A. mellifera transferrin (AmTsf) mRNA in honey bees, implying that higher expression of AmTsf allows N. ceranae to scavenge more iron from the host for its proliferation and survival. The suppressed expression levels of AmTsf via RNAi could lead to reduced N. ceranae transcription activity, alleviated iron loss, enhanced immunity, and improved survival of the infected bees. The intriguing multifunctionality of transferrin illustrated in this study is a significant contribution to the existing body of literature concerning iron homeostasis in insects. The uncovered functional role of transferrin on iron homeostasis, pathogen growth and honey bee's ability to mount immune responses may hold the key for the development of novel strategies to treat or prevent diseases in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matthew C. Heerman
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Steven C. Cook
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jay D. Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Olubukola Banmeke
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yi Zhang
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
- Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Shaokang Huang
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
- College of Animal Sciences (Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian Province, China
| | - Michele Hamilton
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yan Ping Chen
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, United States of America
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Jara L, Ruiz C, Martín-Hernández R, Muñoz I, Higes M, Serrano J, De la Rúa P. The Effect of Migratory Beekeeping on the Infestation Rate of Parasites in Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera) Colonies and on Their Genetic Variability. Microorganisms 2020; 9:microorganisms9010022. [PMID: 33374609 PMCID: PMC7822443 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Migratory beekeeping is a widely extended practice aimed at increasing the yield of products and pollination services of honey bee colonies. However, it represents a stress factor, as it facilitates the dissemination of diseases and may compromise the genetic identity of the colonies involved. To analyze the extent of these effects, pathogens infestation rate and genetic composition were monitored in a field experiment comparing stationary and migratory colonies sharing the same environmental conditions but differing in management (stationary vs. migratory) and genetic background. We studied the pathogens infestation rate (Varroa destructor, Nosema spp., and Deformed Wing Virus (DWV)) at four different times: before migratory operation, two weeks later, at the end of the migratory period, and two weeks after the return of the migratory hives. An increased incidence of V. destructor and Nosema ceranae and a lower DWV viral load were found in migratory colonies. Temporary changes in genetic diversity were detected regardless of colony type, suggesting that stressors other than management affect the genetic diversity of the colonies. Our study demonstrates that migratory practices have variable effects on the health and genetic diversity of honey bee colonies, which should be taken into account for the development of sustainable beekeeping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Jara
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (L.J.); (C.R.); (I.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Carlos Ruiz
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (L.J.); (C.R.); (I.M.); (J.S.)
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Universidad de La Laguna, 38206 La Laguna, 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, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (R.M.-H.); (M.H.)
- Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología (INCRECYT, ESF), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Albacete, 02006 Albacete, Spain
| | - Irene Muñoz
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (L.J.); (C.R.); (I.M.); (J.S.)
| | - 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, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain; (R.M.-H.); (M.H.)
| | - José Serrano
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (L.J.); (C.R.); (I.M.); (J.S.)
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (L.J.); (C.R.); (I.M.); (J.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-868-884-908
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Seasonality of Nosema ceranae Infections and Their Relationship with Honey Bee Populations, Food Stores, and Survivorship in a North American Region. Vet Sci 2020; 7:vetsci7030131. [PMID: 32911814 PMCID: PMC7558054 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7030131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is an emerging pathogen of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), and thus its seasonality and impact on bee colonies is not sufficiently documented for North America. This study was conducted to determine the infection intensity, prevalence, and viability of N. ceranae in >200 honey bee colonies during spring, summer, and fall, in a North American region. We also determined the relationship of N. ceranae infections with colony populations, food stores, bee survivorship, and overwinter colony mortality. The highest rates of N. ceranae infection, prevalence, and spore viability were found in the spring and summer, while the lowest were recorded in the fall. N. ceranae spore viability was significantly correlated with its prevalence and infection intensity in bees. Threshold to high levels of N. ceranae infections (>1,000,000 spores/bee) were significantly associated with reduced bee populations and food stores in colonies. Furthermore, worker bee survivorship was significantly reduced by N. ceranae infections, although no association between N. ceranae and winter colony mortality was found. It is concluded that N. ceranae infections are highest in spring and summer and may be detrimental to honey bee populations and colony productivity. Our results support the notion that treatment is justified when infections of N. ceranae exceed 1,000,000 spores/bee.
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Matthijs S, De Waele V, Vandenberge V, Verhoeven B, Evers J, Brunain M, Saegerman C, De Winter PJJ, Roels S, de Graaf DC, De Regge N. Nationwide Screening for Bee Viruses and Parasites in Belgian Honey Bees. Viruses 2020; 12:v12080890. [PMID: 32823841 PMCID: PMC7472724 DOI: 10.3390/v12080890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The health of honey bees is threatened by multiple factors, including viruses and parasites. We screened 557 honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies from 155 beekeepers distributed all over Belgium to determine the prevalence of seven widespread viruses and two parasites (Varroa sp. and Nosema sp.). Deformed wing virus B (DWV-B), black queen cell virus (BQCV), and sacbrood virus (SBV) were highly prevalent and detected by real-time RT-PCR in more than 95% of the colonies. Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) and deformed wing virus A (DWV-A) were prevalent to a lower extent (between 18 and 29%). Most viruses were only present at low or moderate viral loads. Nevertheless, about 50% of the colonies harbored at least one virus at high viral load (>107 genome copies/bee). Varroa mites and Nosema sp. were found in 81.5% and 59.7% of the honey bee colonies, respectively, and all Nosema were identified as Nosema ceranae by real time PCR. Interestingly, we found a significant correlation between the number of Varroa mites and DWV-B viral load. To determine the combined effect of these and other factors on honey bee health in Belgium, a follow up of colonies over multiple years is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Severine Matthijs
- Belgian National Reference Laboratory for Bee Diseases, Unit of Enzootic, Vector-Borne and Bee Diseases, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (V.V.); (S.R.); (N.D.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +32-2-379-05-54
| | - Valérie De Waele
- Veterinary Epidemiology, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium;
| | - Valerie Vandenberge
- Belgian National Reference Laboratory for Bee Diseases, Unit of Enzootic, Vector-Borne and Bee Diseases, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (V.V.); (S.R.); (N.D.R.)
