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Shantal Rodríguez-Flores M, Lopes AR, Dieguez-Antón A, Carmen Seijo M, Alice Pinto M. Honey bee viruses in the yellow-legged hornet Vespa velutina (Lepelieter 1836): Prevalence, loads, and detection of replicative DWV and LSV forms. J Invertebr Pathol 2024:108215. [PMID: 39389206 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2024] [Revised: 09/24/2024] [Accepted: 10/07/2024] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Apiaries in Galicia, northwestern Spain, are currently facing the invasive alien species Vespa velutina, which is well established in the region. The pressure on honey bee colonies is high, resulting in both economic and ecological losses. Honey bee colonies also face the challenge of viruses, which are becoming increasingly diverse. In recent years, honey bee viruses have been spreading across taxonomic groups beyond Apoidea, infecting the Vespoidea superfamily. This cross-species spillover has raised concerns in the scientific community due to the potential risk of viruses spreading in ecosystems. Currently, there is a lack of knowledge on this topic, and further research is needed to address this issue. This study employed qPCR and sequencing to investigate the prevalence, loads, and presence of replicative forms of important honey bee viruses in V. velutina individuals collected from 11 apiaries in Galicia. All V. velutina individuals tested positive for DWV, BQCV, AKI complex (ABPV, KBV, and IAPV), or LSV but not for CBPV. DWV showed the highest prevalence (97.0 %) and loads, with both DWV-A (67.4 %) and DWV-B (32.6 %) being detected. The AKI complex (46.3 %) and LSV (43.3 %) were also common, whereas BQCV (11.9 %) was rarer. LSV is detected for the first time in V. velutina. LSV-2 was the dominant strain (82.1 %), and two less frequent (17.9 %) unknown strains were also detected. All 44 screened V. velutina samples carried the replicative form of DWV, and six of these also carried the replicative form of LSV, raising for the first time the possibility of co-infection in the hornet. The detection of honey bee viruses in V. velutina, and the ability of these viruses to spread to other species, may indicate a potential risk of spillover in the apiaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Shantal Rodríguez-Flores
- Department of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences, University of Vigo, Campus As Lagoas, 32004 Ourense, Spain.
| | - Ana R Lopes
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal; Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Ana Dieguez-Antón
- Department of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences, University of Vigo, Campus As Lagoas, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - M Carmen Seijo
- Department of Plant Biology and Soil Sciences, University of Vigo, Campus As Lagoas, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - M Alice Pinto
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal; Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
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Miles GP, Liu XF, Scheffler BE, Amiri E, Weaver MA, Grodowitz MJ, Chen J. Solenopsis richteri (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) alates infected with deformed wing virus display wing deformity with altered mobility. THE SCIENCE OF NATURE - NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN 2024; 111:47. [PMID: 39302452 DOI: 10.1007/s00114-024-01934-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2024] [Accepted: 09/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Deformed wing virus (DWV) has long been identified as a critical pathogen affecting honeybees, contributing to colony losses through wing deformities, neurological impairments, and reduced lifespan. Since DWV also affects other pollinators, it poses a significant threat to global pollination networks. While honeybees have been the focal point of DWV studies, emerging research indicates that this RNA virus is not host-specific but rather a generalist pathogen capable of infecting a wide range of insect species, including other bee species such as bumblebees and solitary bees, as well as wasps and ants. This expands the potential impact of DWV beyond honeybees to broader ecological communities. The black imported fire ant, Solenopsis richteri, is an economically important invasive ant species. In this study, we describe deformed wing (DW) symptoms in S. richteri. DW alates were found in three of nine (33%) laboratory colonies. The symptoms ranged from severely twisted wings to a single crumpled wing tip. Additionally, numerous symptomatic alates also displayed altered mobility, ranging from an ataxic gait to an inability to walk. Viral replication of DWV was confirmed using a modified strand-specific RT-PCR. Our results suggest that S. richteri can be an alternative host for DWV, expanding our understanding of DWV as a generalist pathogen in insects. However, additional research is required to determine whether DWV is the etiological agent responsible for DW syndrome in S. richteri.
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Affiliation(s)
- Godfrey P Miles
- Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, 38776, USA
| | - Xiaofen F Liu
- Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, 38776, USA
| | - Brian E Scheffler
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Research Unit, 141 Experiment Station Road, Stoneville, MS, 38776, USA
| | - Esmaeil Amiri
- Delta Research and Extension Center, Mississippi State University, 82 Stoneville Road, Stoneville, MS, 38776, USA
| | - Mark A Weaver
- Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, 38776, USA
| | - Michael J Grodowitz
- Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, 38776, USA
| | - Jian Chen
- Biological Control of Pests Research Unit, USDA-ARS, Stoneville, MS, 38776, USA.
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Power K, Cilia G, Ragusa E, Rizzo R, Bortolotti L, Maiolino P. Occurrence of Nosema ceranae, Ascosphaera apis and trypanosomatids in Vespa orientalis linneus 1771. J Invertebr Pathol 2024; 206:108168. [PMID: 39004165 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2024.108168] [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] [Received: 05/04/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Vespa orientalis is spreading across the Italian and European territories leading to new interactions among species, which could lead to the transmission of pathogens between species. Detection of honey bee viruses in V. orientalis has already been revealed in both adults and larvae, while no information is available regarding parasitic occurrence. Sixty adult hornets collected across apiaries in the South of Italy were subjected to cytological, histopathological and biomolecular examination to evaluate the occurrence of Nosema ceranae, Ascosphaera apis, Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae, and Crithidia bombi. Cytological examination revealed the presence of Nosema spores in 38.33% of individuals while histopathological analysis showed the presence of L. passim-like elements in the rectum of two examined specimens and the presence of fungal hyphae in the small intestine of another hornet. Biomolecular investigation revealed that N. ceranae was the most prevalent pathogen (50.0%), followed by A. apis (6.66%), L. passim (6.66%) and C. bombi (6.0%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Power
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Cilia
- Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Centre for Agriculture and Environment Research (CREA-AA), 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Ernesto Ragusa
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy
| | - Roberto Rizzo
- Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Research Centre for Plant Protection and Certification, 90145 Palermo, Italy
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Centre for Agriculture and Environment Research (CREA-AA), 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Paola Maiolino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, 80137 Naples, Italy
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McAfee A, French SK, Wizenberg SB, Newburn LR, Tsvetkov N, Higo H, Common J, Pernal SF, Giovenazzo P, Hoover SE, Guzman-Novoa E, Currie RW, Veiga PW, Conflitti IM, Pepinelli M, Tran L, Zayed A, Guarna MM, Foster LJ. Higher prevalence of sacbrood virus in Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) colonies after pollinating highbush blueberries. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 117:1324-1335. [PMID: 38877967 PMCID: PMC11318621 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toae119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Highbush blueberry pollination depends on managed honey bees (Apis mellifera) L. for adequate fruit sets; however, beekeepers have raised concerns about the poor health of colonies after pollinating this crop. Postulated causes include agrochemical exposure, nutritional deficits, and interactions with parasites and pathogens, particularly Melisococcus plutonius [(ex. White) Bailey and Collins, Lactobacillales: Enterococcaceae], the causal agent of European foulbrood disease, but other pathogens could be involved. To broadly investigate common honey bee pathogens in relation to blueberry pollination, we sampled adult honey bees from colonies at time points corresponding to before (t1), during (t2), at the end (t3), and after (t4) highbush blueberry pollination in British Columbia, Canada, across 2 years (2020 and 2021). Nine viruses, as well as M. plutonius, Vairimorpha ceranae, and V. apis [Tokarev et al., Microsporidia: Nosematidae; formerly Nosema ceranae (Fries et al.) and N. apis (Zander)], were detected by PCR and compared among colonies located near and far from blueberry fields. We found a significant interactive effect of time and blueberry proximity on the multivariate pathogen community, mainly due to differences at t4 (corresponding to ~6 wk after the beginning of the pollination period). Post hoc comparisons of pathogens in near and far groups at t4 showed that detections of sacbrood virus (SBV), which was significantly higher in the near group, not M. plutonius, was the primary driver. Further research is needed to determine if the association of SBV with highbush blueberry pollination is contributing to the health decline that beekeepers observe after pollinating this crop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison McAfee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Sarah K French
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | | | - Laura R Newburn
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Nadejda Tsvetkov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Heather Higo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Julia Common
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
| | - Stephen F Pernal
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Pierre Giovenazzo
- Département de Biologie, Université Laval, Ville de Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Shelley E Hoover
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Ernesto Guzman-Novoa
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Robert W Currie
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Patricia Wolf Veiga
- National Bee Diagnostic Centre, Northwestern Polytechnic, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Ida M Conflitti
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Mateus Pepinelli
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - Lan Tran
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON M3J 1P3, Canada
| | - M Marta Guarna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Leonard J Foster
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T1Z4, Canada
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Requier F, Abdelli M, Baude M, Genoud D, Gens H, Geslin B, Henry M, Ropars L. Neglecting non-bee pollinators may lead to substantial underestimation of competition risk among pollinators. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 6:100093. [PMID: 39220234 PMCID: PMC11364274 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2024.100093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Due to the increasing pressures on bees, many beekeepers currently wish to move their managed livestock of Apis mellifera into little disturbed ecosystems such as protected natural areas. This may, however, exert detrimental competitive effects upon local wild pollinators. While it appears critical for land managers to get an adequate knowledge of this issue for effective wildlife conservation schemes, the frequency of this competition is not clear to date. Based on a systematic literature review of 96 studies, we assessed the frequency of exploitative competition between honey bees and wild pollinators. We found that 78% of the studies highlighted exploitative competition from honey bees to wild pollinators. Importantly, these studies have mostly explored competition with wild bees, while only 18% of them considered other pollinator taxa such as ants, beetles, bugs, butterflies, flies, moths, and wasps. The integration of non-bee pollinators into scientific studies and conservation plans is urgently required as they are critical for the pollination of many wild plants and crops. Interestingly, we found that a majority (88%) of these studies considering also non-bee pollinators report evidence of competition. Thus, neglecting non-bee pollinators could imply an underestimation of competition risks from honey bees. More inclusive work is needed to estimate the risks of competition in its entirety, but also to apprehend the context-dependency of competition so as to properly inform wildlife conservation schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Requier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Myriam Abdelli
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mathilde Baude
- Université d′Orléans, Chateau de la Source, BP 6749, Cedex2, 45067, Orléans, France
- Sorbonne Université, UPEC,Université Paris Cité, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement (iEESParis), Paris, France
| | | | - Hadrien Gens
- Amis de la réserve naturelle du lac de Remoray, 25320, Labergement-Sainte-Marie, France
| | - Benoît Geslin
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Univ, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, France
- Université de Rennes (UNIR), UMR 6553 ECOBIO, CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Mickaël Henry
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | - Lise Ropars
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, CP 135, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
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6
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Iredale ME, Cobb G, Vu ED, Ghosh S, Ellis JD, Bonning BC. Development of a multiplex real-time quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction for the detection of four bee viruses. J Virol Methods 2024; 328:114953. [PMID: 38759872 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2024.114953] [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] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Viruses in the families Dicistroviridae and Iflaviridae are among the main threats to western honey bees (Apis mellifera) and native bee species. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the gold standard for pathogen detection in bees. However, high throughput screening for bee virus infections in singleplex PCR reactions is cumbersome and limited by the high quantities of sample RNA required. Thus, the development of a sensitive and specific multiplex PCR detection method for screening for multiple viruses simultaneously is necessary. Here, we report the development of a one-step multiplex reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) assay to detect four viruses commonly encountered in pollinator species. The optimized multiplex RT-qPCR protocol described in this study allows simultaneous detection of two dicistroviruses (Israeli acute paralysis virus and Black queen cell virus) and two iflaviruses (Sacbrood virus and Deformed wing virus) with high efficiency and specificity comparable to singleplex detection assays. This assay provides a broad range of detection and quantification, and the results of virus quantification in this study are similar to those performed in other studies using singleplex detection assays. This method will be particularly useful for data generation from small-bodied insect species that yield low amounts of RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marley E Iredale
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA.
