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Liu Y, Jia S, Wu Y, Zhou N, Xie Y, Wei R, Huang Z, Chen Y, Hu F, Zheng H. Tetracycline-induced gut community dysbiosis and Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus infection synergistically negatively affect honeybees. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 282:116706. [PMID: 38996647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotics are frequently employed to control bacterial diseases in honeybees, but their broad-spectrum action can disrupt the delicate balance of the gut microbiome, leading to dysbiosis. This imbalance in the gut microbiota of honeybees adversely affects their physiological health and weakens their resistance to pathogens, including viruses that significantly threaten honeybee health. In this study, we investigated whether tetracycline-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis promotes the replication of Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), a key virus associated with colony losses and whether IAPV infection exacerbates gut microbiome dysbiosis. Our results demonstrated that tetracycline-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis increases the susceptibility of honeybees to IAPV infection. The viral titer in worker bees with antibiotic-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis prior to IAPV inoculation was significantly higher than in those merely inoculated with IAPV. Furthermore, we observed a synergistic effect between tetracycline and IAPV on the disruption of the honeybee gut microbiome balance. The progression of IAPV replication could, in turn, exacerbate antibiotic-induced gut microbiome dysbiosis in honeybees. Our research provides novel insights into the role of the gut microbiota in host-virus interactions, emphasizing the complex interplay between antibiotic use, gut microbiome health, and viral susceptibility in honeybees. We highlight the crucial role of a balanced gut microbiota in honey bees for their immune response against pathogens and emphasize the importance of careful, safe antibiotic use in beekeeping to protect these beneficial microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Liu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Shuo Jia
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yuqi Wu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Nihong Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yanling Xie
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Ruike Wei
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zhichu Huang
- Jinhua Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinhua 321017, China
| | - Yanping Chen
- Bee Research Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Fuliang Hu
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Huoqing Zheng
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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2
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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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3
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Rossi F, Del Matto I, Ricchiuti L, Marino L. Selection and Multiplexing of Reverse Transcription-Quantitative PCR Tests Targeting Relevant Honeybee Viral Pathogens. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1105. [PMID: 38930487 PMCID: PMC11205706 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Verifying the inclusivity of molecular detection methods gives indications about the reliability of viral infection diagnosis because of the tendency of viral pathogens to undergo sequence variation. This study was aimed at selecting inclusive probes based on reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) assays for the diagnosis of the most widespread and detrimental viruses infecting honeybees, namely the acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), the black queen cell virus (BQCV), the chronic paralysis bee virus (CBPV), the deformed wing virus variants A (DWVA) and B (DWVB), and the sacbrood virus (SBV). Therefore, previously described detection methods were re-evaluated in silico for their specificity and inclusivity. Based on this evaluation, selected methods were modified, or new ones were designed and tested in duplex RT-qPCR reactions. The limits of detection (LODs), effect of multiplexing on sensitivity and the viral RNA quantification potential in bees and hive debris were assessed. This study made available diagnostic assays able to detect an increased number of virus variants compared with previously described tests and two viral pathogens in a single PCR reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franca Rossi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Caporale”, Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (I.D.M.); (L.R.); (L.M.)
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4
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Carlini DB, Winslow SK, Cloppenborg-Schmidt K, Baines JF. Quantitative microbiome profiling of honey bee (Apis mellifera) guts is predictive of winter colony loss in northern Virginia (USA). Sci Rep 2024; 14:11021. [PMID: 38744972 PMCID: PMC11094147 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61199-9] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
For the past 15 years, the proportion of honey bee hives that fail to survive winter has averaged ~ 30% in the United States. Winter hive loss has significant negative impacts on agriculture, the economy, and ecosystems. Compared to other factors, the role of honey bee gut microbial communities in driving winter hive loss has received little attention. We investigate the relationship between winter survival and honey bee gut microbiome composition of 168 honey bees from 23 hives, nine of which failed to survive through winter 2022. We found that there was a substantial difference in the abundance and community composition of honey bee gut microbiomes based on hive condition, i.e., winter survival or failure. The overall microbial abundance, as assessed using Quantitative Microbiome Profiling (QMP), was significantly greater in hives that survived winter 2022 than in those that failed, and the average overall abundance of each of ten bacterial genera was also greater in surviving hives. There were no significant differences in alpha diversity based on hive condition, but there was a highly significant difference in beta diversity. The bacterial genera Commensalibacter and Snodgrassella were positively associated with winter hive survival. Logistic regression and random forest machine learning models on pooled ASV counts for the genus data were highly predictive of winter outcome, although model performance decreased when samples from the location with no hive failures were excluded from analysis. As a whole, our results show that the abundance and community composition of honey bee gut microbiota is associated with winter hive loss, and can potentially be used as a diagnostic tool in evaluating hive health prior to the onset of winter. Future work on the functional characterization of the honey bee gut microbiome's role in winter survival is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Carlini
- Department of Biology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA.
| | - Sundre K Winslow
- Department of Biology, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20016, USA
| | - Katja Cloppenborg-Schmidt
- Section of Evolutionary Medicine, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - John F Baines
- Section of Evolutionary Medicine, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, Arnold-Heller-Str. 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Str. 2, 24306, Plön, Germany.
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5
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Lin Z, Shen S, Wang K, Ji T. Biotic and abiotic stresses on honeybee health. Integr Zool 2024; 19:442-457. [PMID: 37427560 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
Honeybees are the most critical pollinators providing key ecosystem services that underpin crop production and sustainable agriculture. Amidst a backdrop of rapid global change, this eusocial insect encounters a succession of stressors during nesting, foraging, and pollination. Ectoparasitic mites, together with vectored viruses, have been recognized as central biotic threats to honeybee health, while the spread of invasive giant hornets and small hive beetles also increasingly threatens colonies worldwide. Cocktails of agrochemicals, including acaricides used for mite treatment, and other pollutants of the environment have been widely documented to affect bee health in various ways. Additionally, expanding urbanization, climate change, and agricultural intensification often result in the destruction or fragmentation of flower-rich bee habitats. The anthropogenic pressures exerted by beekeeping management practices affect the natural selection and evolution of honeybees, and colony translocations facilitate alien species invasion and disease transmission. In this review, the multiple biotic and abiotic threats and their interactions that potentially undermine bee colony health are discussed, while taking into consideration the sensitivity, large foraging area, dense network among related nestmates, and social behaviors of honeybees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheguang Lin
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Siyi Shen
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kang Wang
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ting Ji
- Apicultural Research Institute, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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Walsh EM, Simone-Finstrom M. Current honey bee stressor investigations and mitigation methods in the United States and Canada. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2024; 24:19. [PMID: 38805646 PMCID: PMC11132128 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieae055] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Honey bees are the most important managed insect pollinators in the US and Canadian crop systems. However, the annual mortality of colonies in the past 15 years has been consistently higher than historical records. Because they are eusocial generalist pollinators and amenable to management, honey bees provide a unique opportunity to investigate a wide range of questions at molecular, organismal, and ecological scales. Here, the American Association of Professional Apiculturists (AAPA) and the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists (CAPA) created 2 collections of articles featuring investigations on micro and macro aspects of honey bee health, sociobiology, and management showcasing new applied research from diverse groups studying honey bees (Apis mellifera) in the United States and Canada. Research presented in this special issue includes examinations of abiotic and biotic stressors of honey bees, and evaluations and introductions of various stress mitigation measures that may be valuable to both scientists and the beekeeping community. These investigations from throughout the United States and Canada showcase the wide breadth of current work done and point out areas that need further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth M Walsh
- USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Unit, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA
| | - Michael Simone-Finstrom
- USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Unit, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA
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Domingues CEC, Šimenc L, Toplak I, de Graaf DC, De Smet L, Verbeke W, Peelman L, Ansaloni LS, Gregorc A. Eggs sampling as an effective tool for identifying the incidence of viruses in honey bees involved in artificial queen rearing. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9612. [PMID: 38671077 PMCID: PMC11053070 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60135-1] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) plays an essential role in crop pollination, environment diversity, and the production of honey bee products. However, the health of individual honey bees and their colonies is under pressure due to multiple stressors, including viruses as a significant threat to bees. Monitoring various virus infections could be a crucial selection tool during queen rearing. In the present study, samples from all developmental stages (eggs, larvae, pupae, and queens) were screened for the incidence of seven viruses during queen rearing in Slovenia. The screening of a total of 108 samples from five queen breeders was performed by the RT-qPCR assays. The results showed that the highest incidence was observed for black queen cell virus (BQCV), Lake Sinai virus 3 (LSV3), deformed wing virus B (DWV-B), and sacbrood virus (SBV). The highest viral load was detected in queens (6.07 log10 copies/queen) and larvae (5.50 log10 copies/larva) for BQCV, followed by SBV in larvae (5.47 log10 copies/larva). When comparing all the honey bee developmental stages, the eggs exhibited general screening for virus incidence and load in queen mother colonies. The results suggest that analyzing eggs is a good indicator of resilience to virus infection during queen development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio E C Domingues
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311, Hoče, Slovenia.