| | - Bénédicte Verhoeven
- Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, Kruidtuinlaan 55, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (B.V.); (J.E.); (P.J.J.D.W.)
| | - Jacqueline Evers
- Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, Kruidtuinlaan 55, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (B.V.); (J.E.); (P.J.J.D.W.)
| | - Marleen Brunain
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (M.B.); (D.C.d.G.)
| | - Claude Saegerman
- Research Unit of Epidemiology and Risk Analysis Applied to Veterinary Sciences, Fundamental and Applied Research for Animal and Health (FARAH) Center, University of Liège, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 7A B42, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Paul J. J. De Winter
- Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, Kruidtuinlaan 55, 1000 Brussels, Belgium; (B.V.); (J.E.); (P.J.J.D.W.)
| | - Stefan Roels
- Belgian National Reference Laboratory for Bee Diseases, Unit of Enzootic, Vector-Borne and Bee Diseases, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (V.V.); (S.R.); (N.D.R.)
| | - Dirk C. de Graaf
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (M.B.); (D.C.d.G.)
| | - Nick De Regge
- Belgian National Reference Laboratory for Bee Diseases, Unit of Enzootic, Vector-Borne and Bee Diseases, Sciensano, Juliette Wytsmanstraat 14, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (V.V.); (S.R.); (N.D.R.)
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Prevalence of the Microsporidian Nosema spp. in Honey Bee Populations ( Apis mellifera) in Some Ecological Regions of North Asia. Vet Sci 2020; 7:vetsci7030111. [PMID: 32823756 PMCID: PMC7559424 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci7030111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Two species of microsporidia, Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae, are obligate intracellular parasites that are widespread in the world and cause the infectious disease (Nosemosis) of the Western honey bee Apis mellifera. Information on the prevalence and distribution of Nosema species in North Asia conditions is scarce. The main aim of the present study is to determine the prevalence of Nosema spp. (Nosemosis) in honey bees inhabiting some inland regions of North Asia (Western and Eastern Siberia, Altai Territory, Russia, and northeastern part of Kazakhstan). The objective of the paper is also to assess the influence of climatic factors on the spread of N. ceranae. Eighty apiaries in four ecological regions of North Asia (southern taiga, sub-taiga zone, forest steppe, and mountain taiga forests) were investigated with regard to distribution, prevalence, and diversity of Nosema infection in honey bees using duplex-PCR. Nosema infected bees were found in 65% apiaries of ecoregions studied, and coinfection was predominant (36.3% of Nosema-positive apiaries). Both N. apis and N. ceranae occur across subarctic and warm summer continental climates, but while N. apis predominates in the former, N. ceranae is more predominant in the latter. No statistically significant differences in Nosema distribution were identified in various climatic zones. In the sub-taiga zone (subarctic climate), low presence of colonies with pure N. ceranae and a significantly higher proportion of coinfection apiaries were revealed. Long-term epidemiological study of Nosema spp. prevalence in the sub-taiga zone showed a surprising percentage increase of Nosema-positive apiaries from 46.2% to 74.1% during 2012–2017. From 2012 to 2015, N. apis became a predominant species, but in 2016–2017, the coinfection was mainly detected. In conclusion, the results of this investigation showed that N. ceranae is widespread in all study ecoregions of North Asia where it exists in combination with the N. apis, but there is no replacement of N. apis by N. ceranae in the studied bee populations.
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Comper JR, Eberl HJ. Mathematical modelling of population and food storage dynamics in a honey bee colony infected with Nosema ceranae. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04599. [PMID: 32904273 PMCID: PMC7452510 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Unusually high wintering losses of Apis mellifera in recent years has raised concerns regarding the well-being and productivity of honey bees across the globe. While these losses are likely multi-factorial, a proposed contributor are diseases, including those caused by parasites. We formulate and present a mathematical model for a colony of Apis mellifera honey bees infected with the microsporidian parasite Nosema ceranae. The model is numerically analyzed to determine the effects of N. ceranae infection on population and food storage dynamics and their subsequent implications towards colony survival and annual honey yield. Depending on the strength of disease, it is possible for either parasite fadeout, co-existence between bees and N. ceranae, or colony failure to occur. In all cases, the yield of honey collected by the beekeeper is reduced. We further extend the model to include various treatment schemes with the, now discontinued, antimicrobial fumagillin. Treatment with fumagillin can reduce the risk of colony failure and will increase honey yield compared to when no treatment is applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. Reilly Comper
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Hermann J. Eberl
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics University of Guelph, Guelph ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
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23
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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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24
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Matović K, Vidanović D, Manić M, Stojiljković M, Radojičić S, Debeljak Z, Šekler M, Ćirić J. Twenty-five-year study of Nosema spp. in honey bees ( Apis mellifera) in Serbia. Saudi J Biol Sci 2019; 27:518-523. [PMID: 31889877 PMCID: PMC6933281 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2019.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
A total of 7386 samples of adult honey bees from different areas of Serbia (fifteen regions and 79 municipalities) were selected for light microscopy analysis for Nosema species during 1992–2017. A selection of honey bee samples from colonies positive for microsporidian spores during 2009–2011, 2015 and 2017 were then subjected to molecular diagnosis by multiplex PCR using specific primers for a region of the 16S rRNA gene of Nosema species. The prevalence of microsporidian spore-positive bee colonies ranged between 14.4% in 2013 and 65.4% in 1992. PCR results show that Nosema ceranae is not the only Nosema species to infect honey bees in Serbia. Mixed N. apis/N. ceranae infections were detected in the two honey bee samples examined by mPCR during 2017. The beekeeping management of disease prevention, such as replacement of combs and queens and hygienic handling of colonies are useful in the prevention of Nosema infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazimir Matović
- Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 34 Zicka Street, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia
| | - Dejan Vidanović
- Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 34 Zicka Street, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia
| | - Marija Manić
- Veterinary Specialized Institute Niš, 175, Dimitrija Tucovića, 18000 Niš, Serbia
| | - Marko Stojiljković
- Veterinary Specialized Institute Niš, 175, Dimitrija Tucovića, 18000 Niš, Serbia
| | - Sonja Radojičić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Zoran Debeljak
- Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 34 Zicka Street, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia
| | - Milanko Šekler
- Veterinary Specialized Institute Kraljevo, 34 Zicka Street, 36000 Kraljevo, Serbia
| | - Jelena Ćirić
- Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Kaćanskog 13, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
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25