| | - Galen Cobb
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, 876 Newell Drive, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Emily D Vu
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA; Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2033 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Saptarshi Ghosh
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - James D Ellis
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Bryony C Bonning
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, 1881 Natural Area Dr., Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
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Lopes AR, Low M, Martín-Hernández R, de Miranda JR, Pinto MA. Varroa destructor shapes the unique viral landscapes of the honey bee populations of the Azores archipelago. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012337. [PMID: 38959190 PMCID: PMC11221739 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The worldwide dispersal of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor from its Asian origins has fundamentally transformed the relationship of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) with several of its viruses, via changes in transmission and/or host immunosuppression. The extent to which honey bee-virus relationships change after Varroa invasion is poorly understood for most viruses, in part because there are few places in the world with several geographically close but completely isolated honey bee populations that either have, or have not, been exposed long-term to Varroa, allowing for separate ecological, epidemiological, and adaptive relationships to develop between honey bees and their viruses, in relation to the mite's presence or absence. The Azores is one such place, as it contains islands with and without the mite. Here, we combined qPCR with meta-amplicon deep sequencing to uncover the relationship between Varroa presence, and the prevalence, load, diversity, and phylogeographic structure of eight honey bee viruses screened across the archipelago. Four viruses were not detected on any island (ABPV-Acute bee paralysis virus, KBV-Kashmir bee virus, IAPV-Israeli acute bee paralysis virus, BeeMLV-Bee macula-like virus); one (SBV-Sacbrood virus) was detected only on mite-infested islands; one (CBPV-Chronic bee paralysis virus) occurred on some islands, and two (BQCV-Black queen cell virus, LSV-Lake Sinai virus,) were present on every single island. This multi-virus screening builds upon a parallel survey of Deformed wing virus (DWV) strains that uncovered a remarkably heterogeneous viral landscape featuring Varroa-infested islands dominated by DWV-A and -B, Varroa-free islands naïve to DWV, and a refuge of the rare DWV-C dominating the easternmost Varroa-free islands. While all four detected viruses investigated here were affected by Varroa for one or two parameters (usually prevalence and/or the Richness component of ASV diversity), the strongest effect was observed for the multi-strain LSV. Varroa unambiguously led to elevated prevalence, load, and diversity (Richness and Shannon Index) of LSV, with these results largely shaped by LSV-2, a major LSV strain. Unprecedented insights into the mite-virus relationship were further gained from implementing a phylogeographic approach. In addition to enabling the identification of a novel LSV strain that dominated the unique viral landscape of the easternmost islands, this approach, in combination with the recovered diversity patterns, strongly suggests that Varroa is driving the evolutionary change of LSV in the Azores. This study greatly advances the current understanding of the effect of Varroa on the epidemiology and adaptive evolution of these less-studied viruses, whose relationship with Varroa has thus far been poorly defined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana R. Lopes
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
- REQUIMTE-LAQV, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, Porto, Portugal
| | - Matthew Low
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Centro de Investigación Apícola y Agroambiental (CIAPA), IRIAF, Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal, Marchamalo, Spain
| | | | - M. Alice Pinto
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, Bragança, Portugal
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Streicher T, Brinker P, Tragust S, Paxton RJ. Host Barriers Limit Viral Spread in a Spillover Host: A Study of Deformed Wing Virus in the Bumblebee Bombus terrestris. Viruses 2024; 16:607. [PMID: 38675948 PMCID: PMC11053533 DOI: 10.3390/v16040607] [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: 03/30/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The transmission of pathogens from reservoir to recipient host species, termed pathogen spillover, can profoundly impact plant, animal, and public health. However, why some pathogens lead to disease emergence in a novel species while others fail to establish or do not elicit disease is often poorly understood. There is strong evidence that deformed wing virus (DWV), an (+)ssRNA virus, spills over from its reservoir host, the honeybee Apis mellifera, into the bumblebee Bombus terrestris. However, the low impact of DWV on B. terrestris in laboratory experiments suggests host barriers to virus spread in this recipient host. To investigate potential host barriers, we followed the spread of DWV genotype B (DWV-B) through a host's body using RT-PCR after experimental transmission to bumblebees in comparison to honeybees. Inoculation was per os, mimicking food-borne transmission, or by injection into the bee's haemocoel, mimicking vector-based transmission. In honeybees, DWV-B was present in both honeybee faeces and haemolymph within 3 days of inoculation per os or by injection. In contrast, DWV-B was not detected in B. terrestris haemolymph after inoculation per os, suggesting a gut barrier that hinders DWV-B's spread through the body of a B. terrestris. DWV-B was, however, detected in B. terrestris faeces after injection and feeding, albeit at a lower abundance than that observed for A. mellifera, suggesting that B. terrestris sheds less DWV-B than A. mellifera in faeces when infected. Barriers to viral spread in B. terrestris following oral infection may limit DWV's impact on this spillover host and reduce its contribution to the community epidemiology of DWV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabea Streicher
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Pina Brinker
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simon Tragust
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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Tiritelli R, Flaminio S, Zavatta L, Ranalli R, Giovanetti M, Grasso DA, Leonardi S, Bonforte M, Boni CB, Cargnus E, Catania R, Coppola F, Di Santo M, Pusceddu M, Quaranta M, Bortolotti L, Nanetti A, Cilia G. Ecological and social factors influence interspecific pathogens occurrence among bees. Sci Rep 2024; 14:5136. [PMID: 38429345 PMCID: PMC10907577 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55718-x] [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: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The interspecific transmission of pathogens can occur frequently in the environment. Among wild bees, the main spillover cases are caused by pathogens associated with Apis mellifera, whose colonies can act as reservoirs. Due to the limited availability of data in Italy, it is challenging to accurately assess the impact and implications of this phenomenon on the wild bee populations. In this study, a total of 3372 bees were sampled from 11 Italian regions within the BeeNet project, evaluating the prevalence and the abundance of the major honey bee pathogens (DWV, BQCV, ABPV, CBPV, KBV, Nosema ceranae, Ascosphaera apis, Crithidia mellificae, Lotmaria passim, Crithidia bombi). The 68.4% of samples were positive for at least one pathogen. DWV, BQCV, N. ceranae and CBPV showed the highest prevalence and abundance values, confirming them as the most prevalent pathogens spread in the environment. For these pathogens, Andrena, Bombus, Eucera and Seladonia showed the highest mean prevalence and abundance values. Generally, time trends showed a prevalence and abundance decrease from April to July. In order to predict the risk of infection among wild bees, statistical models were developed. A low influence of apiary density on pathogen occurrence was observed, while meteorological conditions and agricultural management showed a greater impact on pathogen persistence in the environment. Social and biological traits of wild bees also contributed to defining a higher risk of infection for bivoltine, communal, mining and oligolectic bees. Out of all the samples tested, 40.5% were co-infected with two or more pathogens. In some cases, individuals were simultaneously infected with up to five different pathogens. It is essential to increase knowledge about the transmission of pathogens among wild bees to understand dynamics, impact and effects on pollinator populations. Implementing concrete plans for the conservation of wild bee species is important to ensure the health of wild and human-managed bees within a One-Health perspective.
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Grants
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
- project BeeNet (Italian National Fund under FEASR 2014-2020) Ministero dell'agricoltura, della sovranità alimentare e delle foreste
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Tiritelli
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Simone Flaminio
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Av. Champ de Mars 6, 7000, Mons, Belgium
| | - Laura Zavatta
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy.
- Departement of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Via Giuseppe Fanin 42, 40127, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Rosa Ranalli
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- ZooPlantLab, Department of Biotecnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza dell'Ateneo Nuovo 1, 20126, Milan, Italy
| | - Manuela Giovanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Donato Antonio Grasso
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Stefano Leonardi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 11/A, 43124, Parma, Italy
| | - Marta Bonforte
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Benedetta Boni
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Cargnus
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Via Delle Scienze 206, 31000, Udine, Italy
| | - Roberto Catania
- Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 100, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Francesca Coppola
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Marco Di Santo
- Maiella National Park, Via Badia 28, 67039, Sulmona, Italy
| | - Michelina Pusceddu
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale Italia 39A, 07100, Sassari, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), Piazza Marina 61, 90133, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marino Quaranta
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Nanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cilia
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
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10
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Leclercq N, Marshall L, Weekers T, Basu P, Benda D, Bevk D, Bhattacharya R, Bogusch P, Bontšutšnaja A, Bortolotti L, Cabirol N, Calderón-Uraga E, Carvalho R, Castro S, Chatterjee S, De La Cruz Alquicira M, de Miranda JR, Dirilgen T, Dorchin A, Dorji K, Drepper B, Flaminio S, Gailis J, Galloni M, Gaspar H, Gikungu MW, Hatteland BA, Hinojosa-Diaz I, Hostinská L, Howlett BG, Hung KLJ, Hutchinson L, Jesus RO, Karklina N, Khan MS, Loureiro J, Men X, Molenberg JM, Mudri-Stojnić S, Nikolic P, Normandin E, Osterman J, Ouyang F, Oygarden AS, Ozolina-Pole L, Ozols N, Parra Saldivar A, Paxton RJ, Pitts-Singer T, Poveda K, Prendergast K, Quaranta M, Read SFJ, Reinhardt S, Rojas-Oropeza M, Ruiz C, Rundlöf M, Sade A, Sandberg C, Sgolastra F, Shah SF, Shebl MA, Soon V, Stanley DA, Straka J, Theodorou P, Tobajas E, Vaca-Uribe JL, Vera A, Villagra CA, Williams MK, Wolowski M, Wood TJ, Yan Z, Zhang Q, Vereecken NJ. Global taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity of bees in apple orchards. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 901:165933. [PMID: 37536603 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
An essential prerequisite to safeguard pollinator species is characterisation of the multifaceted diversity of crop pollinators and identification of the drivers of pollinator community changes across biogeographical gradients. The extent to which intensive agriculture is associated with the homogenisation of biological communities at large spatial scales remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated diversity drivers for 644 bee species/morphospecies in 177 commercial apple orchards across 33 countries and four global biogeographical biomes. Our findings reveal significant taxonomic dissimilarity among biogeographical zones. Interestingly, despite this dissimilarity, species from different zones share similar higher-level phylogenetic groups and similar ecological and behavioural traits (i.e. functional traits), likely due to habitat filtering caused by perennial monoculture systems managed intensively for crop production. Honey bee species dominated orchard communities, while other managed/manageable and wild species were collected in lower numbers. Moreover, the presence of herbaceous, uncultivated open areas and organic management practices were associated with increased wild bee diversity. Overall, our study sheds light on the importance of large-scale analyses contributing to the emerging fields of functional and phylogenetic diversity, which can be related to ecosystem function to promote biodiversity as a key asset in agroecosystems in the face of global change pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Leclercq
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium.