| | - Laura Šimenc
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ivan Toplak
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Gerbičeva 60, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Dirk C de Graaf
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Lina De Smet
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wim Verbeke
- Department of Agricultural Economics, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Luc Peelman
- Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, Heidestraat 19, 9820, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - Leticia S Ansaloni
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311, Hoče, Slovenia
| | - Aleš Gregorc
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Maribor, Pivola 10, 2311, Hoče, Slovenia
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Kadlečková D, Saláková M, Erban T, Tachezy R. Discovery and characterization of novel DNA viruses in Apis mellifera: expanding the honey bee virome through metagenomic analysis. mSystems 2024; 9:e0008824. [PMID: 38441971 PMCID: PMC11019937 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00088-24] [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: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
To date, many viruses have been discovered to infect honey bees. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing to expand the known virome of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, by identifying several novel DNA viruses. While the majority of previously identified bee viruses are RNA, our study reveals nine new genomes from the Parvoviridae family, tentatively named Bee densoviruses 1 to 9. In addition, we characterized a large DNA virus, Apis mellifera filamentous-like virus (AmFLV), which shares limited protein identities with the known Apis mellifera filamentous virus. The complete sequence of AmFLV, obtained by a combination of laboratory techniques and bioinformatics, spans 152,678 bp. Linear dsDNA genome encodes for 112 proteins, of which 49 are annotated. Another large virus we discovered is Apis mellifera nudivirus, which belongs to a group of Alphanudivirus. The virus has a length of 129,467 bp and a circular dsDNA genome, and has 106 protein encoding genes. The virus contains most of the core genes of the family Nudiviridae. This research demonstrates the effectiveness of viral binning in identifying viruses in honey bee virology, showcasing its initial application in this field.IMPORTANCEHoney bees contribute significantly to food security by providing pollination services. Understanding the virome of honey bees is crucial for the health and conservation of bee populations and also for the stability of the ecosystems and economies for which they are indispensable. This study unveils previously unknown DNA viruses in the honey bee virome, expanding our knowledge of potential threats to bee health. The use of the viral binning approach we employed in this study offers a promising method to uncovering and understanding the vast viral diversity in these essential pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Kadlečková
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science BIOCEV, Charles University, Vestec, Průmyslová, Czechia
| | - Martina Saláková
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science BIOCEV, Charles University, Vestec, Průmyslová, Czechia
| | - Tomáš Erban
- Crop Research Institute, Drnovská, Prague, Czechia
| | - Ruth Tachezy
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science BIOCEV, Charles University, Vestec, Průmyslová, Czechia
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9
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Nguyen TT, Yoo MS, Truong AT, Youn SY, Kim DH, Lee SJ, Yoon SS, Cho YS. Prevalence and genome features of lake sinai virus isolated from Apis mellifera in the Republic of Korea. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0299558. [PMID: 38502683 PMCID: PMC10950237 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299558] [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: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Lake Sinai Virus (LSV) is an emerging pathogen known to affect the honeybee (Apis mellifera). However, its prevalence and genomic characteristics in the Republic of Korea (ROK) remain unexplored. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of and analyze the LSVs by examining 266 honeybee samples from the ROK. Our findings revealed that LSV exhibited the highest infection rate among the pathogens observed in Korean apiaries, particularly during the reported period of severe winter loss (SWL) in A. mellifera apiaries in 2022. Three LSV genotypes- 2, 3, and 4 -were identified using RNA-dependent RNA polymerase gene analysis. Importantly, the infection rates of LSV2 (65.2%) and LSV3 (73.3%) were significantly higher in colonies experiencing SWL than in those experiencing normal winter loss (NWL) (p < 0.03). Furthermore, this study provides the first near-complete genome sequences of the Korean LSV2, LSV3, and LSV4 strains, comprising 5,759, 6,040, and 5,985 nt, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on these near-complete genome sequences demonstrated a close relationship between LSVs in the ROK and China. The high LSV infection rate in colonies experiencing a heightened mortality rate during winter suggests that this pathogen might contribute to SWL in ROK. Moreover, the genomic characteristic information on LSVs in this study holds immense potential for epidemiological information and the selection of specific genes suitable for preventing and treating LSV, including the promising utilization of RNA interference medicine in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thi-Thu Nguyen
- Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Laboratory of Parasitic and Honeybee Diseases, Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Biotechnology, Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
| | - Mi-Sun Yoo
- Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Laboratory of Parasitic and Honeybee Diseases, Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
| | - A-Tai Truong
- Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Laboratory of Parasitic and Honeybee Diseases, Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Thai Nguyen University of Sciences, Thai Nguyen, Viet Nam
| | - So Youn Youn
- Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Laboratory of Parasitic and Honeybee Diseases, Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Ho Kim
- Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Laboratory of Parasitic and Honeybee Diseases, Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Ji Lee
- Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Laboratory of Parasitic and Honeybee Diseases, Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon-Seek Yoon
- Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Laboratory of Parasitic and Honeybee Diseases, Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Sang Cho
- Department of Animal and Plant Health Research, Laboratory of Parasitic and Honeybee Diseases, Bacterial Disease Division, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, Gimcheon, Republic of Korea
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10
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Peirson M, Ibrahim A, Ovinge LP, Hoover SE, Guarna MM, Melathopoulos A, Pernal SF. The effects of protein supplementation, fumagillin treatment, and colony management on the productivity and long-term survival of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0288953. [PMID: 38489327 PMCID: PMC10942092 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288953] [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: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we intensively measured the longitudinal productivity and survival of 362 commercially managed honey bee colonies in Canada, over a two-year period. A full factorial experimental design was used, whereby two treatments were repeated across apiaries situated in three distinct geographic regions: Northern Alberta, Southern Alberta and Prince Edward Island, each having unique bee management strategies. In the protein supplemented treatment, colonies were continuously provided a commercial protein supplement containing 25% w/w pollen, in addition to any feed normally provided by beekeepers in that region. In the fumagillin treatment, colonies were treated with the label dose of Fumagilin-B® each year during the fall. Neither treatment provided consistent benefits across all sites and dates. Fumagillin was associated with a large increase in honey production only at the Northern Alberta site, while protein supplementation produced an early season increase in brood production only at the Southern Alberta site. The protein supplement provided no long-lasting benefit at any site and was also associated with an increased risk of death and decreased colony size later in the study. Differences in colony survival and productivity among regions, and among colonies within beekeeping operations, were far larger than the effects of either treatment, suggesting that returns from extra feed supplements and fumagillin were highly contextually dependent. We conclude that use of fumagillin is safe and sometimes beneficial, but that beekeepers should only consider excess protein supplementation when natural forage is limiting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Peirson
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Abdullah Ibrahim
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Lynae P. Ovinge
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Shelley E. Hoover
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Lethbridge Research Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - M. Marta Guarna
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Andony Melathopoulos
- School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Stephen F. Pernal
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, Alberta, Canada
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11
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Nikulin SL, Hesketh-Best PJ, Mckeown DA, Spivak M, Schroeder DC. A semi-automated and high-throughput approach for the detection of honey bee viruses in bee samples. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297623. [PMID: 38483922 PMCID: PMC10939240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Deformed wing virus (DWV) was first detected in dead honey bees in 1982 but has been in honey bees for at least 300 years. Due to its high prevalence and virulence, they have been linked with the ongoing decline in honey bee populations worldwide. A rapid, simple, semi-automated, high-throughput, and cost-effective method of screening colonies for viruses would benefit bee research and the beekeeping industry. Here we describe a semi-automated approach that combines an RNA-grade liquid homogenizer followed by magnetic bead capture for total virus nucleic acid extraction. We compare it to the more commonly applied nucleic acid column-based purification method and use qPCR plus Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing to evaluate the accuracy of analytical results for both methods. Our results showed high reproducibility and accuracy for both approaches. The semi-automated method described here allows for faster screening of viral loads in units of 96 samples at a time. We developed this method to monitor viral loads in honey bee colonies, but it could be easily applied for any PCR or genomic-based screening assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Levin Nikulin
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Poppy J. Hesketh-Best
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Dean A. Mckeown
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Marla Spivak
- Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
| | - Declan C. Schroeder
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States of America
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12
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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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13
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Babin A, Schurr F, Delannoy S, Fach P, Huyen Ton Nu Nguyet M, Bougeard S, de Miranda JR, Rundlöf M, Wintermantel D, Albrecht M, Attridge E, Bottero I, Cini E, Costa C, De la Rúa P, Di Prisco G, Dominik C, Dzul D, Hodge S, Klein AM, Knapp J, Knauer AC, Mänd M, Martínez-López V, Medrzycki P, Pereira-Peixoto MH, Potts SG, Raimets R, Schweiger O, Senapathi D, Serrano J, Stout JC, Tamburini G, Brown MJF, Laurent M, Rivière MP, Chauzat MP, Dubois E. Distribution of infectious and parasitic agents among three sentinel bee species across European agricultural landscapes. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3524. [PMID: 38347035 PMCID: PMC10861508 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53357-w] [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: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) and their associated diseases are major environmental stressors that jeopardize bee health, both alone and in interaction with other stressors. Their impact on pollinator communities can be assessed by studying multiple sentinel bee species. Here, we analysed the field exposure of three sentinel managed bee species (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis) to 11 IPAs (six RNA viruses, two bacteria, three microsporidia). The sentinel bees were deployed at 128 sites in eight European countries adjacent to either oilseed rape fields or apple orchards during crop bloom. Adult bees of each species were sampled before their placement and after crop bloom. The IPAs were detected and quantified using a harmonised, high-throughput and semi-automatized qPCR workflow. We describe differences among bee species in IPA profiles (richness, diversity, detection frequencies, loads and their change upon field exposure, and exposure risk), with no clear patterns related to the country or focal crop. Our results suggest that the most frequent IPAs in adult bees are more appropriate for assessing the bees' IPA exposure risk. We also report positive correlations of IPA loads supporting the potential IPA transmission among sentinels, suggesting careful consideration should be taken when introducing managed pollinators in ecologically sensitive environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Babin
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France.