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Voulgari-Kokota A, McFrederick QS, Steffan-Dewenter I, Keller A. Drivers, Diversity, and Functions of the Solitary-Bee Microbiota. Trends Microbiol 2019; 27:1034-1044. [PMID: 31451346 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2019.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating reports of global bee declines have drawn much attention to the bee microbiota and its importance. Most research has focused on social bees, while solitary species have received scant attention despite their enormous biodiversity, ecological importance, and agroeconomic value. We review insights from several recent studies on diversity, function, and drivers of the solitary-bee microbiota, and compare these factors with those relevant to the social-bee microbiota. Despite basic similarities, the social-bee model, with host-specific core microbiota and social transmission, is not representative of the vast majority of bee species. The solitary-bee microbiota exhibits greater variability and biodiversity, with a strong impact of environmental acquisition routes. Our synthesis identifies outstanding questions that will build understanding of these interactions, responses to environmental threats, and consequences for health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Voulgari-Kokota
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology, University of Würzburg, Hubland Nord, Emil-Fischer Straße, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Quinn S McFrederick
- Department of Entomology, University of California, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Ingolf Steffan-Dewenter
- Department of Animal Ecology, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Keller
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Würzburg, Biocenter, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany; Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology, University of Würzburg, Hubland Nord, Emil-Fischer Straße, 97074 Würzburg, Germany.
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26
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Purkiss T, Lach L. Pathogen spillover from Apis mellifera to a stingless bee. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191071. [PMID: 31387511 PMCID: PMC6710595 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogen spillover from managed bees is increasingly considered as a possible cause of pollinator decline. Though spillover has been frequently documented, evidence of the pathogen's virulence in the new host or mechanism of transmission is rare. Stingless bees (Apocrita: Meliponini) are crucial pollinators pan-tropically and overlap with managed honeybees (Apis mellifera) in much of their range. Nosema ceranae is the most prevalent disease of adult A. mellifera. We used laboratory experiments and field surveys to investigate the susceptibility of stingless bees (Tetragonula hockingsi) to N. ceranae, infection prevalence and transmissibility via flowers. We found that 67% of T. hockingsi fed sucrose with N. ceranae had detectable spores in their ventriculus, and they died at 2.96 times the rate of sucrose-only fed bees. Five of six field hives harboured bees with N. ceranae present at least once during our five-month survey, with prevalence up to 20%. In our floral transmission experiment, 67% of inflorescences exposed to infected A. mellifera yielded N. ceranae spores, and all resulted in T. hockingsi with N. ceranae spores in their guts. We conclude that N. ceranae is virulent in T. hockingsi under laboratory conditions, is common in the local T. hockingsi population and is transmissible via flowers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lori Lach
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia
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27
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Belsky J, Joshi NK. Impact of Biotic and Abiotic Stressors on Managed and Feral Bees. INSECTS 2019; 10:E233. [PMID: 31374933 PMCID: PMC6723792 DOI: 10.3390/insects10080233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale declines in bee abundance and species richness over the last decade have sounded an alarm, given the crucial pollination services that bees provide. Population dips have specifically been noted for both managed and feral bee species. The simultaneous increased cultivation of bee-dependent agricultural crops has given rise to additional concern. As a result, there has been a surge in scientific research investigating the potential stressors impacting bees. A group of environmental and anthropogenic stressors negatively impacting bees has been isolated. Habitat destruction has diminished the availability of bee floral resources and nest habitats, while massive monoculture plantings have limited bee access to a variety of pollens and nectars. The rapid spread and increased resistance buildup of various bee parasites, pathogens, and pests to current control methods are implicated in deteriorating bee health. Similarly, many pesticides that are widely applied on agricultural crops and within beehives are toxic to bees. The global distribution of honey bee colonies (including queens with attendant bees) and bumble bee colonies from crop to crop for pollination events has been linked with increased pathogen stress and increased competition with native bee species for limited resources. Climatic alterations have disrupted synchronous bee emergence with flower blooming and reduced the availability of diverse floral resources, leading to bee physiological adaptations. Interactions amongst multiple stressors have created colossal maladies hitting bees at one time, and in some cases delivering additive impacts. Initiatives including the development of wild flower plantings and assessment of pesticide toxicity to bees have been undertaken in efforts to ameliorate current bee declines. In this review, recent findings regarding the impact of these stressors on bees and strategies for mitigating them are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Belsky
- Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, 319 Agricultural Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Neelendra K Joshi
- Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas, 319 Agricultural Building, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA.
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28
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Fungal Diseases of Honey Bees: Current Status and Future Perspective. Fungal Biol 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-18586-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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29
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Grassl J, Holt S, Cremen N, Peso M, Hahne D, Baer B. Synergistic effects of pathogen and pesticide exposure on honey bee (Apis mellifera) survival and immunity. J Invertebr Pathol 2018; 159:78-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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30
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Impact of the microsporidian Nosema ceranae on the gut epithelium renewal of the honeybee, Apis mellifera. J Invertebr Pathol 2018; 159:121-128. [PMID: 30268675 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The invasive microsporidian species, Nosema ceranae, causes nosemosis in honeybees and is suspected to be involved in Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) declines worldwide. The midgut of honeybees is the site of infection; the microsporidium can disturb the functioning of this organ and, thus, the bee physiology. Host defense against pathogens is not limited to resistance (i.e. the immune response) but also involves resilience. This process implies that the host can tolerate and repair damage inflicted by the infection- by the pathogen itself or by an excessive host immune response. Enterocyte damage caused by N. ceranae can be compensated by proliferation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) that are under the control of multiple pathways. In the present study, we investigated the impact of N. ceranae on honeybee epithelium renewal by following the mitotic index of midgut stem cells during a 22-day N. ceranae infection. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunostaining experiments were performed to follow the parasite proliferation/progression in the intestinal tissue, especially in the ISCs as they are key cells for the midgut homeostasis. We also monitored the transcriptomic profile of 7 genes coding for key proteins involved in pathways implicated in the gut epithelium renewal and homeostasis. We have shown for the first time that N. ceranae can negatively alter the gut epithelium renewal rate and disrupt some signaling pathways involved in the gut homeostasis. This alteration is correlated to a reduced longevity of N. ceranae-infected honeybees and we can assume that honeybee susceptibility to N. ceranae could be due to an impaired ability to repair gut damage.