| | - L Marshall
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium; Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - T Weekers
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - P Basu
- Centre for Pollination Studies, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| | - D Benda
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic; Department of Entomology, National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - D Bevk
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - R Bhattacharya
- Centre for Pollination Studies, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| | - P Bogusch
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - A Bontšutšnaja
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - L Bortolotti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - N Cabirol
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - E Calderón-Uraga
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - R Carvalho
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - S Castro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - S Chatterjee
- Centre for Pollination Studies, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, India
| | - M De La Cruz Alquicira
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - J R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 05, Sweden
| | - T Dirilgen
- School of Agriculture and Food Science and Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - A Dorchin
- Laboratory of Zoology, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium; The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Tel Aviv University, 69978 Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Entomology, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium
| | - K Dorji
- College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Punakha, Bhutan
| | - B Drepper
- Division of Forest, Nature and Landscape, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - S Flaminio
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy; Laboratory of Zoology, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - J Gailis
- Institute for Plant Protection Research Agrihorts, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava, Latvia
| | - M Galloni
- Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - H Gaspar
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - M W Gikungu
- Department of Zoology, National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - B A Hatteland
- Division for Biotechnology and Plant Health, Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research, Aas, Norway; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - I Hinojosa-Diaz
- Department of Zoology, Institute of Biology, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - L Hostinská
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - B G Howlett
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - K-L J Hung
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada; Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019, USA
| | - L Hutchinson
- School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - R O Jesus
- Graduate Program in Ecology, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - N Karklina
- Institute for Plant Protection Research Agrihorts, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava, Latvia
| | - M S Khan
- Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - J Loureiro
- Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - X Men
- Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Virology,Jinan 250100, China
| | - J-M Molenberg
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Mudri-Stojnić
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovića 2, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - P Nikolic
- Faculty of Agriculture, University of Banja Luka, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - E Normandin
- Centre sur la biodiversité, Département des sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, QC, Québec H1X 2B2, Canada
| | - J Osterman
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacherstrasse 4, 79106, Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany
| | - F Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - A S Oygarden
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - L Ozolina-Pole
- Institute for Plant Protection Research Agrihorts, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava, Latvia
| | - N Ozols
- Institute for Plant Protection Research Agrihorts, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Jelgava, Latvia
| | - A Parra Saldivar
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE), Santiago, Chile
| | - R J Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - T Pitts-Singer
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Pollinating Insects Research Unit, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - K Poveda
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 4126 Comstock Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - K Prendergast
- Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
| | - M Quaranta
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - S F J Read
- The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited, Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand
| | - S Reinhardt
- Department of Natural Sciences and Environmental Health, University of South-Eastern Norway, Bø, Norway
| | - M Rojas-Oropeza
- Department of Ecology and Natural Resources, Faculty of Science, UNAM, México City, Mexico
| | - C Ruiz
- Departamento Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de La Laguna, La Laguna, 38206, Tenerife, Spain
| | - M Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - A Sade
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, University of Haifa, Mt. Carmel, 31905 Haifa, Israel
| | - C Sandberg
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Calluna AB, Husargatan 3, Malmö, 211 28, Sweden
| | - F Sgolastra
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - S F Shah
- Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - M A Shebl
- Department of Plant Protection, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - V Soon
- Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden, University of Tartu, Vanemuise 46, 51003 Tartu, Estonia
| | - D A Stanley
- School of Agriculture and Food Science and Earth Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - J Straka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - P Theodorou
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - E Tobajas
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Animal Biology, University of Salamanca, Campus Miguel de Unamuno, Salamanca, 37007, Spain
| | - J L Vaca-Uribe
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones en Abejas LABUN, Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá,111321, Colombia
| | - A Vera
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE), Santiago, Chile
| | - C A Villagra
- Instituto de Entomología, Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educación (UMCE), Santiago, Chile
| | - M-K Williams
- Department of Biology, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - M Wolowski
- Institute of Natural Sciences, Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - T J Wood
- Laboratory of Zoology, Université de Mons, Mons, Belgium
| | - Z Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Q Zhang
- Beijing Biodiversity Conservation Research Center/Beijing Milu Ecological Research Center, Beijing 100076, China
| | - N J Vereecken
- Agroecology Lab, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Boulevard du Triomphe CP 264/02, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Mehmood S, Palmer-Young E, Huang WF. The threat of honey bee RNA viruses to yellow-legged hornets: Insights from cross-species transmission events. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 201:108005. [PMID: 37839583 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.108005] [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] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Viral diseases are a significant challenge in beekeeping, and recent studies have unveiled a potential link between these diseases and the yellow-legged hornets (Vespa velutina), notorious predators of honey bees. However, it remains unclear whether virus diseases are commonly shared between honey bees and hornets or are merely sporadic cross-species transmission events. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a study utilizing hornet-keeping practices in Yunnan, Southwest China. Our findings demonstrate that deformed wing virus (DWV-A) and Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) can be transmitted from honey bees to yellow-legged hornets. We detected virus replication in various hornet stages, including pupae with IAPV infections, indicating the similarities between infected hornet and honey bee stages. Furthermore, we observed signs and infection intensities of DWV-A and IAPV comparable to those in honey bees. While different polymorphisms were found in the virus isolates from yellow-legged hornets, the sequences remain similar to honey bee counterparts. While our findings suggest that DWV-A and IAPV behave like common diseases, we observed a natural elimination of the viruses in hornet colonies, with minimal alterations in viral sequences. Consequently, these events appear to be cross-species transmission from honey bees, with yellow-legged hornets acting as potential incidental hosts. Further investigations of virus monitoring in hornets promise valuable insights into the disease ecology of bee-infecting viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahid Mehmood
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia; Key Laboratory of Tropical Forest Ecology, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650000, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | | | - Wei-Fone Huang
- College of Bee Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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12
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Ray AM, Gordon EC, Seeley TD, Rasgon JL, Grozinger CM. Signatures of adaptive decreased virulence of deformed wing virus in an isolated population of wild honeybees ( Apis mellifera). Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231965. [PMID: 37876196 PMCID: PMC10598435 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the ecological and evolutionary processes that drive host-pathogen interactions is critical for combating epidemics and conserving species. The Varroa destructor mite and deformed wing virus (DWV) are two synergistic threats to Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) populations across the globe. Distinct honeybee populations have been found to self-sustain despite Varroa infestations, including colonies within the Arnot Forest outside Ithaca, NY, USA. We hypothesized that in these bee populations, DWV has been selected to produce an avirulent infection phenotype, allowing for the persistence of both host and disease-causing agents. To investigate this, we assessed the titre of viruses in bees from the Arnot Forest and managed apiaries, and assessed genomic variation and virulence differences between DWV isolates. Across groups, we found viral abundance was similar, but DWV genotypes were distinct. We also found that infections with isolates from the Arnot Forest resulted in higher survival and lower rates of symptomatic deformed wings, compared to analogous isolates from managed colonies, providing preliminary evidence to support the hypothesis of adaptive decreased viral virulence. Overall, this multi-level investigation of virus genotype and phenotype indicates that host ecological context can be a significant driver of viral evolution and host-pathogen interactions in honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allyson M. Ray
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-1503, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37240-0002, USA
| | - Emma C. Gordon
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-1503, USA
| | - Thomas D. Seeley
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Jason L. Rasgon
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-1503, USA
| | - Christina M. Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802-1503, USA
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13
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Straw EA, Stanley DA. Weak evidence base for bee protective pesticide mitigation measures. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:1604-1612. [PMID: 37458300 PMCID: PMC10564266 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides help produce food for humanity's growing population, yet they have negative impacts on the environment. Limiting these impacts, while maintaining food supply, is a crucial challenge for modern agriculture. Mitigation measures are actions taken by pesticide users, which modify the risk of the application to nontarget organisms, such as bees. Through these, the impacts of pesticides can be reduced, with minimal impacts on the efficacy of the pesticide. Here we collate the scientific evidence behind mitigation measures designed to reduce pesticide impacts on bees using a systematic review methodology. We included all publications which tested the effects of any pesticide mitigation measure (using a very loose definition) on bees, at any scale (from individual through to population level), so long as they presented evidence on the efficacy of the measure. We found 34 publications with direct evidence on the topic, covering a range of available mitigation measures. No currently used mitigation measures were thoroughly tested, and some entirely lacked empirical support, showing a weak evidence base for current recommendations and policy. We found mitigation measure research predominantly focuses on managed bees, potentially failing to protect wild bees. We also found that label-recommended mitigation measures, which are the mitigation measures most often applied, specifically are seldom tested empirically. Ultimately, we recommend that more, and stronger, scientific evidence is required to justify existing mitigation measures to help reduce the impacts of pesticides on bees while maintaining crop protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward A Straw
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dara A Stanley
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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14
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Deutsch KR, Graham JR, Boncristiani HF, Bustamante T, Mortensen AN, Schmehl DR, Wedde AE, Lopez DL, Evans JD, Ellis JD. Widespread distribution of honey bee-associated pathogens in native bees and wasps: Trends in pathogen prevalence and co-occurrence. J Invertebr Pathol 2023; 200:107973. [PMID: 37479057 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2023.107973] [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] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023]
Abstract