| | - Frank Schurr
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Sabine Delannoy
- IdentyPath Genomics Platform, Food Safety Laboratory, ANSES, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Patrick Fach
- IdentyPath Genomics Platform, Food Safety Laboratory, ANSES, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | - Stéphanie Bougeard
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory, Epidemiology and Welfare, France
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maj Rundlöf
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Dimitry Wintermantel
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Albrecht
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eleanor Attridge
- Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations, Tullamore, Ireland
| | - Irene Bottero
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Elena Cini
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Cecilia Costa
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Pilar De la Rúa
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Gennaro Di Prisco
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, The Italian National Research Council, Piazzale E. Ferni 1, 80055, Portici, Napoli, Italy
| | - Christophe Dominik
- UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Dzul
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Simon Hodge
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jessica Knapp
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Anina C Knauer
- Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Reckenholzstrasse 191, 8046, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marika Mänd
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Vicente Martínez-López
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
- Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Bioscience Building, L69 7ZB, Liverpool, UK
| | - Piotr Medrzycki
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Maria Helena Pereira-Peixoto
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon G Potts
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Risto Raimets
- Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Community Ecology, 06120, Halle, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstraße 4, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Deepa Senapathi
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - José Serrano
- Department of Zoology and Physical Anthropology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jane C Stout
- Botany, School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Giovanni Tamburini
- Chair of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Straße 4, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- University of Bari, Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences (DiSSPA-Entomology and Zoology), Bari, Italy
| | - Mark J F Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life Sciences and the Environment, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Marion Laurent
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Rivière
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Marie-Pierre Chauzat
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France
- Paris-Est University, ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, 94701, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Eric Dubois
- ANSES, Sophia Antipolis Laboratory, Unit of Honey bee Pathology, 06902, Sophia Antipolis, France.
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14
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Cilia G, Tafi E, Zavatta L, Dettori A, Bortolotti L, Nanetti A. Seasonal trends of the ABPV, KBV, and IAPV complex in Italian managed honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies. Arch Virol 2024; 169:43. [PMID: 38334819 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-024-05967-y] [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: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), and Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) usually persist as covert infections in honey bee colonies. They can cause rapid bee mortality in cases of severe infection, often associated with high Varroa destructor infestation, by which they are transmitted. In various countries, these viruses have been associated with colony collapse. Despite their potential danger, these viruses are often disregarded, and little information is available on their occurrence in many countries, including Italy. In 2021, 370 apiaries representing all of the Italian regions were investigated in four different months (June, September, November, and March) for the presence of ABPV, KBV, and IAPV. IAPV was not found in any of the apiaries investigated, whereas 16.45% and 0.67% of the samples tested positive for ABPV and KBV, respectively. Most ABPV cases occurred in late summer-autumn in both northern and southern regions. We observed a scattered pattern of KBV-positive colonies that did not allow any seasonal or regional trends to be discerned. Differences observed among regions and months were potentially related to the dynamics of varroa infestation, viral genetic variations, and different climatic conditions resulting in variations in bee behaviour. This study improves our understanding of the circulation of bee viruses and will contribute to better disease prevention and preservation of bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Cilia
- Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Tafi
- Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Laura Zavatta
- Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Amanda Dettori
- Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
| | - Antonio Nanetti
- Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Via di Corticella 133, 40128, Bologna, Italy
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15
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Karlin DG. WIV, a protein domain found in a wide number of arthropod viruses, which probably facilitates infection. J Gen Virol 2024; 105. [PMID: 38193819 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
The most powerful approach to detect distant homologues of a protein is based on structure prediction and comparison. Yet this approach is still inapplicable to many viral proteins. Therefore, we applied a powerful sequence-based procedure to identify distant homologues of viral proteins. It relies on three principles: (1) traces of sequence similarity can persist beyond the significance cutoff of homology detection programmes; (2) candidate homologues can be identified among proteins with weak sequence similarity to the query by using 'contextual' information, e.g. taxonomy or type of host infected; (3) these candidate homologues can be validated using highly sensitive profile-profile comparison. As a test case, this approach was applied to a protein without known homologues, encoded by ORF4 of Lake Sinai viruses (which infect bees). We discovered that the ORF4 protein contains a domain that has homologues in proteins from >20 taxa of viruses infecting arthropods. We called this domain 'widespread, intriguing, versatile' (WIV), because it is found in proteins with a wide variety of functions and within varied domain contexts. For example, WIV is found in the NSs protein of tospoviruses, a global threat to food security, which infect plants as well as their arthropod vectors; in the RNA2 ORF1-encoded protein of chronic bee paralysis virus, a widespread virus of bees; and in various proteins of cypoviruses, which infect the silkworm Bombyx mori. Structural modelling with AlphaFold indicated that the WIV domain has a previously unknown fold, and bibliographical evidence suggests that it facilitates infection of arthropods.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Karlin
- Division Phytomedicine, Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lentzeallee 55/57, D-14195 Berlin, Germany
- Independent Researcher, Marseille, France
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16
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Doublet V, Oddie MAY, Mondet F, Forsgren E, Dahle B, Furuseth-Hansen E, Williams GR, De Smet L, Natsopoulou ME, Murray TE, Semberg E, Yañez O, de Graaf DC, Le Conte Y, Neumann P, Rimstad E, Paxton RJ, de Miranda JR. Shift in virus composition in honeybees ( Apis mellifera) following worldwide invasion by the parasitic mite and virus vector Varroa destructor. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:231529. [PMID: 38204792 PMCID: PMC10776227 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Invasive vectors can induce dramatic changes in disease epidemiology. While viral emergence following geographical range expansion of a vector is well known, the influence a vector can have at the level of the host's pathobiome is less well understood. Taking advantage of the formerly heterogeneous spatial distribution of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor that acts as potent virus vector among honeybees Apis mellifera, we investigated the impact of its recent global spread on the viral community of honeybees in a retrospective study of historical samples. We hypothesized that the vector has had an effect on the epidemiology of several bee viruses, potentially altering their transmissibility and/or virulence, and consequently their prevalence, abundance, or both. To test this, we quantified the prevalence and loads of 14 viruses from honeybee samples collected in mite-free and mite-infested populations in four independent geographical regions. The presence of the mite dramatically increased the prevalence and load of deformed wing virus, a cause of unsustainably high colony losses. In addition, several other viruses became more prevalent or were found at higher load in mite-infested areas, including viruses not known to be actively varroa-transmitted, but which may increase opportunistically in varroa-parasitized bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Doublet
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 061200, Germany
| | - Melissa A. Y. Oddie
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
- Norwegian Beekeepers Association, Kløfta 2040, Norway
| | - Fanny Mondet
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon 84914, France
| | - Eva Forsgren
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
| | - Bjørn Dahle
- Norwegian Beekeepers Association, Kløfta 2040, Norway
| | - Elisabeth Furuseth-Hansen
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås 1432, Norway
| | - Geoffrey R. Williams
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3097, Switzerland
- Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36832, USA
| | - Lina De Smet
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Myrsini E. Natsopoulou
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 061200, Germany
| | - Tomás E. Murray
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 061200, Germany
| | - Emilia Semberg
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3097, Switzerland
| | - Dirk C. de Graaf
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon 84914, France
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3097, Switzerland
| | - Espen Rimstad
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås 1432, Norway
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 061200, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Joachim R. de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750 07, Sweden
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17
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Damayo JE, McKee RC, Buchmann G, Norton AM, Ashe A, Remnant EJ. Virus replication in the honey bee parasite, Varroa destructor. J Virol 2023; 97:e0114923. [PMID: 37966226 PMCID: PMC10746231 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01149-23] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE The parasitic mite Varroa destructor is a significant driver of worldwide colony losses of our most important commercial pollinator, the Western honey bee Apis mellifera. Declines in honey bee health are frequently attributed to the viruses that mites vector to honey bees, yet whether mites passively transmit viruses as a mechanical vector or actively participate in viral amplification and facilitate replication of honey bee viruses is debated. Our work investigating the antiviral RNA interference response in V. destructor demonstrates that key viruses associated with honey bee declines actively replicate in mites, indicating that they are biological vectors, and the host range of bee-associated viruses extends to their parasites, which could impact virus evolution, pathogenicity, and spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E. Damayo