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31
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Martín-Hernández R, Bartolomé C, Chejanovsky N, Le Conte Y, Dalmon A, Dussaubat C, García-Palencia P, Meana A, Pinto MA, Soroker V, Higes M. Nosema ceranaeinApis mellifera: a 12 years postdetectionperspective. Environ Microbiol 2018; 20:1302-1329. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola. Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental de Marchamalo, (CIAPA-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-FEDER), Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla - La Mancha; Spain
| | - Carolina Bartolomé
- Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Xenómica Comparada de Parásitos Humanos, IDIS, 15782 Santiago de Compostela; Galicia Spain
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center; Rishon LeZion Israel
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement; F-84000 Avignon France
| | - Anne Dalmon
- INRA, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement; F-84000 Avignon France
| | | | | | - Aranzazu Meana
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Spain
| | - M. Alice Pinto
- Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), Polytechnic Institute of Bragança; 5300-253 Bragança Portugal
| | - Victoria Soroker
- Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center; Rishon LeZion Israel
| | - Mariano Higes
- Laboratorio de Patología Apícola. Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental de Marchamalo, (CIAPA-IRIAF), Consejería de Agricultura de la Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha; Marchamalo Spain
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32
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Shumkova R, Georgieva A, Radoslavov G, Sirakova D, Dzhebir G, Neov B, Bouga M, Hristov P. The first report of the prevalence of Nosema ceranae in Bulgaria. PeerJ 2018; 6:e4252. [PMID: 29404205 PMCID: PMC5797446 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
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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Affiliation(s)
- Rositsa Shumkova
- Agricultural and Stockbreeding Experimental Station, Agricultural Academy, Smolyan, Bulgaria
| | - Ani Georgieva
- Department of Pathology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Georgi Radoslavov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.,Department of Structure and Function of Chromatin, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Daniela Sirakova
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Gyulnas Dzhebir
- Department of Structure and Function of Chromatin, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Boyko Neov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Maria Bouga
- Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Peter Hristov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.,Department of Structure and Function of Chromatin, Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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33
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Gisder S, Schüler V, Horchler LL, Groth D, Genersch E. Long-Term Temporal Trends of Nosema spp. Infection Prevalence in Northeast Germany: Continuous Spread of Nosema ceranae, an Emerging Pathogen of Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera), but No General Replacement of Nosema apis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:301. [PMID: 28730143 PMCID: PMC5498484 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 06/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is widely used as commercial pollinator in worldwide agriculture and, therefore, plays an important role in global food security. Among the parasites and pathogens threatening health and survival of honey bees are two species of microsporidia, Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. Nosema ceranae is considered an emerging pathogen of the Western honey bee. Reports on the spread of N. ceranae suggested that this presumably highly virulent species is replacing its more benign congener N. apis in the global A. mellifera population. We here present a 12 year longitudinal cohort study on the prevalence of N. apis and N. ceranae in Northeast Germany. Between 2005 and 2016, a cohort of about 230 honey bee colonies originating from 23 apiaries was sampled twice a year (spring and autumn) resulting in a total of 5,600 bee samples which were subjected to microscopic and molecular analysis for determining the presence of infections with N. apis or/and N. ceranae. Throughout the entire study period, both N. apis- and N. ceranae-infections could be diagnosed within the cohort. Logistic regression analysis of the prevalence data demonstrated a significant increase of N. ceranae-infections over the last 12 years, both in autumn (reflecting the development during the summer) and in spring (reflecting the development over winter) samples. Cell culture experiments confirmed that N. ceranae has a higher proliferative potential than N. apis at 27° and 33°C potentially explaining the increase in N. ceranae prevalence during summer. In autumn, characterized by generally low infection prevalence, this increase was accompanied by a significant decrease in N. apis-infection prevalence. In contrast, in spring, the season with a higher prevalence of infection, no significant decrease of N. apis infections despite a significant increase in N. ceranae infections could be observed. Therefore, our data do not support a general advantage of N. ceranae over N. apis and an overall replacement of N. apis by N. ceranae in the studied honey bee population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Gisder
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee ResearchHohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Vivian Schüler
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee ResearchHohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Lennart L Horchler
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee ResearchHohen Neuendorf, Germany
| | - Detlef Groth
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of PotsdamPotsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Elke Genersch
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Bee Diseases, Institute for Bee ResearchHohen Neuendorf, Germany.,Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, Freie Universität Berlin, Fachbereich VeterinärmedizinBerlin, Germany
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34
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Papini R, Mancianti F, Canovai R, Cosci F, Rocchigiani G, Benelli G, Canale A. Prevalence of the microsporidian Nosema ceranae in honeybee ( Apis mellifera) apiaries in Central Italy. Saudi J Biol Sci 2017; 24:979-982. [PMID: 28663691 PMCID: PMC5478366 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2017.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2016] [Revised: 12/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis are microsporidia which play an important role in the epidemiology of honeybee microsporidiosis worldwide. Nosemiasis reduces honeybee population size and causes significant losses in honey production. To the best of our knowledge, limited information is available about the prevalence of nosemiasis in Italy. In this research, we determined the occurrence of Nosema infection in Central Italy. Thirty-eight seemingly healthy apiaries (2 to 4 hives each) were randomly selected and screened from April to September 2014 (n = 11) or from May to September 2015 (n = 27). The apiaries were located in six areas of Central Italy, including Lucca (n = 11), Massa Carrara (n = 9), Pisa (n = 9), Leghorn (n = 7), Florence (n = 1), and Prato (n = 1) provinces. Light microscopy was carried out according to current OIE recommendations to screen the presence of microsporidiosis in adult worker honeybees. Since the morphological characteristics of N. ceranae and N. apis spores are similar and can hardly be distinguished by optical microscopy, all samples were also screened by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) assay based on 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers to differentiate N. ceranae from N. apis. Furthermore, PCR-positive samples were also sequenced to confirm the species of amplified Nosema DNA. Notably, Nosema spores were detected in samples from 24 out of 38 (63.2%, 95% CI: 47.8-78.5%) apiaries. Positivity rates in single provinces were 10/11, 8/9, 3/9, 1/7, or 1/1 (n = 2). A full agreement (Cohen's Kappa = 1) was assessed between microscopy and M-PCR. Based on M-PCR and DNA sequencing results, only N. ceranae was found. Overall, our results highlighted that N. ceranae infection occurs frequently in the cohort of honeybee populations that was examined despite the lack of clinical signs. These findings suggest that colony disease outbreaks might result from environmental factors that lead to higher susceptibility of honeybees to this microsporidian.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Papini