Pollinators have experienced significant declines in the past decade, in part due to emerging infectious diseases. Historically, studies have primarily focused on pathogens in the Western honey bee, Apis mellifera. However, recent work has demonstrated that these pathogens are shared by other pollinators and can negatively affect their health. Here, we surveyed honey bees and 15 native bee and wasp species for 13 pathogens traditionally associated with honey bees. The native bee and wasp species included 11 species not previously screened for pathogens. We found at least one honey bee-associated pathogen in 53% of native bee and wasp samples. The most widely distributed and commonly detected pathogens were the microsporidian Nosema ceranae, the bacterium Melissococcus plutonius, and the viruses deformed wing virus and black queen cell virus. The prevalence of viruses was generally higher in honey bees than in native bees and wasps. However, the prevalence of M. plutonius and the brood fungus Ascosphaera apis was significantly higher in some native bee species than in honey bees. The data also reveal novel trends in the association between co-occurring pathogens in honey bees and native bees and wasps at the pathogen community level. These results can inform the assessment of risks that native pollinator species face from pathogen stress, and indicate that many non-viral pathogens, notably M. plutonius and N. ceranae, are far more widely distributed and commonly found in native bees and wasps than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jason R Graham
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Planet Bee Foundation, San Francisco, CA 94132, USA
| | - Humberto F Boncristiani
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Inside The Hive Media, Consulting Inc., Odenton, MD 21113, USA
| | - Tomas Bustamante
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Independent Collaborator, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ashley N Mortensen
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; The New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Limited, Bisley Road, Hamilton 3214, New Zealand
| | - Daniel R Schmehl
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Bayer CropScience LP, 700 Chesterfield Pwky. W., Chesterfield, MO 63017, USA
| | - Ashlyn E Wedde
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Driscoll's Global R&D, Watsonville, CA, USA
| | - Dawn L Lopez
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Jay D Evans
- Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - James D Ellis
- Entomology and Nematology Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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15
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Tayal M, Wilson C, Cieniewicz E. Bees and thrips carry virus-positive pollen in peach orchards in South Carolina, United States. JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 116:1091-1101. [PMID: 37402628 DOI: 10.1093/jee/toad125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) and prune dwarf virus (PDV) are pollen-borne viruses of important stone fruit crops, including peaches, which can cause substantial yield loss. Although both horizontal and vertical (i.e., seed) transmission of both viruses occurs through pollen, the role of flower-visiting insects in their transmission is not well understood. Bees and thrips reportedly spread PNRSV and PDV in orchards and greenhouse studies; however, the field spread of PNRSV and PDV in peach orchards in the southeastern United States is not explored. We hypothesized that bees and thrips may facilitate virus spread by carrying virus-positive pollen. Our 2-yr survey results show that 75% of captured bees are carrying virus-positive pollen and moving across the orchard while a subsample of thrips were also found virus positive. Based on morphology, Bombus, Apis, Andrena, Eucera, and Habropoda are the predominant bee genera that were captured in peach orchards. Understanding the role of bees and thrips in the spread of PNRSV and PDV will enhance our understanding of pollen-borne virus ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandeep Tayal
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Christopher Wilson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
| | - Elizabeth Cieniewicz
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
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16
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McCormick EC, Cohen OR, Dolezal AG, Sadd BM. Consequences of microsporidian prior exposure for virus infection outcomes and bumble bee host health. Oecologia 2023:10.1007/s00442-023-05394-x. [PMID: 37284861 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05394-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Host-parasite interactions do not occur in a vacuum, but in connected multi-parasite networks that can result in co-exposures and coinfections of individual hosts. These can affect host health and disease ecology, including disease outbreaks. However, many host-parasite studies examine pairwise interactions, meaning we still lack a general understanding of the influence of co-exposures and coinfections. Using the bumble bee Bombus impatiens, we study the effects of larval exposure to a microsporidian Nosema bombi, implicated in bumble bee declines, and adult exposure to Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), an emerging infectious disease from honey bee parasite spillover. We hypothesize that infection outcomes will be modified by co-exposure or coinfection. Nosema bombi is a potentially severe, larval-infecting parasite, and we predict that prior exposure will result in decreased host resistance to adult IAPV infection. We predict double parasite exposure will also reduce host tolerance of infection, as measured by host survival. Although our larval Nosema exposure mostly did not result in viable infections, it partially reduced resistance to adult IAPV infection. Nosema exposure also negatively affected survival, potentially due to a cost of immunity in resisting the exposure. There was a significant negative effect of IAPV exposure on survivorship, but prior Nosema exposure did not alter this survival outcome, suggesting increased tolerance given the higher IAPV infections in the bees previously exposed to Nosema. These results again demonstrate that infection outcomes can be non-independent when multiple parasites are present, even when exposure to one parasite does not result in a substantial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse C McCormick
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA
| | - Olivia R Cohen
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA
| | - Adam G Dolezal
- School of Integrated Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Ben M Sadd
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
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17
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Landaverde R, Rodriguez MT, Parrella JA. Honey Production and Climate Change: Beekeepers' Perceptions, Farm Adaptation Strategies, and Information Needs. INSECTS 2023; 14:493. [PMID: 37367309 DOI: 10.3390/insects14060493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Because climate change has severely impacted global bee populations by depleting their habitats and food sources, beekeepers must implement management practices to adapt to changing climates. However, beekeepers in El Salvador lack information about necessary climate change adaptation strategies. This study explored Salvadoran beekeepers' experiences adapting to climate change. The researchers used a phenomenological case study approach and conducted semi-structured interviews with nine Salvadoran beekeepers who were members of The Cooperative Association for Marketing, Production, Savings, and Credit of Beekeepers of Chalatenango (ACCOPIDECHA). The beekeepers perceived water and food scarcity, as well as extreme weather events (e.g., increasing temperature, rain, winds), as the leading climate change-induced challenges to their production. Such challenges have augmented their honey bees' physiological need for water, limited their movement patterns, decreased apiary safety, and increased the incidence of pests and diseases, all of which have led to honey bee mortality. The beekeepers shared adaptation strategies, including box modification, apiary relocation, and food supplementation. Although most beekeepers accessed climate change information using the internet, they struggled to understand and apply pertinent information unless they received it from trusted ACCOPIDECHA personnel. Salvadoran beekeepers require information and demonstrations to improve their climate change adaptation strategies and implement new ones to address the challenges they experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Landaverde
- Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Mary T Rodriguez
- Department of Agricultural Communication, Education and Leadership, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Jean A Parrella
- Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communications, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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18
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Gratton EM, McNeil DJ, Grozinger CM, Hines HM. Local habitat type influences bumble bee pathogen loads and bee species distributions. ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023:7150786. [PMID: 37133965 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvad027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Bumble bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae, Bombus Latreille) perform important ecological services in both managed and natural ecosystems. Anthropogenically induced change has altered floral resources, climate, and insecticide exposure, factors that impact health and disease levels in these bees. Habitat management presents a solution for improving bee health and biodiversity, but this requires better understanding of how different pathogens and bee species respond to habitat conditions. We take advantage of the washboard of repeated ridges (forested) and valleys (mostly developed) in central Pennsylvania to examine whether local variation in habitat type and other landscape factors influence bumble bee community composition and levels of 4 leading pathogens in the common eastern bumble bee, Bombus impatiens Cresson. Loads of viruses (DWV and BQCV) were found to be lowest in forest habitats, whereas loads of a gut parasite, Crithidia bombi, were highest in forests. Ridgetop forests hosted the most diverse bumble bee communities, including several habitat specialists. B. impatiens was most abundant in valleys, and showed higher incidence in areas of greater disturbance, including more developed, unforested, and lower floral resource sites, a pattern which mirrors its success in the face of anthropogenic change. Additionally, DNA barcoding revealed that B. sandersoni is much more common than is apparent from databases. Our results provide evidence that habitat type can play a large role in pathogen load dynamics, but in ways that differ by pathogen type, and point to a need for consideration of habitat at both macro-ecological and local spatial scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena M Gratton
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Darin J McNeil
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Heather M Hines
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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19
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Malfi RL, McFrederick QS, Lozano G, Irwin RE, Adler LS. Sunflower plantings reduce a common gut pathogen and increase queen production in common eastern bumblebee colonies. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230055. [PMID: 37015273 PMCID: PMC10072944 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0055] [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: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Community diversity can reduce the prevalence and spread of disease, but certain species may play a disproportionate role in diluting or amplifying pathogens. Flowers act as both sources of nutrition and sites of pathogen transmission, but the effects of specific plant species in shaping bee disease dynamics are not well understood. We evaluated whether plantings of sunflower (Helianthus annuus), whose pollen reduces infection by some pathogens when fed to bees in captivity, lowered pathogen levels and increased reproduction in free-foraging bumblebee colonies (Bombus impatiens). Sunflower abundance reduced the prevalence of a common gut pathogen, Crithidia bombi, and reduced infection intensity, with an order of magnitude lower infection intensity at high sunflower sites compared with sites with little to no sunflower. Sunflower abundance was also positively associated with greater queen production in colonies. Sunflower did not affect prevalence of other detected pathogens. This work demonstrates that a single plant species can drive disease dynamics in foraging B. impatiens, and that sunflower plantings can be used as a tool for mitigating a prevalent pathogen while also increasing reproduction of an agriculturally important bee species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary L. Malfi
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | | | - Giselle Lozano
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Rebecca E. Irwin
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA
| | - Lynn S. Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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20
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Van Wyk JI, Lynch AM, Adler LS. Manipulation of multiple floral traits demonstrates role in pollinator disease transmission. Ecology 2023; 104:e3866. [PMID: 36056578 PMCID: PMC9978041 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Plants modulate multitrophic ecological interactions, and variation in plant traits can affect these interactions. Pollinators are exposed to pathogens at flowers and acquire or transmit pathogens at different rates on different plant species, but the traits mediating those interactions are almost entirely unknown. We experimentally manipulated five plant traits that span scales including flower, inflorescence, and plant, to determine their effects on pathogen transmission between foraging bees. Specifically, we manipulated two morphological traits (corolla lip length and flower orientation within an inflorescence) and three resource distribution traits (inflorescence nectar, plant patch nectar, and plant aggregation) in tents to test how plant traits affect bee pathogen transmission. We also quantified foraging behavior and fecal deposition patterns as potential mechanisms driving differences in transmission, and assessed trait manipulation consequences for bee reproduction. We found that pathogen transmission was reduced when we trimmed the corolla lip, evenly dispersed nectar distribution within an inflorescence, or aggregated plants in space. Some traits also affected bee reproduction; tents with trimmed corollas had more larval production than control tents, and tents with evenly distributed nectar across plant patches had more larval production than tents with clumped resources. Thus, some trait manipulations both reduced transmission and increased bee microcolony reproduction, although our design does not allow us to discern whether these are related or separate effects. Taken together, our results demonstrate causal effects of several floral traits on pathogen transmission and pollinator reproduction, indicating the importance of intraspecific plant trait variation for pollinator health and population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer I. Van Wyk