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rebecca C. McKee
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gabriele Buchmann
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Institute of Plant Genetics, Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Amanda M. Norton
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Academic Support Unit, Research and Advanced Instrumentation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Sippy Downs, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alyson Ashe
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emily J. Remnant
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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18
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Lu RX, Bhatia S, Simone-Finstrom M, Rueppell O. Quantitative trait loci mapping for survival of virus infection and virus levels in honey bees. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2023; 116:105534. [PMID: 38036199 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2023.105534] [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: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) is a highly virulent, Varroa-vectored virus that is of global concern for honey bee health. Little is known about the genetic basis of honey bees to withstand infection with IAPV or other viruses. We set up and analyzed a backcross between preselected honey bee colonies of low and high IAPV susceptibility to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with IAPV susceptibility. Experimentally inoculated adult worker bees were surveyed for survival and selectively sampled for QTL analysis based on SNPs identified by whole-genome resequencing and composite interval mapping. Additionally, natural titers of other viruses were quantified in the abdomen of these workers via qPCR and also used for QTL mapping. In addition to the full dataset, we analyzed distinct subpopulations of susceptible and non-susceptible workers separately. These subpopulations are distinguished by a single, suggestive QTL on chromosome 6, but we identified numerous other QTL for different abdominal virus titers, particularly in the subpopulation that was not susceptible to IAPV. The pronounced QTL differences between the susceptible and non-susceptible subpopulations indicate either an interaction between IAPV infection and the bees' interaction with other viruses or heterogeneity among workers of a single cohort that manifests itself as IAPV susceptibility and results in distinct subgroups that differ in their interaction with other viruses. Furthermore, our results indicate that low susceptibility of honey bees to viruses can be caused by both, virus tolerance and virus resistance. QTL were partially overlapping among different viruses, indicating a mixture of shared and specific processes that control viruses. Some functional candidate genes are located in the QTL intervals, but their genomic co-localization with numerous genes of unknown function delegates any definite characterization of the underlying molecular mechanisms to future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert X Lu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 Street & 85 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - Shilpi Bhatia
- Department of Biology, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, 1601 E Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
| | - Michael Simone-Finstrom
- USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics and Physiology Research Laboratory, 1157 Ben Hur Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70820, USA
| | - Olav Rueppell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, 116 Street & 85 Avenue, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada; Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 321 McIver Street, Greensboro, NC 27412, USA.
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Cornman RS. Data mining reveals tissue-specific expression and host lineage-associated forms of Apis mellifera filamentous virus. PeerJ 2023; 11:e16455. [PMID: 38025724 PMCID: PMC10655722 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV) is a large double-stranded DNA virus of uncertain phylogenetic position that infects honey bees (Apis mellifera). Little is known about AmFV evolution or molecular aspects of infection. Accurate annotation of open-reading frames (ORFs) is challenged by weak homology to other known viruses. This study was undertaken to evaluate ORFs (including coding-frame conservation, codon bias, and purifying selection), quantify genetic variation within AmFV, identify host characteristics that covary with infection rate, and examine viral expression patterns in different tissues. Methods Short-read data were accessed from the Sequence Read Archive (SRA) of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Sequence reads were downloaded from accessions meeting search criteria and scanned for kmers representative of AmFV genomic sequence. Samples with kmer counts above specified thresholds were downloaded in full for mapping to reference sequences and de novo assembly. Results At least three distinct evolutionary lineages of AmFV exist. Clade 1 predominates in Europe but in the Americas and Africa it is replaced by the other clades as infection level increases in hosts. Only clade 3 was found at high relative abundance in hosts with African ancestry, whereas all clades achieved high relative abundance in bees of non-African ancestry. In Europe and Africa, clade 2 was generally detected only in low-level infections but was locally dominant in some North American samples. The geographic distribution of clade 3 was consistent with an introduction to the Americas with 'Africanized' honey bees in the 1950s. Localized genomic regions of very high nucleotide divergence in individual isolates suggest recombination with additional, as-yet unidentified AmFV lineages. A set of 155 high-confidence ORFs was annotated based on evolutionary conservation in six AmFV genome sequences representative of the three clades. Pairwise protein-level identity averaged 94.6% across ORFs (range 77.1-100%), which generally exhibited low evolutionary rates and moderate to strong codon bias. However, no robust example of positive diversifying selection on coding sequence was found in these alignments. Most of the genome was detected in RNA short-read alignments. Transcriptome assembly often yielded contigs in excess of 50 kb and containing ORFs in both orientations, and the termini of long transcripts were associated with tandem repeats. Lower levels of AmFV RNA were detected in brain tissue compared to abdominal tissue, and a distinct set of ORFs had minimal to no detectable expression in brain tissue. A scan of DNA accessions from the parasitic mite Varroa destructor was inconclusive with respect to replication in that species. Discussion Collectively, these results expand our understanding of this enigmatic virus, revealing transcriptional complexity and co-evolutionary associations with host lineage.
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Dickey M, Whilden M, Ellis JT, Rangel J. A preliminary survey reveals that common viruses are found at low titers in a wild population of honey bees (Apis mellifera). JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2023; 23:26. [PMID: 38098224 PMCID: PMC10721442 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iead117] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
A major threat to honey bee (Apis mellifera Linnaeus, Hymenoptera: Apidae) health continues to be parasitism by the mite Varroa destructor, which has been linked to high colony losses worldwide. Besides feeding on developing and adult bees, Varroa is also a prolific vector of honey bee-associated viruses. Because they live in unmanaged conditions, wild honey bee colonies are not treated against Varroa, which has enabled the natural selection of more mite-tolerant bees. To date, few studies have explored the prevalence of viruses in unmanaged colonies. The Welder Wildlife Refuge (WWR) in Texas is a unique site to study the viral landscape of unmanaged honey bees in the United States. The goals of this study were to identify and quantify viruses in wild colonies at the WWR, to examine changes in the prevalence of viruses in these colonies over time, and to compare the presence and titers of viruses between wild colonies at the WWR and those from the nearest managed apiary. We collected bees from colonies at the WWR in 2013, 2016, and 2021, and analyzed selected viruses for their presence and titers via quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In 2021, we also sampled bees from the nearest managed apiary for comparison. We found low average virus titers in all wild colonies sampled, and no difference in virus titers between colonies at the WWR and those from the managed apiary. Our study indicates that virus titers in wild colonies at the WWR are similar to those found in nearby colonies, and that these titers fluctuate over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myra Dickey
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Mckaela Whilden
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Juliana Rangel
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
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21
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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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22
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Carroll MJ, Brown NJ, Ruetz Z, Ricigliano VA, Anderson KE. Honey bee retinue workers respond similarly to queens despite seasonal differences in Queen Mandibular Pheromone (QMP) signaling. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291710. [PMID: 37768918 PMCID: PMC10538780 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Honey bee colonies maintain viable queens in part through communication with Queen Mandibular Pheromone (QMP), a mixture that signals the queen's presence and reproductive quality to workers. In turn, workers are thought to provide retinue queen care or replace queens partially based on QMP profiles. We examined the effects of seasonal dearth (overwintering in a warm subtropical location) on queen-worker interactions. Retinue worker responses to continuously ovipositing queens were considered in view of QMP signaling and queen reproductive quality. QMP signaling was estimated from QMP residues recovered from nest worker bodies, which is the primary mode of QMP transfer from the queen to the colony at large. QMP residues varied seasonally but not at all with queen reproductive quality (spermatheca sperm storage, ovary protein and lipid contents). 9-HDA and 9-ODA were lower in January than other months. HOB decreased from July to January, while HVA, a component associated with mated queens, increased sharply in January. Despite these seasonal signaling differences, retinue workers attended queens at similar levels through the months. In terms of reproductive quality, queens did not differ over the months in matedness (spermatheca sperm storage) or physiological age (protein carbonyl content), but varied in nutrient allocation to reproductive and non-reproductive tissues. Queen ovaries contained more protein in September than in November, and more lipid in July and September than in November and January. Queen fat bodies had more protein in July than September or November, but less lipid in July and September than November or January. Retinue worker responses did not vary with seasonal QMP changes, but reflected overall continuous brood rearing efforts and queen matedness throughout the year. The absence of seasonal differences in worker responses to QMP should be considered in the broader context of continuous reproductive efforts in warm subtropical colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark J. Carroll