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Mancianti
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberto Canovai
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Cosci
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Guido Rocchigiani
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, viale delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanni Benelli
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Angelo Canale
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Pisa, via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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35
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Yang W, Tian Y, Han M, Miao X. Longevity extension of worker honey bees ( Apis mellifera) by royal jelly: optimal dose and active ingredient. PeerJ 2017; 5:e3118. [PMID: 28367370 PMCID: PMC5372980 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.3118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera, queens and workers have different longevity although they share the same genome. Queens consume royal jelly (RJ) as the main food throughout their life, including as adults, but workers only eat worker jelly when they are larvae less than 3 days old. In order to explore the effect of RJ and the components affecting longevity of worker honey bees, we first determined the optimal dose for prolonging longevity of workers as 4% RJ in 50% sucrose solution, and developed a method of obtaining long lived workers. We then compared the effects of longevity extension by RJ 4% with bee-collected pollen from rapeseed (Brassica napus). Lastly, we determined that a water soluble RJ protein obtained by precipitation with 60% ammonium sulfate (RJP60) contained the main component for longevity extension after comparing the effects of RJ crude protein extract (RJCP), RJP30 (obtained by precipitation with 30% ammonium sulfate), and RJ ethanol extract (RJEE). Understanding what regulates worker longevity has potential to help increase colony productivity and improve crop pollination efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenchao Yang
- Apitherapy Institute, College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Bee Product Processing and Application Research Center of the Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuanyuan Tian
- Apitherapy Institute, College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Bee Product Processing and Application Research Center of the Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
| | - Mingfeng Han
- Apitherapy Institute, College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Bee Product Processing and Application Research Center of the Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqing Miao
- Apitherapy Institute, College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Bee Product Processing and Application Research Center of the Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
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36
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Tritschler M, Retschnig G, Yañez O, Williams GR, Neumann P. Host sharing by the honey bee parasites Lotmaria passim and Nosema ceranae. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:1850-1857. [PMID: 28331592 PMCID: PMC5355176 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The trypanosome Lotmaria passim and the microsporidian Nosema ceranae are common parasites of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, intestine, but the nature of interactions between them is unknown. Here, we took advantage of naturally occurring infections and quantified infection loads of individual workers (N = 408) originating from three apiaries (four colonies per apiary) using PCR to test for interactions between these two parasites. For that purpose, we measured the frequency of single and double infections, estimated the parasite loads of single and double infections, and determined the type of correlation between both parasites in double infections. If interactions between both parasites are strong and antagonistic, single infections should be more frequent than double infections, double infections will have lower parasite loads than single infections, and double infections will present a negative correlation. Overall, a total of 88 workers were infected with N. ceranae, 53 with L. passim, and eight with both parasites. Although both parasites were found in all three apiaries, there were significant differences among apiaries in the proportions of infected bees. The data show no significant differences between the expected and observed frequencies of single‐ and double‐infected bees. While the infection loads of individual bees were significantly higher for L. passim compared to N. ceranae, there were no significant differences in infection loads between single‐ and double‐infected hosts for both parasites. These results suggest no strong interactions between the two parasites in honey bees, possibly due to spatial separation in the host. The significant positive correlation between L. passim and N. ceranae infection loads in double‐infected hosts therefore most likely results from differences among individual hosts rather than cooperation between parasites. Even if hosts are infected by multiple parasites, this does not necessarily imply that there are any significant interactions between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Tritschler
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Gina Retschnig
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland; Agroscope Swiss Bee Research Centre Bern Switzerland; Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Auburn University Auburn AL USA
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland; Agroscope Swiss Bee Research Centre Bern Switzerland
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37
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Dosselli R, Grassl J, Carson A, Simmons LW, Baer B. Flight behaviour of honey bee (Apis mellifera) workers is altered by initial infections of the fungal parasite Nosema apis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36649. [PMID: 27827404 PMCID: PMC5101476 DOI: 10.1038/srep36649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) host a wide range of parasites, some being known contributors towards dramatic colony losses as reported over recent years. To counter parasitic threats, honey bees possess effective immune systems. Because immune responses are predicted to cause substantial physiological costs for infected individuals, they are expected to trade off with other life history traits that ultimately affect the performance and fitness of the entire colony. Here, we tested whether the initial onset of an infection negatively impacts the flight behaviour of honey bee workers, which is an energetically demanding behaviour and a key component of foraging activities. To do this, we infected workers with the widespread fungal pathogen Nosema apis, which is recognised and killed by the honey bee immune system. We compared their survival and flight behaviour with non-infected individuals from the same cohort and colony using radio frequency identification tags (RFID). We found that over a time frame of four days post infection, Nosema did not increase mortality but workers quickly altered their flight behaviour and performed more flights of shorter duration. We conclude that parasitic infections influence foraging activities, which could reduce foraging ranges of colonies and impact their ability to provide pollination services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Dosselli
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER), ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Bayliss Building (M316), The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
| | - Julia Grassl
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER), ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Bayliss Building (M316), The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
| | - Andrew Carson
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER), ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Bayliss Building (M316), The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