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Amy-Mei Lynch
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
| | - Lynn S. Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA
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21
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Viljakainen L, Fürst MA, Grasse AV, Jurvansuu J, Oh J, Tolonen L, Eder T, Rattei T, Cremer S. Antiviral immune response reveals host-specific virus infections in natural ant populations. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1119002. [PMID: 37007485 PMCID: PMC10060816 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1119002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Hosts can carry many viruses in their bodies, but not all of them cause disease. We studied ants as a social host to determine both their overall viral repertoire and the subset of actively infecting viruses across natural populations of three subfamilies: the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile, Dolichoderinae), the invasive garden ant (Lasius neglectus, Formicinae) and the red ant (Myrmica rubra, Myrmicinae). We used a dual sequencing strategy to reconstruct complete virus genomes by RNA-seq and to simultaneously determine the small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by small RNA sequencing (sRNA-seq), which constitute the host antiviral RNAi immune response. This approach led to the discovery of 41 novel viruses in ants and revealed a host ant-specific RNAi response (21 vs. 22 nt siRNAs) in the different ant species. The efficiency of the RNAi response (sRNA/RNA read count ratio) depended on the virus and the respective ant species, but not its population. Overall, we found the highest virus abundance and diversity per population in Li. humile, followed by La. neglectus and M. rubra. Argentine ants also shared a high proportion of viruses between populations, whilst overlap was nearly absent in M. rubra. Only one of the 59 viruses was found to infect two of the ant species as hosts, revealing high host-specificity in active infections. In contrast, six viruses actively infected one ant species, but were found as contaminants only in the others. Disentangling spillover of disease-causing infection from non-infecting contamination across species is providing relevant information for disease ecology and ecosystem management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lumi Viljakainen
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
- *Correspondence: Lumi Viljakainen,
| | - Matthias A. Fürst
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Anna V. Grasse
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Jaana Jurvansuu
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jinook Oh
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Lassi Tolonen
- Ecology and Genetics Research Unit, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Thomas Eder
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Computational System Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Institute for Medical Biochemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Thomas Rattei
- Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, Division of Computational System Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sylvia Cremer
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), Klosterneuburg, Austria
- Sylvia Cremer,
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22
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Fearon ML, Wood CL, Tibbetts EA. Habitat quality influences pollinator pathogen prevalence through both habitat-disease and biodiversity-disease pathways. Ecology 2023; 104:e3933. [PMID: 36448518 PMCID: PMC10078577 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The dilution effect hypothesis posits that increasing biodiversity reduces infectious disease transmission. Here, we propose that habitat quality might modulate this negative biodiversity-disease relationship. Habitat may influence pathogen prevalence directly by affecting host traits like nutrition and immune response (we coined the term "habitat-disease relationship" to describe this phenomenon) or indirectly by changing host biodiversity (biodiversity-disease relationship). We used a path model to test the relative strength of links between habitat, biodiversity, and pathogen prevalence in a pollinator-virus system. High-quality habitat metrics were directly associated with viral prevalence, providing evidence for a habitat-disease relationship. However, the strength and direction of specific habitat effects on viral prevalence varied based on the characteristics of the habitat, host, and pathogen. In general, more natural area and richness of land-cover types were directly associated with increased viral prevalence, whereas greater floral density was associated with reduced viral prevalence. More natural habitat was also indirectly associated with reduced prevalence of two key viruses (black queen cell virus and deformed wing virus) via increased pollinator species richness, providing evidence for a habitat-mediated dilution effect on viral prevalence. Biodiversity-disease relationships varied across viruses, with the prevalence of sacbrood virus not being associated with any habitat quality or pollinator community metrics. Across all viruses and hosts, habitat-disease and biodiversity-disease paths had effects of similar magnitude on viral prevalence. Therefore, habitat quality is a key driver of variation in pathogen prevalence among communities via both direct habitat-disease and indirect biodiversity-disease pathways, though the specific patterns varied among different viruses and host species. Critically, habitat-disease relationships could either contribute to or obscure dilution effects in natural systems depending on the relative strength and direction of the habitat-disease and biodiversity-disease pathways in that host-pathogen system. Therefore, habitat may be an important driver in the complex interactions between hosts and pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Fearon
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Chelsea L Wood
- School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Tibbetts
- Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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23
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Lee CC, Hsu HW, Lin CY, Gustafson N, Matsuura K, Lee CY, Yang CCS. First Polycipivirus and Unmapped RNA Virus Diversity in the Yellow Crazy Ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes. Viruses 2022; 14:v14102161. [PMID: 36298716 PMCID: PMC9612232 DOI: 10.3390/v14102161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes is a widespread invasive ant that poses significant threats to local biodiversity. Yet, compared to other global invasive ant species such as the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) or the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile), little is known about the diversity of RNA viruses in the yellow crazy ant. In the current study, we generated a transcriptomic database for A. gracilipes using a high throughput sequencing approach to identify new RNA viruses and characterize their genomes. Four virus species assigned to Dicistroviridae, two to Iflaviridae, one to Polycipiviridae, and two unclassified Riboviria viruses were identified. Detailed genomic characterization was carried out on the polycipivirus and revealed that this virus comprises 11,644 nucleotides with six open reading frames. Phylogenetic analysis and pairwise amino acid identity comparison classified this virus into the genus Sopolycivirus under Polycipiviridae, which is tentatively named "Anoplolepis gracilipes virus 3 (AgrV-3)". Evolutionary analysis showed that AgrV-3 possesses a high level of genetic diversity and elevated mutation rate, combined with the common presence of multiple viral strains within single worker individuals, suggesting AgrV-3 likely evolves following the quasispecies model. A subsequent field survey placed the viral pathogen "hotspot" of A. gracilipes in the Southeast Asian region, a pattern consistent with the region being recognized as part of the ant's native range. Lastly, infection of multiple virus species seems prevalent across field colonies and may have been linked to the ant's social organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chi Lee
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6068502, Japan
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6110011, Japan
- Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Haifa 3498838, Israel
| | - Hung-Wei Hsu
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6068502, Japan
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6110011, Japan
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yi Lin
- Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6110011, Japan
- Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Lake Alfred, FL 33850, USA
| | - Nicolas Gustafson
- Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Kenji Matsuura
- Laboratory of Insect Ecology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kyoto 6068502, Japan
| | - Chow-Yang Lee
- Department of Entomology, University of California, 900 University Avenue, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Chin-Cheng Scotty Yang
- Department of Entomology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-540-231-3052
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24
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Huang WF, Li R, Jin L, Huang S. Procedures and potential pitfalls for constructing a bee-infecting RNA virus clone. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:908702. [PMID: 38468785 PMCID: PMC10926416 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.908702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Viruses are factors that can fluctuate insect populations, including honey bees. Most honey bee infecting viruses are single positive-stranded RNA viruses that may not specifically infect honey bees and can be hazardous to other pollinator insects. In addition, these viruses could synergize with other stressors to worsen the honey bee population decline. To identify the underlying detailed mechanisms, reversed genetic studies with infectious cDNA clones of the viruses are necessary. Moreover, an infectious cDNA clone can be applied to studies as an ideal virus isolate that consists of a single virus species with a uniform genotype. However, only a few infectious cDNA clones have been reported in honey bee studies since the first infectious cDNA clone was published four decades ago. This article discusses steps, rationales, and potential issues in bee-infecting RNA virus cloning. In addition, failed experiences of cloning a Deformed wing virus isolate that was phylogenetically identical to Kakugo virus were addressed. We hope the information provided in this article can facilitate further developments of reverse-genetic studies of bee-infecting viruses to clarify the roles of virus diseases in the current pollinator declines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei-Fone Huang
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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25
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Fertility costs of cryptic viral infections in a model social insect. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15857. [PMID: 36151143 PMCID: PMC9508145 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20330-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Declining insect populations emphasize the importance of understanding the drivers underlying reductions in insect fitness. Here, we investigated viruses as a threat to social insect reproduction, using honey bees as a model species. We report that in two independent surveys (N = 93 and N = 54, respectively) of honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens taken from a total of ten beekeeping operations across British Columbia, high levels of natural viral infection are associated with decreased ovary mass. Failed (poor quality) queens displayed higher levels of viral infection, reduced sperm viability, smaller ovaries, and altered ovary protein composition compared to healthy queens. We experimentally infected queens with Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) and found that the ovary masses of IAPV-injected queens were significantly smaller than control queens, demonstrating a causal relationship between viral infection and ovary size. Queens injected with IAPV also had significantly lower expression of vitellogenin, the main source of nutrition deposited into developing oocytes, and higher levels of heat-shock proteins, which are part of the honey bee’s antiviral response. This work together shows that viral infections occurring naturally in the field are compromising queen reproductive success.
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26
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Michalczyk M, Sokół R. Detection of Lotmaria passim and Crithidia mellificae in Selected Bumblebee Species. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11091053. [PMID: 36145485 PMCID: PMC9504464 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11091053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are an essential element of the ecosystem and the global economy. They are valued pollinators in many countries around the word. Unfortunately, there has been a decline in the bumblebee population, which is attributed to, among others, pathogens and reduced access to food due to the loss of natural nesting sites. Lotmaria passim and Crithidia mellificae, protozoan pathogens of the family Trypanosomatidae, commonly infect bumblebees, including in Poland. In this study, a Polish population of bumblebees was screened for L. passim and C. mellificae. The experiment was performed on 13 adult bumblebees belonging to 4 species: B. lapidarius, B. lucorum, B. pascuorum, and B. terrestris. Protozoa of the family Trypanosomatidae were identified by PCR. Only L. passim was identified in one B. pascuorum individual. Further research is needed to confirm the effect of concurrent pathogens on the decline of bumblebee populations.