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Brown
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Zachary Ruetz
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Vincent A. Ricigliano
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Research USDA-ARS, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Kirk E. Anderson
- Carl Hayden Bee Research Center USDA-ARS, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Entomology and Center for Insect Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, United States of America
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23
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Peña-Chora G, Toledo-Hernández E, Sotelo-Leyva C, Damian-Blanco P, Villanueva-Flores AG, Alvarez-Fitz P, Palemón-Alberto F, Ortega-Acosta SÁ. Presence and distribution of pests and diseases of Apis mellifera (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Mexico: a review. THE EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1080/24750263.2023.2182920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- G. Peña-Chora
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Cuernavaca, México
| | - E. Toledo-Hernández
- Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo, México
| | - C. Sotelo-Leyva
- Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo, México
| | - P. Damian-Blanco
- Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo, México
| | - A. G. Villanueva-Flores
- Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo, México
| | - P. Alvarez-Fitz
- Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Chilpancingo, México
| | - F. Palemón-Alberto
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Ambientales, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Iguala de la Independencia, México
| | - S. Á. Ortega-Acosta
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Ambientales, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, Iguala de la Independencia, México
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Dawdani S, O'Neill M, Castillo C, Sámano JEM, Higo H, Ibrahim A, Pernal SF, Plettner E. Effects of dialkoxybenzenes against Varroa destructor and identification of 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene as a promising acaricide candidate. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11195. [PMID: 37433810 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38187-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The honey bee is responsible for pollination of a large proportion of crop plants, but the health of honey bee populations has been challenged by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor. Mite infestation is the main cause of colony losses during the winter months, which causes significant economic challenges in apiculture. Treatments have been developed to control the spread of varroa. However, many of these treatments are no longer effective due to acaricide resistance. In a search of varroa-active compounds, we tested the effect of dialkoxybenzenes on the mite. A structure-activity relationship revealed that 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene is most active of a series of dialkoxybenzenes tested. We found that three compounds (1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene, 1,4-diallyloxybenzene and 1,4-dipropoxybenzene) cause paralysis and death of adult varroa mites, whereas the previously discovered compound, 1,3-diethoxybenzene, which alters host choice of adult mites in certain conditions, did not cause paralysis. Since paralysis can be caused by inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), a ubiquitous enzyme in the nervous system of animals, we tested dialkoxybenzenes on human, honey bee and varroa AChE. These tests revealed that 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene had no effects on AChE, which leads us to conclude that 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene does not exert its paralytic effect on mites through AChE. In addition to paralysis, the most active compounds affected the ability of the mites to find and remain at the abdomen of host bees provided during assays. A test of 1-allyloxy-4-propoxybenzene in the field, during the autumn of 2019 in two locations, showed that this compound has promise in the treatment of varroa infestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soniya Dawdani
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 Univ. Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Marissa O'Neill
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 Univ. Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Carlos Castillo
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Jorge E Macias Sámano
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 Univ. Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Heather Higo
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 Univ. Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Abdullah Ibrahim
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Stephen F Pernal
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, AB, T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Erika Plettner
- Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 Univ. Dr., Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada.
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Nekoei S, Rezvan M, Khamesipour F, Mayack C, Molento MB, Revainera PD. A systematic review of honey bee (Apis mellifera, Linnaeus, 1758) infections and available treatment options. Vet Med Sci 2023. [PMID: 37335585 PMCID: PMC10357250 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Honey bees and honeycomb bees are very valuable for wild flowering plants and economically important crops due to their role as pollinators. However, these insects confront many disease threats (viruses, parasites, bacteria and fungi) and large pesticide concentrations in the environment. Varroa destructor is the most prevalent disease that has had the most negative effects on the fitness and survival of different honey bees (Apis mellifera and A. cerana). Moreover, honey bees are social insects and this ectoparasite can be easily transmitted within and across bee colonies. OBJECTIVE This review aims to provide a survey of the diversity and distribution of important bee infections and possible management and treatment options, so that honey bee colony health can be maintained. METHODS We used PRISMA guidelines throughout article selection, published between January 1960 and December 2020. PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and Ovid databases were searched. RESULTS We have collected 132 articles and retained 106 articles for this study. The data obtained revealed that V. destructor and Nosema spp. were found to be the major pathogens of honey bees worldwide. The impact of these infections can result in the incapacity of forager bees to fly, disorientation, paralysis, and death of many individuals in the colony. We find that both hygienic and chemical pest management strategies must be implemented to prevent, reduce the parasite loads and transmission of pathogens. The use of an effective miticide (fluvalinate-tau, coumaphos and amitraz) now seems to be an essential and common practice required to minimise the impact of Varroa mites and other pathogens on bee colonies. New, alternative biofriendly control methods, are on the rise, and could be critical for maintaining honey bee hive health and improving honey productivity. CONCLUSIONS We suggest that critical health control methods be adopted globally and that an international monitoring system be implemented to determine honey bee colony safety, regularly identify parasite prevalence, as well as potential risk factors, so that the impact of pathogens on bee health can be recognised and quantified on a global scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahin Nekoei
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahsa Rezvan
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahrekord Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Faham Khamesipour
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Christopher Mayack
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Bioengineering, Sabanci University, İstanbul, Turkey
| | - Marcelo Beltrão Molento
- Laboratory of Veterinary Clinical Parasitology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
- Microbiology, Parasitology, Pathology Program, Federal University of Parana, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Pablo Damián Revainera
- Centro de Investigación en Abejas Sociales (CIAS), Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Sanidad y Ambiente (IIPROSAM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la provincia de Buenos Aires (CIC), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Al Naggar Y, Shafiey H, Paxton RJ. Transcriptomic Responses Underlying the High Virulence of Black Queen Cell Virus and Sacbrood Virus following a Change in Their Mode of Transmission in Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera). Viruses 2023; 15:1284. [PMID: 37376584 DOI: 10.3390/v15061284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the last two decades, honey bees (Apis mellifera) have suffered high rates of colony losses that have been attributed to a variety of factors, chief among which are viral pathogens, such as deformed wing virus (DWV), whose virulence has increased because of vector-based transmission by the invasive, ectoparasitic varroa mite (Varroa destructor). A shift in the experimental mode of transmission of the black queen cell virus (BQCV) and sacbrood virus (SBV) from fecal/food-oral (direct horizontal) to vector-mediated (indirect horizontal) transmission also results in high virulence and viral titers in pupal and adult honey bees. Agricultural pesticides represent another factor that acts independently or in interaction with pathogens, and they are also thought to cause colony loss. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the higher virulence following a vector-based mode of transmission provides deeper insight into honey bee colony losses, as does determining whether or not host-pathogen interactions are modulated by exposure to pesticides. METHODS Through an experimental design with controlled laboratory, we investigated the effects of the modes of transmission of BQCV and SBV (feeding vs. vector-mediated via injection) alone or in combination with chronic exposure to sublethal and field-realistic concentrations of flupyradifurone (FPF), a novel agricultural insecticide, on honey bee survival and transcription responses by using high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis. RESULTS Co-exposure to viruses via feeding (VF) or injection (VI) and FPF insecticide had no statistically significant interactive effect on their survival compared to, respectively, VF or VI treatments alone. Transcriptomic analysis revealed a distinct difference in the gene expression profiles of bees inoculated with viruses via injection (VI) and exposed to FPF insecticide (VI+FPF). The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at log2 (fold-change) > 2.0 in VI bees (136 genes) or/and VI+FPF insecticide (282 genes) was very high compared to that of VF bees (8 genes) or the VF+FPF insecticide treatment (15 genes). Of these DEGs, the expression in VI and VI+FPF bees of some immune-related genes, such as those for antimicrobial peptides, Ago2, and Dicer, was induced. In short, several genes encoding odorant binding proteins, chemosensory proteins, odor receptors, honey bee venom peptides, and vitellogenin were downregulated in VI and VI+FPF bees. CONCLUSIONS Given the importance of these suppressed genes in honey bees' innate immunity, eicosanoid biosynthesis, and olfactory associative function, their inhibition because of the change in the mode of infection with BQCV and SBV to vector-mediated transmission (injection into haemocoel) could explain the high virulence observed in these viruses when they were experimentally injected into hosts. These changes may help explain why other viruses, such as DWV, represent such a threat to colony survival when transmitted by varroa mites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahya Al Naggar
- 1 General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