| | - Leigh W. Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
| | - Boris Baer
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research (CIBER), ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Bayliss Building (M316), The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
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38
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Kurze C, Routtu J, Moritz RF. Parasite resistance and tolerance in honeybees at the individual and social level. ZOOLOGY 2016; 119:290-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2016.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Parratt SR, Laine AL. The role of hyperparasitism in microbial pathogen ecology and evolution. THE ISME JOURNAL 2016; 10:1815-22. [PMID: 26784356 PMCID: PMC5029149 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2015.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Many micro-organisms employ a parasitic lifestyle and, through their antagonistic interactions with host populations, have major impacts on human, agricultural and natural ecosystems. Most pathogens are likely to host parasites of their own, that is, hyperparasites, but how nested chains of parasites impact on disease dynamics is grossly neglected in the ecological and evolutionary literature. In this minireview we argue that the diversity and dynamics of micro-hyperparasites are an important component of natural host-pathogen systems. We use the current literature from a handful of key systems to show that observed patterns of pathogen virulence and disease dynamics may well be influenced by hyperparasites. Exploring these factors will shed light on many aspects of microbial ecology and disease biology, including resistance-virulence evolution, apparent competition, epidemiology and ecosystem stability. Considering the importance of hyperparasites in natural populations will have applied consequences for the field of biological control and therapeutic science, where hyperparastism is employed as a control mechanism but not necessarily ecologically understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Parratt
- Department of Biosciences, Metapopulation Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anna-Liisa Laine
- Department of Biosciences, Metapopulation Research Centre, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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40
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Holt HL, Grozinger CM. Approaches and Challenges to Managing Nosema (Microspora: Nosematidae) Parasites in Honey Bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Colonies. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2016; 109:1487-503. [PMID: 27340190 DOI: 10.1093/jee/tow103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 04/18/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED The microsporidia Nosema apis (Zander) and Nosema ceranae (Fries) are common intestinal parasites in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. Though globally prevalent, there are mixed reports of Nosema infection costs, with some regions reporting high parasite virulence and colony losses, while others REPORT high Nosema prevalence but few costs. Basic and applied studies are urgently needed to help beekeepers effectively manage Nosema spp., ideally through an integrated pest management approach that allows beekeepers to deploy multiple strategies to control Nosema when Nosema is likely to cause damage to the colonies, rather than using prophylactic treatments. Beekeepers need practical and affordable technologies that facilitate disease diagnosis and science-backed guidelines that recommend when, if at all, to treat infections. In addition, new treatment methods are needed, as there are several problems associated with the chemical use of fumagillin (the only currently extensively studied, but not globally available treatment) to control Nosema parasites. Though selective breeding of Nosema-resistant or tolerant bees may offer a long-term, sustainable solution to Nosema management, other treatments are needed in the interim. Furthermore, the validation of alternative treatment efficacy in field settings is needed along with toxicology assays to ensure that treatments do not have unintended, adverse effects on honey bees or humans. Finally, given variation in Nosema virulence, development of regional management guidelines, rather than universal guidelines, may provide optimal and cost-effective Nosema management, though more research is needed before regional plans can be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly L Holt
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, 3A Chemical Ecology Laboratory, University Park, PA, 16802 Current Affiliation: Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, The University of Minnesota, Skok Hall, St. Paul, MN, 55108
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 1A Chemical Ecology Laboratory, University Park, PA, 16802
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41
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Grassl J, Peng Y, Baer-Imhoof B, Welch M, Millar AH, Baer B. Infections with the Sexually Transmitted Pathogen Nosema apis Trigger an Immune Response in the Seminal Fluid of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera). J Proteome Res 2016; 16:319-334. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Grassl
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Yan Peng
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Barbara Baer-Imhoof
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Mat Welch
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - A. Harvey Millar
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Boris Baer
- Centre for Integrative Bee Research
(CIBER) and ARC Centre of Excellence
in Plant Energy Biology and ‡School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Bayliss Building, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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42
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Wang Q, Xu X, Zhu X, Chen L, Zhou S, Huang ZY, Zhou B. Low-Temperature Stress during Capped Brood Stage Increases Pupal Mortality, Misorientation and Adult Mortality in Honey Bees. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154547. [PMID: 27149383 PMCID: PMC4858150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are key pollinators, playing a vital role in ecosystem maintenance and stability of crop yields. Recently, reduced honey bee survival has attracted intensive attention. Among all other honey bee stresses, temperature is a fundamental ecological factor that has been shown to affect honey bee survival. Yet, the impact of low temperature stress during capped brood on brood mortality has not been systematically investigated. In addition, little was known about how low temperature exposure during capped brood affects subsequent adult longevity. In this study, capped worker broods at 12 different developmental stages were exposed to 20°C for 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96 hours, followed by incubation at 35°C until emergence. We found that longer durations of low temperature during capped brood led to higher mortality, higher incidences of misorientation inside cells and shorter worker longevity. Capped brood as prepupae and near emergence were more sensitive to low-temperature exposure, while capped larvae and mid-pupal stages showed the highest resistance to low-temperature stress. Our results suggest that prepupae and pupae prior to eclosion are the most sensitive stages to low temperature stress, as they are to other stresses, presumably due to many physiological changes related to metamorphosis happening during these two stages. Understanding how low-temperature stress affects honey bee physiology and longevity can improve honey bee management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Wang
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
- College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Xinjian Xu
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Xiangjie Zhu
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Lin Chen
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Shujing Zhou
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Zachary Y. Huang
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
- Department of Entomology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
- Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
- BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States of America
| | - Bingfeng Zhou
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