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The potential consequences of 'bee washing' on wild bee health and conservation. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:30-32. [PMID: 35399591 PMCID: PMC8989764 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Concern around declining bee populations globally has become an environmental issue of mainstream importance. Policymakers, scientists, environmental non-government organizations, media outlets and the public have displayed great interest in conservation actions to support pollinators. As with many environmental causes, green washing, or in this case ‘bee washing’, has become rampant. Bee washing can lead to multiple negative consequences, including misinformation, misallocation of resources, increasing threats and steering public understanding and environmental policy away from evidence-based decision-making. Here I will discuss the multiple potential consequences of bee washing on efforts to conserve declining wild bees and promote wild bee health. Concern around declining bee populations globally has become an environmental issue of mainstream importance. Policymakers, scientists, environmental non-government organizations, media outlets and the public have displayed interest in conservation action to support pollinators. ‘Bee washing’, has become rampant. Narratives and actions tend to focus on low-hanging fruit, actions which are easy to address and/or the selling of commercial items where industry benefits but the species of concern do not. Negative consequences include misinformation, misallocation of resources, increasing threats and steering environmental policy away from evidence-based decision-making.
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Zhang ZJ, Zheng H. Bumblebees with the socially transmitted microbiome: A novel model organism for gut microbiota research. INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 29:958-976. [PMID: 35567381 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Eusocial bumble and honey bees are important pollinators for global ecology and the agricultural economy. Although both the bumble and honey bees possess similar and host-restricted gut microbiota, they differ in aspects of morphology, autonomy, physiology, behavior, and life cycle. The social bee gut bacteria exhibit host specificity that is likely a result of long-term co-evolution. The unique life cycle of bumblebees is key for the acquisition and development of their gut microbiota, and affects the strain-level diversity of the core bacterial species. Studies on bumblebee gut bacteria show that they retain less functional capacity for carbohydrate metabolism compared with that of the honeybee. We discuss the potential roles of the bumblebee gut microbiota against pathogenic threats and the application of host-specific probiotics for bumblebees. Given the advantages of the bumblebee microbiome, including the simple structure and host specificity, and the ease of manipulating bumblebee colonies, we propose that bumblebees may provide a valuable system for understanding the general principles of host-microbe interactions, gut-brain axis, and vertical transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zi-Jing Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Zheng
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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29
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Cilia G, Flaminio S, Zavatta L, Ranalli R, Quaranta M, Bortolotti L, Nanetti A. Occurrence of Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera L.) Pathogens in Wild Pollinators in Northern Italy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:907489. [PMID: 35846743 PMCID: PMC9280159 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.907489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases contribute to the decline of pollinator populations, which may be aggravated by the interspecific transmission of honey bee pests and pathogens. Flowers increase the risk of transmission, as they expose the pollinators to infections during the foraging activity. In this study, both the prevalence and abundance of 21 honey bee pathogens (11 viruses, 4 bacteria, 3 fungi, and 3 trypanosomatids) were assessed in the flower-visiting entomofauna sampled from March to September 2021 in seven sites in the two North-Italian regions, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. A total of 1,028 specimens were collected, identified, and analysed. Of the twenty-one pathogens that were searched for, only thirteen were detected. Altogether, the prevalence of the positive individuals reached 63.9%, with Nosema ceranae, deformed wing virus (DWV), and chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) as the most prevalent pathogens. In general, the pathogen abundance averaged 5.15 * 106 copies, with CBPV, N. ceranae, and black queen cell virus (BQCV) as the most abundant pathogens, with 8.63, 1.58, and 0.48 * 107 copies, respectively. All the detected viruses were found to be replicative. The sequence analysis indicated that the same genetic variant was circulating in a specific site or region, suggesting that interspecific transmission events among honey bees and wild pollinators are possible. Frequently, N. ceranae and DWV were found to co-infect the same individual. The circulation of honey bee pathogens in wild pollinators was never investigated before in Italy. Our study resulted in the unprecedented detection of 72 wild pollinator species as potential hosts of honey bee pathogens. Those results encourage the implementation of monitoring actions aiming to improve our understanding of the environmental implications of such interspecific transmission events, which is pivotal to embracing a One Health approach to pollinators' welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rosa Ranalli
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
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Effects of planted pollinator habitat on pathogen prevalence and interspecific detection between bee species. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7806. [PMID: 35551218 PMCID: PMC9098541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11734-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Shared resources can instigate pathogen spread due to large congregations of individuals in both natural and human modified resources. Of current concern is the addition of pollinator habitat in conservation efforts as it attracts bees of various species, potentially instigating interspecific sharing of pathogens. Common pathogens have been documented across a wide variety of pollinators with shared floral resources instigating their spread in some, but not all, cases. To evaluate the impact of augmented pollinator habitat on pathogen prevalence, we extracted RNA from samples of eight bee species across three families and screened these samples for nine pathogens using RT-qPCR. We found that some habitat characteristics influenced pathogen detection; however, we found no evidence that pathogen detection in one bee species was correlated with pathogen detection in another. In fact, pathogen detection was rare in wild bees. While gut parasites were detected in 6 out of the 8 species included in this study, viruses were only detected in honey bees. Further, virus detection in honey bees was low with a maximum 21% of samples testing positive for BQCV, for example. These findings suggest factors other than the habitat itself may be more critical in the dissemination of pathogens among bee species. However, we found high relative prevalence and copy number of gut parasites in some bee species which may be of concern, such as Bombus pensylvanicus. Long-term monitoring of pathogens in different bee species at augmented pollinator habitat is needed to evaluate if these patterns will change over time.
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The Virome of Healthy Honey Bee Colonies: Ubiquitous Occurrence of Known and New Viruses in Bee Populations. mSystems 2022; 7:e0007222. [PMID: 35532210 PMCID: PMC9239248 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00072-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The Western honey bee,
Apis mellifera
, is a vital part of our ecosystem as well as cultural heritage. Annual colony losses endanger beekeeping.
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Cheng X, Zhang L, Luo J, Yang S, Deng Y, Li J, Hou C. Two Pathogenic Fungi Isolated From Chalkbrood Samples and Honey Bee Viruses They Carried. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:843842. [PMID: 35495671 PMCID: PMC9039454 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.843842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascosphaera apis and some Aspergillus species are the main pathogenic fungi of honey bee, and A. apis is the pathogen of chalkbrood disease. However, the infection mechanism of them is incompletely known and it is still unclear whether other factors impact their pathogenesis. In this study, Aspergillus tubingensis were obtained from the chalkbrood bee samples for the first time. Our results showed that A. tubingensis could promote the accumulation of the spores of A. apis. Pathogenicity test found that inoculation of the spores of the two fungi alone or their combination could induce disease characterization of chalkbrood and stonebrood but the extent was less than those in field. To further identify other pathogens impacted the pathogenesis, we found several honey bee viruses presented in the pathogenic fungi A. apis and A. tubingensis, which were different from previous reported. Our results indicated that acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) could replicate in these two fungi and increased in titer with the going of cultivation time. In addition, CBPV could not only transmit vertically to the next generation by spores, but also spread horizontally to different fungi through hyphal anastomosis. These results suggested that the honey bee chalkbrood contained the other pathogenic fungi besides A. apis, the interactions between different pathogens of chalkbrood microbial communities may influence the prevalence of chalkbrood. Moreover, the discovery of honey bee viruses and their transmission mode in these two fungi enhanced the potential of exploring fungi virus as valuable factors that cause fungal disease outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefen Cheng
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China.,Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China.,Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ji Luo
- Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Forestry Research Institute, Nanning, China
| | - Sa Yang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanchun Deng
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianghong Li
- College of Animal Science (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chunsheng Hou
- Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha, China
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Losey JE, Chen C, Davis AE, Deitsch JF, Gertin JG, Gorneau JA, Hallock EM, Jordán JP, Kim ZJ, Kubinski EG, Laurenz N, Li SB, Mullen EK, O’Brien A, Richardson LI, Vincent S, Wang SY, Yarhouse EL, Schydlowsky A, Curtis PD. Insects and Spiders on the Web: Monitoring and Mitigating Online Exploitation of Species and Services. Glob Ecol Conserv 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
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34
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DiDonato S, Gareau BJ. Be(e)coming pollinators: Beekeeping and perceptions of environmentalism in Massachusetts. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263281. [PMID: 35286308 PMCID: PMC8920284 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
In an era of mass extinction and biodiversity crisis, it is increasingly crucial to cultivate more just and inclusive multispecies futures. As mitigation and adaption efforts are formed in response to these crises, just transitions forward require intentional consideration of the hybrid entanglement of humans, human societies, and wider landscapes. We thus apply a critical hybridity framework to examine the entanglement of the pollinator crisis with the cultural and agricultural practice of hobbyist beekeeping. We draw on ethnographic engagements with Massachusetts beekeepers and find apiculture to be widely understood as a form of environmentalism-including as both a mitigation to and adaptation for the pollinator crisis. Illustrating how power-laden socioecological negotiations shape and reshape regional environments, we then discuss how this narrative relies on the capitalistic and instrumental logics characteristic of Capitalocene environmentalisms. These rationalities, which obscure the hybridity of landscapes, consequently increase the likelihood of problematic unintended consequences. Also present, however, is a deeper engagement with hybrid perspectives, with some beekeepers even offering pathways toward inclusive solutions. We conclude that if more just and biodiverse futures are to be realized, beekeeping communities must foster increasingly hybrid visions of apiculture as situated within socioecological and contested landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra DiDonato
- Sociology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States of America
| | - Brian J. Gareau
- Sociology Department, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States of America
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35
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Piot N, Smagghe G. Critical View on the Importance of Host Defense Strategies on Virus Distribution of Bee Viruses: What Can We Learn from SARS-CoV-2 Variants? Viruses 2022; 14:503. [PMID: 35336909 PMCID: PMC8951442 DOI: 10.3390/v14030503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Bees, both wild and domesticated ones, are hosts to a plethora of viruses, with most of them infecting a wide range of bee species and genera. Although viral discovery and research on bee viruses date back over 50 years, the last decade is marked by a surge of new studies, new virus discoveries, and reports on viral transmission in and between bee species. This steep increase in research on bee viruses was mainly initiated by the global reports on honeybee colony losses and the worldwide wild bee decline, where viruses are regarded as one of the main drivers. While the knowledge gained on bee viruses has significantly progressed in a short amount of time, we believe that integration of host defense strategies and their effect on viral dynamics in the multi-host viral landscape are important aspects that are currently still missing. With the large epidemiological dataset generated over the last two years on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the role of these defense mechanisms in shaping viral dynamics has become eminent. Integration of these dynamics in a multi-host system would not only greatly aid the understanding of viral dynamics as a driver of wild bee decline, but we believe bee pollinators and their viruses provide an ideal system to study the multi-host viruses and their epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Piot
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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36
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Tehel A, Streicher T, Tragust S, Paxton RJ. Experimental cross species transmission of a major viral pathogen in bees is predominantly from honeybees to bumblebees. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20212255. [PMID: 35168401 PMCID: PMC8848241 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Cross-species transmission of a pathogen from a reservoir to a recipient host species, spillover, can have major impacts on biodiversity, domestic species and human health. Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a panzootic RNA virus in honeybees that is causal in their elevated colony losses, and several correlative field studies have suggested spillover of DWV from managed honeybees to wild bee species such as bumblebees. Yet unequivocal demonstration of DWV spillover is lacking, while spillback, the transmission of DWV from a recipient back to the reservoir host, is rarely considered. Here, we show in fully crossed laboratory experiments that the transmission of DWV (genotype A) from honeybees to bumblebees occurs readily, yet we neither detected viral transmission from bumblebees to honeybees nor onward transmission from experimentally infected to uninoculated bumblebees. Our results support the potential for viral spillover from honeybees to other bee species in the field when robbing resources from heterospecific nests or when visiting the same flowers. They also underscore the importance of studies on the virulence of DWV in wild bee species so as to evaluate viral impact on individual and population fitness as well as viral adaption to new host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Tehel
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Tabea Streicher
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Simon Tragust
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany,German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstrasse 4, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
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37
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Honey bees and climate explain viral prevalence in wild bee communities on a continental scale. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1904. [PMID: 35115568 PMCID: PMC8814194 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05603-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are omnipresent, yet the knowledge on drivers of viral prevalence in wild host populations is often limited. Biotic factors, such as sympatric managed host species, as well as abiotic factors, such as climatic variables, are likely to impact viral prevalence. Managed and wild bees, which harbor several multi-host viruses with a mostly fecal-oral between-species transmission route, provide an excellent system with which to test for the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on viral prevalence in wild host populations. Here we show on a continental scale that the prevalence of three broad host viruses: the AKI-complex (Acute bee paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus), Deformed wing virus, and Slow bee paralysis virus in wild bee populations (bumble bees and solitary bees) is positively related to viral prevalence of sympatric honey bees as well as being impacted by climatic variables. The former highlights the need for good beekeeping practices, including Varroa destructor management to reduce honey bee viral infection and hive placement. Furthermore, we found that viral prevalence in wild bees is at its lowest at the extreme ends of both temperature and precipitation ranges. Under predicted climate change, the frequency of extremes in precipitation and temperature will continue to increase and may hence impact viral prevalence in wild bee communities.