- Department of Community Ecology, UFZ-Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Hassan Shafiey
- 1 General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Robert J Paxton
- 1 General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
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Durand T, Bonjour-Dalmon A, Dubois E. Viral Co-Infections and Antiviral Immunity in Honey Bees. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051217. [PMID: 37243302 DOI: 10.3390/v15051217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past few decades, honey bees have been facing an increasing number of stressors. Beyond individual stress factors, the synergies between them have been identified as a key factor in the observed increase in colony mortality. However, these interactions are numerous and complex and call for further research. Here, in line with our need for a systemic understanding of the threats that they pose to bee health, we review the interactions between honey bee viruses. As viruses are obligate parasites, the interactions between them not only depend on the viruses themselves but also on the immune responses of honey bees. Thus, we first summarise our current knowledge of the antiviral immunity of honey bees. We then review the interactions between specific pathogenic viruses and their interactions with their host. Finally, we draw hypotheses from the current literature and suggest directions for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Durand
- National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environement, INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, ANSES, 06902 Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - Anne Bonjour-Dalmon
- National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environement, INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France
| | - Eric Dubois
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health Safety, ANSES, 06902 Sophia Antipolis, France
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28
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Lee E, Vansia R, Phelan J, Lofano A, Smith A, Wang A, Bilodeau GJ, Pernal SF, Guarna MM, Rott M, Griffiths JS. Area Wide Monitoring of Plant and Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera) Viruses in Blueberry ( Vaccinium corymbosum) Agroecosystems Facilitated by Honey Bee Pollination. Viruses 2023; 15:v15051209. [PMID: 37243295 DOI: 10.3390/v15051209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Healthy agroecosystems are dependent on a complex web of factors and inter-species interactions. Flowers are hubs for pathogen transmission, including the horizontal or vertical transmission of plant-viruses and the horizontal transmission of bee-viruses. Pollination by the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) is critical for industrial fruit production, but bees can also vector viruses and other pathogens between individuals. Here, we utilized commercial honey bee pollination services in blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum) farms for a metagenomics-based bee and plant virus monitoring system. Following RNA sequencing, viruses were identified by mapping reads to a reference sequence database through the bioinformatics portal Virtool. In total, 29 unique plant viral species were found at two blueberry farms in British Columbia (BC). Nine viruses were identified at one site in Ontario (ON), five of which were not identified in BC. Ilarviruses blueberry shock virus (BlShV) and prune dwarf virus (PDV) were the most frequently detected viruses in BC but absent in ON, while nepoviruses tomato ringspot virus and tobacco ringspot virus were common in ON but absent in BC. BlShV coat protein (CP) nucleotide sequences were nearly identical in all samples, while PDV CP sequences were more diverse, suggesting multiple strains of PDV circulating at this site. Ten bee-infecting viruses were identified, with black queen cell virus frequently detected in ON and BC. Area-wide bee-mediated pathogen monitoring can provide new insights into the diversity of viruses present in, and the health of, bee-pollination ecosystems. This approach can be limited by a short sampling season, biased towards pollen-transmitted viruses, and the plant material collected by bees can be very diverse. This can obscure the origin of some viruses, but bee-mediated virus monitoring can be an effective preliminary monitoring approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunseo Lee
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 4902 Victoria Ave N, Vineland Station, ON L0R 2E0, Canada
| | - Raj Vansia
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 4902 Victoria Ave N, Vineland Station, ON L0R 2E0, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - James Phelan
- Sidney Laboratory, Centre for Plant Health, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 8801 East Saanich Rd., North Saanich, BC V8L 1H3, Canada
| | - Andrea Lofano
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 4902 Victoria Ave N, Vineland Station, ON L0R 2E0, Canada
| | - Adam Smith
- Sidney Laboratory, Centre for Plant Health, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 8801 East Saanich Rd., North Saanich, BC V8L 1H3, Canada
| | - Aiming Wang
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 1391 Sandford Street, London, ON N5V 4T3, Canada
| | - Guillaume J Bilodeau
- Ottawa Plant Laboratory, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 3851 Fallowfield Rd., Ottawa, ON K2J 4S1, Canada
| | - Stephen F Pernal
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - M Marta Guarna
- Beaverlodge Research Farm, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, P.O. Box 29, Beaverlodge, AB T0H 0C0, Canada
| | - Michael Rott
- Sidney Laboratory, Centre for Plant Health, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 8801 East Saanich Rd., North Saanich, BC V8L 1H3, Canada
| | - Jonathan S Griffiths
- London Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 4902 Victoria Ave N, Vineland Station, ON L0R 2E0, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
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Gebremedhn H, Claeys Bouuaert D, Asperges M, Amssalu B, De Smet L, de Graaf DC. Expression of Molecular Markers of Resilience against Varroa destructor and Bee Viruses in Ethiopian Honey Bees ( Apis mellifera simensis) Focussing on Olfactory Sensing and the RNA Interference Machinery. INSECTS 2023; 14:insects14050436. [PMID: 37233064 DOI: 10.3390/insects14050436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Varroa destructor mites and the viruses it vectors are two major factors leading to high losses of honey bees (Apis mellifera) colonies worldwide. However, honey bees in some African countries show resilience to varroa infestation and/or virus infections, although little is known about the mechanisms underlying this resilience. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of some key molecular markers involved in olfactory sensing and RNA interference, as these processes may contribute to the bees' resilience to varroa infestation and virus infection, respectively. We found significantly higher gene expression of the odorant binding protein, OBP14, in the antennae of Ethiopian bees compared to Belgian bees. This result suggests the potential of OBP14 as a molecular marker of resilience to mite infestation. Scanning electron microscopy showed no significant differences in the antennal sensilla occurrence and distribution, suggesting that resilience arises from molecular processes rather than morphological adaptations. In addition, seven RNAi genes were upregulated in the Ethiopian honey bees and three of them-Dicer-Drosha, Argonaute 2, and TRBP2-were positively correlated with the viral load. We can conclude that the antiviral immune response was triggered when bees were experiencing severe viral infection and that this might contribute to the bees' resilience to viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haftom Gebremedhn
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Mekelle P.O. Box 492, Ethiopia
| | - David Claeys Bouuaert
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Michel Asperges
- Centrum Voor Milieukunde, University of Hasselt, 3590 Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | - Lina De Smet
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Dirk C de Graaf
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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Chapman NC, Colin T, Cook J, da Silva CRB, Gloag R, Hogendoorn K, Howard SR, Remnant EJ, Roberts JMK, Tierney SM, Wilson RS, Mikheyev AS. The final frontier: ecological and evolutionary dynamics of a global parasite invasion. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220589. [PMID: 37222245 PMCID: PMC10207324 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Studying rapid biological changes accompanying the introduction of alien organisms into native ecosystems can provide insights into fundamental ecological and evolutionary theory. While powerful, this quasi-experimental approach is difficult to implement because the timing of invasions and their consequences are hard to predict, meaning that baseline pre-invasion data are often missing. Exceptionally, the eventual arrival of Varroa destructor (hereafter Varroa) in Australia has been predicted for decades. Varroa is a major driver of honeybee declines worldwide, particularly as vectors of diverse RNA viruses. The detection of Varroa in 2022 at over a hundred sites poses a risk of further spread across the continent. At the same time, careful study of Varroa's spread, if it does become established, can provide a wealth of information that can fill knowledge gaps about its effects worldwide. This includes how Varroa affects honeybee populations and pollination. Even more generally, Varroa invasion can serve as a model for evolution, virology and ecological interactions between the parasite, the host and other organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine C. Chapman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution Lab, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Théotime Colin
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - James Cook
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, NSW 2753, Australia
| | - Carmen R. B. da Silva
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton Victoria 3800, Australia
| | - Ros Gloag
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Katja Hogendoorn
- School of Agriculture, The University of Adelaide, Food and Wine, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia
| | - Scarlett R. Howard
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, NSW 2753, Australia
| | - Emily J. Remnant
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Behaviour, Ecology and Evolution Lab, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - John M. K. Roberts
- Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organisation, Canberra 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Simon M. Tierney
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, USA
| | - Rachele S. Wilson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander S. Mikheyev
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 26000, Australia