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43
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Engel P, Kwong WK, McFrederick Q, Anderson KE, Barribeau SM, Chandler JA, Cornman RS, Dainat J, de Miranda JR, Doublet V, Emery O, Evans JD, Farinelli L, Flenniken ML, Granberg F, Grasis JA, Gauthier L, Hayer J, Koch H, Kocher S, Martinson VG, Moran N, Munoz-Torres M, Newton I, Paxton RJ, Powell E, Sadd BM, Schmid-Hempel P, Schmid-Hempel R, Song SJ, Schwarz RS, vanEngelsdorp D, Dainat B. The Bee Microbiome: Impact on Bee Health and Model for Evolution and Ecology of Host-Microbe Interactions. mBio 2016; 7:e02164-15. [PMID: 27118586 PMCID: PMC4850275 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02164-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
As pollinators, bees are cornerstones for terrestrial ecosystem stability and key components in agricultural productivity. All animals, including bees, are associated with a diverse community of microbes, commonly referred to as the microbiome. The bee microbiome is likely to be a crucial factor affecting host health. However, with the exception of a few pathogens, the impacts of most members of the bee microbiome on host health are poorly understood. Further, the evolutionary and ecological forces that shape and change the microbiome are unclear. Here, we discuss recent progress in our understanding of the bee microbiome, and we present challenges associated with its investigation. We conclude that global coordination of research efforts is needed to fully understand the complex and highly dynamic nature of the interplay between the bee microbiome, its host, and the environment. High-throughput sequencing technologies are ideal for exploring complex biological systems, including host-microbe interactions. To maximize their value and to improve assessment of the factors affecting bee health, sequence data should be archived, curated, and analyzed in ways that promote the synthesis of different studies. To this end, the BeeBiome consortium aims to develop an online database which would provide reference sequences, archive metadata, and host analytical resources. The goal would be to support applied and fundamental research on bees and their associated microbes and to provide a collaborative framework for sharing primary data from different research programs, thus furthering our understanding of the bee microbiome and its impact on pollinator health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Waldan K Kwong
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Quinn McFrederick
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California, USA
| | | | | | - James Angus Chandler
- Department of Microbiology, California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - R Scott Cornman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Jacques Dainat
- Bioinformatics Infrastructure for Life Sciences (BILS), Linköpings Universitet Victoria Westling, Linköping, Sweden, and Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vincent Doublet
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Olivier Emery
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jay D Evans
- USDA, ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Michelle L Flenniken
- Department of Plant Sciences and Plant Pathology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | | | - Juris A Grasis
- Department of Biology, North Life Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Laurent Gauthier
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | - Hauke Koch
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Kocher
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge , Massachusetts , USA
| | | | - Nancy Moran
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Monica Munoz-Torres
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley , California , USA
| | - Irene Newton
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Robert J Paxton
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Eli Powell
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Ben M Sadd
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, Illinois, USA
| | | | | | - Se Jin Song
- University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Ryan S Schwarz
- USDA, ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Benjamin Dainat
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland Bee Health Extension Service, Apiservice, Bern , Switzerland
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44
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Jack CJ, Uppala SS, Lucas HM, Sagili RR. Effects of pollen dilution on infection of Nosema ceranae in honey bees. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2016; 87:12-19. [PMID: 26802559 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2016.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Multiple stressors are currently threatening honey bee health, including pests and pathogens. Among honey bee pathogens, Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian found parasitizing the western honey bee (Apis mellifera) relatively recently. Honey bee colonies are fed pollen or protein substitute during pollen dearth to boost colony growth and immunity against pests and pathogens. Here we hypothesize that N. ceranae intensity and prevalence will be low in bees receiving high pollen diets, and that honey bees on high pollen diets will have higher survival and/or increased longevity. To test this hypothesis we examined the effects of different quantities of pollen on (a) the intensity and prevalence of N. ceranae and (b) longevity and nutritional physiology of bees inoculated with N. ceranae. Significantly higher spore intensities were observed in treatments that received higher pollen quantities (1:0 and 1:1 pollen:cellulose) when compared to treatments that received relatively lower pollen quantities. There were no significant differences in N. ceranae prevalence among different pollen diet treatments. Interestingly, the bees in higher pollen quantity treatments also had significantly higher survival despite higher intensities of N. ceranae. Significantly higher hypopharyngeal gland protein was observed in the control (no Nosema infection, and receiving a diet of 1:0 pollen:cellulose), followed by 1:0 pollen:cellulose treatment that was inoculated with N. ceranae. Here we demonstrate that diet with higher pollen quantity increases N. ceranae intensity, but also enhances the survival or longevity of honey bees. The information from this study could potentially help beekeepers formulate appropriate protein feeding regimens for their colonies to mitigate N. ceranae problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron J Jack
- Oregon State University, Dept. of Horticulture, 4017 ALS Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Sai Sree Uppala
- Oregon State University, Dept. of Horticulture, 4017 ALS Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Hannah M Lucas
- Oregon State University, Dept. of Horticulture, 4017 ALS Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
| | - Ramesh R Sagili
- Oregon State University, Dept. of Horticulture, 4017 ALS Building, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
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45
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Lecocq A, Jensen AB, Kryger P, Nieh JC. Parasite infection accelerates age polyethism in young honey bees. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22042. [PMID: 26912310 PMCID: PMC4766577 DOI: 10.1038/srep22042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are important pollinators and their health is threatened worldwide by persistent exposure to a wide range of factors including pesticides, poor nutrition, and pathogens. Nosema ceranae is a ubiquitous microsporidian associated with high colony mortality. We used lab micro-colonies of honey bees and video analyses to track the effects of N. ceranae infection and exposure on a range of individual and social behaviours in young adult bees. We provide detailed data showing that N. ceranae infection significantly accelerated the age polyethism of young bees, causing them to exhibit behaviours typical of older bees. Bees with high N. ceranae spore counts had significantly increased walking rates and decreased attraction to queen mandibular pheromone. Infected bees also exhibited higher rates of trophallaxis (food exchange), potentially reflecting parasite manipulation to increase colony infection. However, reduction in queen contacts could help bees limit the spread of infection. Such accelerated age polyethism may provide a form of behavioural immunity, particularly if it is elicited by a wide variety of pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Lecocq