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38
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Pfeiffer VW, Crowder DW. Factors affecting virus prevalence in honey bees in the Pacific-Northwest, USA. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 187:107703. [PMID: 34902395 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Global efforts to assess honey bee health show viruses are major stressors that undermine colony performance. Identifying factors that affect virus incidence, such as management practices and landscape context, could aid in slowing virus transmission. Here we surveyed viruses in honey bees from 86 sites in the Pacific Northwest, USA, and tested effects of regional bee density, movement associated with commercial pollination, julian date, and hive management on virus prevalence. We also explored patterns of virus co-occurrence and spatial autocorrelation to identify whether local transmission was a primary driver of pathogen distribution. Our surveys found widespread prevalence of Deformed wing virus (DWV), Sacbrood virus (SBV), and Black queen cell virus (BQCV). BQCV and SBV were most prolific in commercial apiaries, while Chronic bee paralysis virus (CPBV) was more common in hobbyist apiaries than commercial apiaries. DWV was most common in urban landscapes and was best predicted by mite prevalence and julian date, while the incidence of both SBV and BQCV were best predicted by regional apiary density. We did not find evidence of additional spatial autocorrelation for any viruses, although high co-occurrence suggests parallel transmission patterns. Our results support the importance of mite management in slowing virus spread and suggest that greater bee density increases transmission. Our study provides support that viruses are widespread in honey bees and connects known mechanisms of virus transmission to the distribution of pathogens observed across the Pacific Northwest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera W Pfeiffer
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States.
| | - David W Crowder
- Department of Entomology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
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39
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Sacbrood viruses cross-infection between Apis cerana and Apis mellifera: Rapid detection, viral dynamics, evolution and spillover risk assessment. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 186:107687. [PMID: 34728219 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of sacbrood virus (SBV) have caused serious epizootic disease in Apis cerana populations across Asia including Taiwan. Earlier phylogenetic analyses showed that cross-infection of AcSBV and AmSBV in both A. cerana and A. mellifera seems common, raising a concern of cross-infection intensifying the risk of disease resurgence in A. cerana. In this study, we analyzed the dynamics of cross-infection in three different types of apiaries (A. mellifera-only, A. cerana-only and two species co-cultured apiaries) over one year in Taiwan. Using novel, genotype-specific primer sets, we showed that SBV infection status varies across apiaries: AmSBV-AM and AcSBV-AC were the major genotype in the A. mellifera-only and the A. cerana-only apiaries, respectively, while AmSBV-AC and AcSBV-AC were the dominant genotypes in the co-cultured apiaries. Interestingly, co-cultured apiaries were among the only apiary type that harbored all variants and dual infections (i.e., AC and AM genotype co-infection in a single sample), indicating the interactions between hosts may form a conduit for cross-infection. The cross-infection between the two honey bee species appears to occur in a regular cycle with temporal fluctuation of AmSBV-AC and AcSBV-AC prevalence synchronized to each other in the co-cultured apiaries. Artificial infection of AcSBV in A. mellifera workers showed the suppression of viral replication, suggesting the potential of A. mellifera serving as a AcSBV reservoir that may contribute to virus spillover. Furthermore, the survival rate of A. cerana larvae was significantly reduced after artificial infections of both SBVs, indicating fitness costs of cross-infection on A. cerana and thus a high risk of disease resurgence in co-cultured apiaries. Our field and laboratory data provide baseline information that facilitates understanding of the risk of SBV cross-infection, and highlights the urgent need of SBV monitoring in co-cultured apiaries.
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40
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Jones LJ, Ford RP, Schilder RJ, López-Uribe MM. Honey bee viruses are highly prevalent but at low intensities in wild pollinators of cucurbit agroecosystems. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 185:107667. [PMID: 34560106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Managed and wild bee populations are in decline around the globe due to several biotic and abiotic stressors. Pathogenic viruses associated with the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) have been identified as key contributors to losses of managed honey bee colonies, and are known to be transmitted to wild bee populations through shared floral resources. However, little is known about the prevalence and intensity of these viruses in wild bee populations, or how bee visitation to flowers impacts viral transmission in agroecosystems. This study surveyed honey bee, bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) and wild squash bee (Eucera (Peponapis) pruinosa) populations in Cucurbita agroecosystems across Pennsylvania (USA) for the prevalence and intensity of five honey bee viruses: acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), deformed wing virus (DWV), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), and slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV). We investigated the potential role of bee visitation rate to flowers on DWV intensity among species in the pollinator community, with the expectation that increased bee visitation to flowers would increase the opportunity for transmission events between host species. We found that honey bee viruses are highly prevalent but in lower titers in wild E. pruinosa and B. impatiens than in A. mellifera populations throughout Pennsylvania (USA). DWV was detected in 88% of B. impatiens, 48% of E. pruinosa, and 95% of A. mellifera. IAPV was detected in 5% of B. impatiens and 4% of E. pruinosa, compared to 9% in A. mellifera. KBV was detected in 1% of B. impatiens and 5% of E. pruinosa, compared to 32% in A. mellifera. Our results indicate that DWV titers are not correlated with bee visitation in Cucurbita fields. The potential fitness impacts of these low viral titers detected in E. pruinosa remain to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Jones
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Ryan P Ford
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA; Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Rudolf J Schilder
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Margarita M López-Uribe
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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41
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Brettell LE, Martin SJ, Riegler M, Cook JM. Vulnerability of island insect pollinator communities to pathogens. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 186:107670. [PMID: 34560107 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Island ecosystems, which often contain undescribed insects and small populations of single island endemics, are at risk from diverse threats. The spread of pathogens is a major factor affecting not just pollinator species themselves, but also posing significant knock-on effects to often fragile island ecosystems through disruption of pollination networks. Insects are vulnerable to diverse pathogens and these can be introduced to islands in a number of ways, e.g. via the introduction of infected managed pollinator hosts (e.g. honey bees and their viruses, in particular Deformed wing virus), long-range migrants (e.g. monarch butterflies and their protozoan parasite, Ophryocystit elektroscirrha) and invasive species (e.g. social wasps are common invaders and are frequently infected with multi-host viruses such as Kashmir bee virus and Moku virus). Furthermore, these introductions can negatively affect island ecosystems through outcompeting native taxa for resources. As such, the greatest threat to island pollinator communities is not one particular pathogen, but the combination of pathogens and introduced and invasive insects that will likely carry them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Brettell
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia; Department of Vector Biology, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place L3 5QA, UK.
| | - Stephen J Martin
- School of Environment and life Sciences, University of Salford, Manchester M5 4WT, UK
| | - Markus Riegler
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - James M Cook
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
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42
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Nanetti A, Bortolotti L, Cilia G. Pathogens Spillover from Honey Bees to Other Arthropods. Pathogens 2021; 10:1044. [PMID: 34451508 PMCID: PMC8400633 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees, and pollinators in general, play a major role in the health of ecosystems. There is a consensus about the steady decrease in pollinator populations, which raises global ecological concern. Several drivers are implicated in this threat. Among them, honey bee pathogens are transmitted to other arthropods populations, including wild and managed pollinators. The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is quasi-globally spread. This successful species acted as and, in some cases, became a maintenance host for pathogens. This systematic review collects and summarizes spillover cases having in common Apis mellifera as the mainteinance host and some of its pathogens. The reports are grouped by final host species and condition, year, and geographic area of detection and the co-occurrence in the same host. A total of eighty-one articles in the time frame 1960-2021 were included. The reported spillover cases cover a wide range of hymenopteran host species, generally living in close contact with or sharing the same environmental resources as the honey bees. They also involve non-hymenopteran arthropods, like spiders and roaches, which are either likely or unlikely to live in close proximity to honey bees. Specific studies should consider host-dependent pathogen modifications and effects on involved host species. Both the plasticity of bee pathogens and the ecological consequences of spillover suggest a holistic approach to bee health and the implementation of a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Centre for Agriculture and Environment Research (CREA-AA), Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (A.N.); (G.C.)
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Burnham PA, Alger SA, Case B, Boncristiani H, Hébert‐Dufresne L, Brody AK. Flowers as dirty doorknobs: Deformed wing virus transmitted between
Apis mellifera
and
Bombus impatiens
through shared flowers. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Alexander Burnham
- Department of Biology University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Vermont Complex Systems Center University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Samantha A. Alger
- Plant and Soil Science University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc South Burlington VT USA
| | - Brendan Case
- Vermont Complex Systems Center University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Computer Science Department University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Humberto Boncristiani
- Honeybee Research and Extension Laboratory Entomology and Nematology Department University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Laurent Hébert‐Dufresne
- Vermont Complex Systems Center University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Computer Science Department University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Alison K. Brody
- Department of Biology University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
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44
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Davis AE, Deutsch KR, Torres AM, Mata Loya MJ, Cody LV, Harte E, Sossa D, Muñiz PA, Ng WH, McArt SH. Eristalis flower flies can be mechanical vectors of the common trypanosome bee parasite, Crithidia bombi. Sci Rep 2021; 11:15852. [PMID: 34349198 PMCID: PMC8338921 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95323-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Flowers can be transmission platforms for parasites that impact bee health, yet bees share floral resources with other pollinator taxa, such as flies, that may be hosts or non-host vectors (i.e., mechanical vectors) of parasites. Here, we assessed whether the fecal-orally transmitted gut parasite of bees, Crithidia bombi, can infect Eristalis tenax flower flies. We also investigated the potential for two confirmed solitary bee hosts of C. bombi, Osmia lignaria and Megachile rotundata, as well as two flower fly species, Eristalis arbustorum and E. tenax, to transmit the parasite at flowers. We found that C. bombi did not replicate (i.e., cause an active infection) in E. tenax flies. However, 93% of inoculated flies defecated live C. bombi in their first fecal event, and all contaminated fecal events contained C. bombi at concentrations sufficient to infect bumble bees. Flies and bees defecated inside the corolla (flower) more frequently than other plant locations, and flies defecated at volumes comparable to or greater than bees. Our results demonstrate that Eristalis flower flies are not hosts of C. bombi, but they may be mechanical vectors of this parasite at flowers. Thus, flower flies may amplify or dilute C. bombi in bee communities, though current theoretical work suggests that unless present in large populations, the effects of mechanical vectors will be smaller than hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby E Davis
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
- Department of Environmental and Rural Science, The University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia.
| | - Kaitlin R Deutsch
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Alondra M Torres
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Mesly J Mata Loya
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Lauren V Cody
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Emma Harte
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - David Sossa
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Paige A Muñiz
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Wee Hao Ng
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Scott H McArt
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
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45
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Russo L, de Keyzer CW, Harmon-Threatt AN, LeCroy KA, MacIvor JS. The managed-to-invasive species continuum in social and solitary bees and impacts on native bee conservation. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2021; 46:43-49. [PMID: 33540109 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Invasive bee species have negative impacts on native bee species and are a source of conservation concern. The invasion of bee species is mediated by the abiotic environment, biotic communities, and propagule pressure of the invader. Each of these factors is further affected by management, which can amplify the magnitude of the impact on native bee species. The ecological traits and behavior of invasive bees also play a role in whether and to what degree they compete with or otherwise negatively affect native bee species. The magnitude of impact of an invasive bee species relates both to its population size in the introduced habitat and the degree of overlap between its resources and the resources native bees require.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Russo
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States.
| | - Charlotte W de Keyzer
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada
| | | | - Kathryn A LeCroy
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, United States; Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada; Department of Entomology, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61801, United States; Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, United States; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - James Scott MacIvor
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 3B2, Canada; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, ON, M1C 1A4, Canada
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46
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Van Wyk JI, Amponsah ER, Ng WH, Adler LS. Big bees spread disease: body size mediates transmission of a bumble bee pathogen. Ecology 2021; 102:e03429. [PMID: 34105776 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Trait variation can have important consequences for the outcomes of species interactions. Even though some traits vary as much within species as across related species, models and empirical studies typically do not consider the role of intraspecific trait variation for processes such as disease transmission. For example, many pollinator species are in decline because of a variety of stressors including pathogens, but the role of intraspecific trait variation in mediating disease dynamics is rarely considered. For example, pollinator body size could affect pathogen transmission via differences in resistance, foraging behavior and physiology. We tested effects of body size on pollinator pathogen transmission using the common eastern bumble bee Bombus impatiens in field tents, introducing an infected "donor" microcolony of large or small workers with an uninfected average-sized "recipient" microcolony and allowing bees to forage for 9-16 d. Small donor bees had nearly 50% higher infection intensity (cells/0.02 μL) than large donor bees, but large donor bees were twice as likely to transmit Crithidia bombi to recipient bees. Both behavioral and physiological mechanisms may underlie this apparent paradox. Compared to small bees, large bees foraged more and produced more feces; simulations showed that foraging and defecation rates together had stronger effects on transmission than did donor infection intensity. Thus, effects of bee size on contact rates and pathogen supply may play significant roles in disease transmission, demonstrating the multifaceted impacts of traits on transmission dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer I Van Wyk
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Eugene R Amponsah
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
| | - Wee Hao Ng
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853, USA
| | - Lynn S Adler
- Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, 01003, USA
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47
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Tsvetkov N, MacPhail VJ, Colla SR, Zayed A. Conservation genomics reveals pesticide and pathogen exposure in the declining bumble bee Bombus terricola. Mol Ecol 2021; 30:4220-4230. [PMID: 34181797 PMCID: PMC8457087 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, many pollinators have experienced large population declines, which threaten food security and the stability of natural ecosystems. Bumble bees are particularly important because their ability to “buzz” pollinate and tolerate cooler conditions make them critical pollinators for certain plants and regions. Here, we apply a conservation genomics approach to study the vulnerable Bombus terricola. We sequenced RNA from 30 worker abdomens, 18 of which were collected from agricultural sites and 12 of which were collected from nonagricultural sites. We found transcriptional signatures associated with exposure to insecticides, with gene expression patterns suggesting that bumble bees were exposed to neonicotinoids and/or fipronil—two compounds known to negatively impact bees. We also found transcriptional signatures associated with pathogen infections. In addition to the transcriptomic analysis, we carried out a metatranscriptomic analysis and detected five pathogens in the abdomens of workers, three of which are common in managed honey bee and bumble bee colonies. Our conservation genomics study provides functional support for the role of pesticides and pathogen spillover in the decline of B. terricola. We demonstrate that conservation genomics is an invaluable tool which allows researchers to quantify the effects of multiple stressors that impact pollinator populations in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Victoria J MacPhail
- Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheila R Colla
- Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Amro Zayed
- Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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48
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The First Detection and Genetic Characterization of Four Different Honeybee Viruses in Wild Bumblebees from Croatia. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10070808. [PMID: 34202101 PMCID: PMC8308666 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10070808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To determine the presence and the prevalence of four different honeybee viruses (acute bee paralysis virus—ABPV, black queen cell virus—BQCV, chronic bee paralysis virus—CBPV, deformed wing virus—DWV) in wild bumblebees, pooled randomly selected bumblebee samples were collected from twenty-seven different locations in the territory of Croatia. All samples were prepared and examined using the RT-PCR methods for quantification of mentioned honeybee viruses. Determined prevalence (%) of identified positive viruses were in the following decreasing order: BQCV > DWV > ABPV, CBPV. Additionally, direct sequencing of samples positive for BQCV (n = 24) and DWV (n = 2) was performed, as well as a test of molecular phylogeny comparison with those available in GenBank. Selected positive field viruses’ strains showed 95.7 to 100% (BQCV) and 98.09% (DWV) nucleotide identity with previously detected and deposited honeybee virus strains in the geographic areas in Croatia and neighboring Slovenia. In this article, the first detection of four honeybee viruses with genetic characterization of high diversity strains circulating in wild bumblebees in Croatia is presented.
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49
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Cilia G, Zavatta L, Ranalli R, Nanetti A, Bortolotti L. Replicative Deformed Wing Virus Found in the Head of Adults from Symptomatic Commercial Bumblebee ( Bombus terrestris) Colonies. Vet Sci 2021; 8:117. [PMID: 34201628 PMCID: PMC8310072 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8070117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The deformed wing virus (DWV) is one of the most common honey bee pathogens. The virus may also be detected in other insect species, including Bombus terrestris adults from wild and managed colonies. In this study, individuals of all stages, castes, and sexes were sampled from three commercial colonies exhibiting the presence of deformed workers and analysed for the presence of DWV. Adults (deformed individuals, gynes, workers, males) had their head exscinded from the rest of the body and the two parts were analysed separately by RT-PCR. Juvenile stages (pupae, larvae, and eggs) were analysed undissected. All individuals tested positive for replicative DWV, but deformed adults showed a higher number of copies compared to asymptomatic individuals. Moreover, they showed viral infection in their heads. Sequence analysis indicated that the obtained DWV amplicons belonged to a strain isolated in the United Kingdom. Further studies are needed to characterize the specific DWV target organs in the bumblebees. The result of this study indicates the evidence of DWV infection in B. terrestris specimens that could cause wing deformities, suggesting a relationship between the deformities and the virus localization in the head. Further studies are needed to define if a specific organ could be a target in symptomatic bumblebees.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Antonio Nanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (G.C.); (L.Z.); (R.R.); (L.B.)
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50
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Viral load, not food availability or temperature, predicts colony longevity in an invasive eusocial wasp with plastic life history. Sci Rep 2021; 11:10087. [PMID: 33980970 PMCID: PMC8115236 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-89607-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Social insect colonies exhibit a variety of life history strategies, from the annual, semelparous colonies of temperate bees and wasps to the long-lived colonies of many ants and honeybees. Species introduced to novel habitats may exhibit plasticity in life history strategies as a result of the introduction, but the factors governing these changes often remain obscure. Vespula pensylvanica, a yellowjacket wasp, exhibits such plasticity in colony longevity. Multi-year (perennial) colonies are relatively common in introduced populations in Hawaii, while source populations in the western United States are typically on an annual cycle. Here, we use experiments and observational data to examine how diet, disease, nest thermal environment, and nest location influence colony longevity in a population with both annual and perennial colonies. Counter to our predictions, experimental feeding and warming did not increase colony survival in the winter in the introduced range. However, Moku Virus load and wasp colony density predicted colony survival in one year, suggesting a potential role for disease in modulating colony phenology. We also found that local V. pensylvanica colony density was positively correlated with Moku Virus loads, and that Arsenophonus sp. bacterial loads in V. pensylvanica colonies were positively associated with proximity to feral honeybee (Apis mellifera) hives, suggesting potential transmission routes for these poorly understood symbionts. The factors influencing colony longevity in this population are likely multiple and interactive. More important than food availability, we propose winter precipitation as a critical factor that may explain temporal and spatial variation in colony longevity in these invasive wasps.
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