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0116, La Jolla, California, 92093-0166, United States of America.,University of Copenhagen, Department of Plants and Environmental Sciences - PLEN, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, DK
| | - Annette Bruun Jensen
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Plants and Environmental Sciences - PLEN, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C, DK
| | - Per Kryger
- Aarhus University, Department of Agroecology - Entomology and Plant Pathology, Forsøgsvej 1, 4200 Slagelse, DK
| | - James C Nieh
- Division of Biological Sciences, Section of Ecology, Behavior, and Evolution, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0116, La Jolla, California, 92093-0166, United States of America
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46
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Emsen B, Guzman-Novoa E, Hamiduzzaman MM, Eccles L, Lacey B, Ruiz-Pérez RA, Nasr M. Higher prevalence and levels of Nosema ceranae than Nosema apis infections in Canadian honey bee colonies. Parasitol Res 2015; 115:175-81. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4733-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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47
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Schwarz RS, Huang Q, Evans JD. Hologenome theory and the honey bee pathosphere. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2015; 10:1-7. [PMID: 29587997 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2015.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Recent research has provided improved genome-level views of diversity across global honey bee populations, the gut microbiota residing within them, and the expanding pathosphere challenging honey bees. Different combinations of bee/microbiota/pathosphere genome complexes may explain regional variation in apiculture productivity and mortality. To understand this, we must consider management and research approaches in light of a hologenome paradigm: that honey bee fitness is determined by the composite bee and microbiota genomes. Only by considering the hologenome can we truly interpret and address impacts from the pathosphere, pesticides, toxins, nutrition, climate and other stressors affecting bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S Schwarz
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA; Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - East, Bldg. 306, US Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
| | - Qiang Huang
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - East, Bldg. 306, US Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Jay D Evans
- Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - East, Bldg. 306, US Department of Agriculture, 10300 Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
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Pelin A, Selman M, Aris-Brosou S, Farinelli L, Corradi N. Genome analyses suggest the presence of polyploidy and recent human-driven expansions in eight global populations of the honeybee pathogen Nosema ceranae. Environ Microbiol 2015; 17:4443-58. [PMID: 25914091 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2015] [Revised: 04/13/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian pathogen whose infections have been associated with recent global declines in the populations of western honeybees (Apis mellifera). Despite the outstanding economic and ecological threat that N. ceranae may represent for honeybees worldwide, many aspects of its biology, including its mode of reproduction, propagation and ploidy, are either very unclear or unknown. In the present study, we set to gain knowledge in these biological aspects by re-sequencing the genome of eight isolates (i.e. a population of spores isolated from one single beehive) of this species harvested from eight geographically distant beehives, and by investigating their level of polymorphism. Consistent with previous analyses performed using single gene sequences, our analyses uncovered the presence of very high genetic diversity within each isolate, but also very little hive-specific polymorphism. Surprisingly, the nature, location and distribution of this genetic variation suggest that beehives around the globe are infected by a population of N. ceranae cells that may be polyploid (4n or more), and possibly clonal. Lastly, phylogenetic analyses based on genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism data extracted from these parasites and mitochondrial sequences from their hosts all failed to support the current geographical structure of our isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Pelin
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Department of Biology; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammed Selman
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Department of Biology; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Stéphane Aris-Brosou
- Departments of Biology and of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Laurent Farinelli
- FASTERIS S.A., Ch. du Pont-du-Centenaire 109, P.O. Box 28, Plan-les-Ouates, CH-1228, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Corradi
- Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, Department of Biology; University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Vavilova V, Sormacheva I, Woyciechowski M, Eremeeva N, Fet V, Strachecka A, Bayborodin SI, Blinov A. Distribution and diversity of Nosema bombi (Microsporidia: Nosematidae) in the natural populations of bumblebees (Bombus spp.) from West Siberia. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:3373-83. [PMID: 26063531 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4562-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Nosema bombi is an obligate intracellular parasite of bumblebees (Hymenoptera, Bombus spp.), which has significant negative effect on individual bumblebees, colony fitness, and development. Recently, several new genetic variants of N. bombi without a defined taxonomic status were identified in natural bumblebee populations from Russia, China, and several European countries, as well as N. ceranae, originally isolated from honey bees, was described in bumblebee species. Thus, it is required to investigate more Nosema variability in bumblebee populations for identifying new genetic Nosema variants. In our study, we used several methods such as total DNA isolation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, cloning, sequencing, and comparative and phylogenetic analysis to investigate a prevalence of N. bombi and its diversity in the natural populations of bumblebees across West Siberia. DNA was extracted from intestinal bumblebee tissues. Identification of the parasite was conducted, using PCR with primers specific for the ribosomal RNA gene cluster and methionine aminopeptidase 2 gene of N. bombi followed by sequencing. Seven hundred twenty-seven individual bumblebees belonging to 16 species were tested; 64 specimens revealed presence of the parasite. Prevalence of Nosema bombi infection was different in each region and varied from 4 to 20 %. No infection was found in Bombus agrorum (n = 194) and Bombus equestris (n = 132), both common bumblebees in West Siberia. Three different genetic variants of the same species, N. bombi, were identified. The first variant belonged to N. bombi (AY008373) identified by Fies et al. (J Apicult Res 40:91-96, 2001), second (N. bombi WS2) was identical to the West Siberian variant identified by Szentgyörgyi et al. (Polish Journal of Ecology 59:599-610, 2011), and the last variant, N. bombi WS3, was new. The results led us to suggest that the prevalence of the N. bombi is related to the population structure of bumblebees and distribution of the particular genetic variants of N. bombi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriya Vavilova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Prospekt Lavrentyeva, 10, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russian Federation,
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50
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Huang WF, Solter L, Aronstein K, Huang Z. Infectivity and virulence of Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis in commercially available North American honey bees. J Invertebr Pathol 2015; 124:107-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2014.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 10/08/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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