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Arzumanyan H, Avagyan H, Voskanyan H, Simonyan L, Simonyan J, Semirjyan Z, Karalyan Z. First molecular detection of the presence of honey bee viruses in insects, Varroa destructor mites, and pollinated plants in an isolated region of Armenia. Vet World 2023; 16:1029-1034. [PMID: 37576754 PMCID: PMC10420706 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1029-1034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Recently, viral diseases of honey bees (Apis mellifera) have presented an increasing threat to beekeeping. This study aimed to examine the presence of honey bee viruses in Apis and non-Apis bee species, the mite Varroa destructor, and pollinated plants in Armenia. Materials and Methods Sampling was performed in Tavush Province, in the northeast of the Republic of Armenia, from August to November 2019. Overall, 200 A. mellifera bees, 50 V. destructor mites, and 20 wasps were collected (corresponding to three bees, five mites, and 2-11 wasps in each investigated sample) and homogenized for RNA isolation and detection of viruses. Ten pollinated plants were taken from each plant, and 2 g of each sample was used for homogenization. In each investigated case Apis mellifera, Varroa destructor, Vespula germanica and plants received percentages of the virus presence. Results Six important honey bee viruses (acute bee paralysis virus [ABPV], deformed wing virus [DWV], A. mellifera norovirus [ANV], Lake Sinai virus-2 [LSV-2], Big Sioux River virus [BSRV], and A. mellifera filamentous virus [AmFV]) were detected in samples by polymerase chain reaction. Our results showed that DWV, ANV, and ABPV were the most common viruses in honey bees. All viruses were detected in wasps, but LSV-2 and ANV were present in almost all samples. Conclusion Our results showed that almost all viruses were present in V. destructor. Although ANV is very common in honey bees, it did not appear in any mite samples. Our study indicates that viruses typically associated with honey bees were also actively infecting wasps. Our data suggest that the survival of viruses in plants can be an important source of seasonal transmission of viruses to bees. In addition, pollinated plants can potentially serve as reservoirs for honey bee viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hranush Arzumanyan
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Hranush Avagyan
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
- Experimental Laboratory, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Henry Voskanyan
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
- Scientific Center for Risks Assessment and Analysis in Food Safety Area, CJCS, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Liana Simonyan
- Scientific Center for Risks Assessment and Analysis in Food Safety Area, CJCS, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Jon Simonyan
- Scientific Center for Risks Assessment and Analysis in Food Safety Area, CJCS, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Zara Semirjyan
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
- Experimental Laboratory, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Zaven Karalyan
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Virology, Institute of Molecular Biology of NAS RA, Yerevan, Armenia
- Department of Medical Biology, Yerevan State Medical University, Yerevan, Armenia
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Manley R, Doublet V, Wright ON, Doyle T, Refoy I, Hedges S, Pascall D, Carvell C, Brown MJF, Wilfert L. Conservation measures or hotspots of disease transmission? Agri-environment schemes can reduce disease prevalence in pollinator communities. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2023; 378:20220004. [PMID: 36744563 PMCID: PMC9900712 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2022.0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Insects are under pressure from agricultural intensification. To protect pollinators, conservation measures such as the EU agri-environment schemes (AES) promote planting wildflowers along fields. However, this can potentially alter disease ecology by serving as transmission hubs or by diluting infections. We tested this by measuring plant-pollinator interactions and virus infections (DWV-A, DWV-B and ABPV) across pollinator communities in agricultural landscapes over a year. AES had a direct effect on DWV-B, reducing prevalence and load in honeybees, with a tentative general dilution effect on load in early summer. DWV-A prevalence was reduced both under AES and with increasing niche overlap between competent hosts, likely via a dilution effect. By contrast, AES had no impact on ABPV, its prevalence driven by the proportion of bumblebees in the community. Epidemiological differences were also reflected in the virus phylogenies, with DWV-B showing recent rapid expansion, while DWV-A and ABPV showed slower growth rates and geographical population structure. Phylogenies indicate that all three viruses freely circulate across their host populations. Our study illustrates how complex interactions between environmental, ecological and evolutionary factors may influence wildlife disease dynamics. Supporting pollinator nutrition can mitigate the transmission of important bee diseases, providing an unexpected boost to pollinator conservation. This article is part of the theme issue 'Infectious disease ecology and evolution in a changing world'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Manley
- Department of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Vincent Doublet
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany,Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Owen N. Wright
- Department of Psychology, University of Exeter, Streatham Campus, Exeter EX4 4QG, UK
| | - Toby Doyle
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Isobel Refoy
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Sophie Hedges
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
| | - David Pascall
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SR, UK
| | - Claire Carvell
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford OX10 8BB, UK
| | - Mark J. F. Brown
- Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Behaviour, Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham TW20 0EX, UK
| | - Lena Wilfert
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 89069 Ulm, Germany,Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
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Sokół R, Michalczyk M. A Preliminary Study on “Personalised Treatment” against Varroa destructor Infestations in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colonies. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13060987. [PMID: 36978527 PMCID: PMC10044234 DOI: 10.3390/ani13060987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The requirement for the protection of bee colonies against Varroa destructor invasions has been noted by many breeders and is included as an aspect of the development of beekeeping. This research aimed to check the effect of the development of a colony exposed to laying eggs (brood surface) by queen bees with similar chemical potential (sisters) on the effect of a preparation combating V. destructor depending on the number of mites found in a given colony. We chose this as a standard model of conduct that treats each bee colony as one organism subjected to individual parasite control. For this purpose, we created a bee colony with a mother-of-one breeding line and fertilised drones from one colony. Infection with V. destructor occurred naturally and uncontrollably. Without interfering with the colony’s development, the frame insulator helped each colony’s brood (mothers’ reproductive potential) and the initial and final individuals from the mites themselves. The study was carried out in four species (two control species and two species with up to 20 and over 21 mites, respectively). Treatments with amitraz to combat damage were divided into four treatment subgroups: two treatments every four days or four treatments every two days. We observed the number of individuals that were protected in all subgroups in the average brood area. The reproductive potential of the sisters’ mothers did not change after the treatments with amitraz, which indicated that amitraz did not affect the delegation of egg laying. The invasion rate was also tracked relative to the control group, which allowed us to conclude that a two-time treatment with amitraz reduced the frequency of mites and a four-time treatment checked the effectiveness. Tailoring the control of V. destructor in bee colonies may be an effective measure in the fight against this parasite.
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Schläppi D, Chejanovsky N, Yañez O, Neumann P. Virus transmission via honey bee prey and potential impact on cocoon-building in labyrinth spiders (Agelena labyrinthica). PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282353. [PMID: 36857367 PMCID: PMC9977037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Interspecies transmission of RNA viruses is a major concern for human and animal health. However, host-range, transmission routes and especially the possible impact of these viruses on alternative hosts are often poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of the labyrinth spider, Agelena labyrinthica, as a potential alternative host of viruses commonly known from western honey bees, Apis mellifera. Field-collected spiders were screened for Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), Black queen cell virus, Chronic bee paralysis virus, Deformed wing virus type A and B (DWV-B), Israeli acute paralysis virus, Lake Sinai virus and Sacbrood virus. In a laboratory experiment, labyrinth spiders were fed with ABPV and DWV-B infected honey bees or virus free control food. Our results show that natural infections of A. labyrinthica with these viruses are common in the field, as 62.5% of the samples were positive for at least one virus, supporting their wide host range. For DWV-B, the laboratory data indicate that foodborne transmission occurs and that high virus titres may reduce cocoon building, which would be the first report of clinical symptoms of DWV in Araneae. Since cocoons are tokens of fitness, virus transmission from honey bees might affect spider populations, which would constitute a concern for nature conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schläppi
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion, Israel
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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Balkanska R, Shumkova R, Atsenova N, Salkova D, Dundarova H, Radoslavov G, Hristov P. Molecular Detection and Phylogenetic Analysis of Deformed Wing Virus and Sacbrood Virus Isolated from Pollen. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10020140. [PMID: 36851444 PMCID: PMC9965827 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10020140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Among many pathogens and pests, honey bee viruses are known as one of the most common cause of diseases in honey bee colonies. In this study, we demonstrate that pollen grains and bee bread are potential sources of viral DNA. We extracted DNA from 3 types of pollen samples: directly provided by beekeepers (n = 12), purchased from trade markets (n = 5), and obtained from honeycombs (bee bread, n = 10). The extracted DNA was used for molecular detection (RT-PCR analysis) of six of the most widely distributed honey bee viruses: deformed wing virus, sacbrood virus, acute bee paralysis virus, black queen cell virus, Kashmir bee virus, Israeli acute paralysis virus, and chronic bee paralysis virus. We successfully managed to establish only the deformed wing virus (DWV) and the sacbrood virus (SBV), with different distribution frequencies depending on the territory of the country. The phylogenetic analyses of Bulgarian isolates were performed with the most similar sequences available in molecular databases from other countries. Phylogenies of Bulgarian viral strains demonstrated genetically heterogeneous populations of DWV and relatively homogenous populations of SBV. In conclusion, the results obtained from the current study have shown that pollen is a valuable source for molecular detection of honey bee pathogens. This allows epidemiological monitoring of honey bee diseases at a regional and a national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralitsa Balkanska
- Department “Special Branches”, Institute of Animal Science, Agricultural Academy, 2230 Kostinbrod, Bulgaria
| | - Rositsa Shumkova
- Research Centre of Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Agricultural Academy, 4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria
| | - Nedyalka Atsenova
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Delka Salkova
- Department of Experimental Parasitology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Heliana Dundarova
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Department of Ecosystem Research, Environmental Risk Assessment and Conservation Biology, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Georgi Radoslavov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Peter Hristov
- Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria
- Correspondence:
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Kandel M, Paxton RJ, Al Naggar Y. Nationwide Screening for Bee Viruses in Apis mellifera Colonies in Egypt. INSECTS 2023; 14:172. [PMID: 36835740 PMCID: PMC9964814 DOI: 10.3390/insects14020172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Honey bees are essential for crop and wild plant pollination. However, many countries have reported high annual colony losses caused by multiple possible stressors. Diseases, particularly those caused by viruses, are a major cause of colony losses. However, little is known about the prevalence of honey bee pathogens, particularly virus prevalence, in Egyptian honey bees. To address this shortfall, we determined the prevalence of widespread bee viruses in honey bee colonies in Egypt-whether it is affected by geography, the season, or infestation with Varroa destructor (varroa) mites. Honey bee worker samples were collected from 18 geographical regions across Egypt during two seasons: winter and summer of 2021. Three apiaries were chosen in each region, and a pooled sample of 150 worker bees was collected from five colonies in each apiary then screened by qPCR for 10 viral targets: acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), deformed wing virus (DWV) genotypes A (DWV-A), B (DWV-B) and D (Egyptian bee virus), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), sacbrood virus (SBV), and slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV). Our results revealed that DWV-A was the most prevalent virus, followed by BQCV and ABPV; the DWV genotype now spreading across the world, DWV-B, was not detected. There was no difference in varroa infestation rates as well as virus prevalence between winter and summer. However, colonies infected with BQCV had a significantly higher varroa count (adjusted p < 0.05) in the winter season, indicating that there is a seasonal association between the intensity of infestation by varroa and the presence of this virus. We provide data on the current virus prevalence in Egypt, which could assist in the protection of Egypt's beekeeping industry. Moreover, our study aids in the systematic assessment of the global honey bee virome by filling a knowledge gap about the prevalence of honey bee viruses in Egypt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Kandel
- Plant Protection and Molecular Diagnosis, Arid Lands Cultivation Research Institute, City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications (SRTA-City), Alexandria 21934, Egypt
| | - Robert J. Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Yahya Al Naggar
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt
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Li N, Li C, Hu T, Li J, Zhou H, Ji J, Wu J, Kang W, Holmes EC, Shi W, Xu S. Nationwide genomic surveillance reveals the prevalence and evolution of honeybee viruses in China. MICROBIOME 2023; 11:6. [PMID: 36631833 PMCID: PMC9832778 DOI: 10.1186/s40168-022-01446-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The economic and environmental value of honeybees has been severely challenged in recent years by the collapse of their colonies worldwide, often caused by outbreaks of infectious diseases. However, our understanding of the diversity, prevalence, and transmission of honeybee viruses is largely obscure due to a lack of large-scale and longitudinal genomic surveillance on a global scale. RESULTS We report the meta-transcriptomic sequencing of nearly 2000 samples of the two most important economic and widely maintained honeybee species, as well as an associated ectoparasite mite, collected across China during 2016-2019. We document the natural diversity and evolution of honeybee viruses in China, providing evidence that multiple viruses commonly co-circulate within individual bee colonies. We also expanded the genomic data for 12 important honeybee viruses and revealed novel genetic variants and lineages associated with China. We identified more than 23 novel viruses from the honeybee and mite viromes, with some exhibiting ongoing replication in their respective hosts. Together, these data provide additional support to the idea that mites are an important reservoir and spill-over host for honeybee viruses. CONCLUSIONS Our data show that honeybee viruses are more widespread, prevalent, and genetically diverse than previously realized. The information provided is important in mitigating viral infectious diseases in honeybees, in turn helping to maintain sustainable productive agriculture on a global scale. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Li
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Cixiu Li
- Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, 271000, China
| | - Tao Hu
- Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, 271000, China
| | - Juan Li
- Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, 271000, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, 271000, China
| | - Jingkai Ji
- Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, 271000, China
| | - Jiangli Wu
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Weipeng Kang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Sydeny Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Weifeng Shi
- Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases in Universities of Shandong, Department of Pathogen Biology, School of Clinical and Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, 271000, China.
- School of Public Health, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Taian, 271000, China.
| | - Shufa Xu
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China.
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Leponiemi M, Wirta H, Freitak D. Trans-generational immune priming against American Foulbrood does not affect the performance of honeybee colonies. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1129701. [PMID: 36923051 PMCID: PMC10008890 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1129701] [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: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Honeybees are major pollinators for our food crops, but at the same time they face many stressors all over the world. One of the major threats to honeybee health are bacterial diseases, the most severe of which is the American Foulbrood (AFB). Recently a trans-generational vaccination approach against AFB has been proposed, showing strong potential in protecting the colonies from AFB outbreaks. Yet, what remains unstudied is whether the priming of the colony has any undesired side-effects. It is widely accepted that immune function is often a trade-off against other life-history traits, hence immune priming could have an effect on the colony performance. In this experiment we set up 48 hives, half of them with primed queens and half of them as controls. The hives were placed in six apiaries, located as pair of apiaries in three regions. Through a 2-year study we monitored the hives and measured their health and performance. We measured hive weight and frame contents such as brood amount, worker numbers, and honey yield. We studied the prevalence of the most common honeybee pathogens in the hives and expression of relevant immune genes in the offspring at larval stage. No effect of trans-generational immune priming on any of the hive parameters was found. Instead, we did find other factors contributing on various hive performance parameters. Interestingly not only time but also the region, although only 10 km apart from each other, had an effect on the performance and health of the colonies, suggesting that the local environment plays an important role in hive performance. Our results suggest that exploiting the trans-generational priming could serve as a safe tool in fighting the AFB in apiaries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helena Wirta
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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Kwon M, Jung C, Kil EJ. Metagenomic analysis of viromes in honey bee colonies ( Apis mellifera; Hymenoptera: Apidae) after mass disappearance in Korea. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1124596. [PMID: 36761901 PMCID: PMC9905416 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1124596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
After the nationwide, massive winter losses of honey bees in Korea during the winter of 2021, samplings were conducted from live honey bees in colonies and dead honey bees nearby colonies in the same bee-farms in six regions in Korea. Each sample was subjected to virome analysis using high-throughput sequencing technology. The number of viral reads was the lowest in the live honey bee group sample with 370,503 reads and the highest in the dead honey bee group sample with 42,659,622 reads. Viral contigs were matched with the viral genomes of the black queen cell virus, deformed wing virus, Israeli acute paralysis virus, and sacbrood virus, all of which have been previously reported in Korea. However, Apis rhabdovirus 5, bee macula-like virus, Varroa orthomyxovirus-1, Hubei partiti-like virus 34, Lake Sinai virus 2, 3, and 4, and the Ditton virus, were also discovered in this study, which are the first records in Korea. Plant viral sequences resembling those of Arabidopsis latent virus 1, and a novel viral sequence was also discovered. In the present study 55 complete viral genome sequences were identified. This study is the first virome analysis of domestic honey bees and provides the latest information on the diversity of honey bee viruses in Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhyeok Kwon
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
- Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
| | - Chuleui Jung
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
- Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
| | - Eui-Joon Kil
- Department of Plant Medicals, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
- Agriculture Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong National University, Andong, Republic of Korea
- *Correspondence: Eui-Joon Kil,
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Virus Prevalence in Egg Samples Collected from Naturally Selected and Traditionally Managed Honey Bee Colonies across Europe. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112442. [PMID: 36366540 PMCID: PMC9692946 DOI: 10.3390/v14112442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Monitoring virus infections can be an important selection tool in honey bee breeding. A recent study pointed towards an association between the virus-free status of eggs and an increased virus resistance to deformed wing virus (DWV) at the colony level. In this study, eggs from both naturally surviving and traditionally managed colonies from across Europe were screened for the prevalence of different viruses. Screenings were performed using the phenotyping protocol of the 'suppressed in ovo virus infection' trait but with qPCR instead of end-point PCR and a primer set that covers all DWV genotypes. Of the 213 screened samples, 109 were infected with DWV, 54 were infected with black queen cell virus (BQCV), 3 were infected with the sacbrood virus, and 2 were infected with the acute bee paralyses virus. It was demonstrated that incidences of the vertical transmission of DWV were more frequent in naturally surviving than in traditionally managed colonies, although the virus loads in the eggs remained the same. When comparing virus infections with queen age, older queens showed significantly lower infection loads of DWV in both traditionally managed and naturally surviving colonies, as well as reduced DWV infection frequencies in traditionally managed colonies. We determined that the detection frequencies of DWV and BQCV in honey bee eggs were lower in samples obtained in the spring than in those collected in the summer, indicating that vertical transmission may be lower in spring. Together, these patterns in vertical transmission show that honey bee queens have the potential to reduce the degree of vertical transmission over time.
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Mendoza Y, Santos E, Clavijo-Baquett S, Invernizzi C. A Reciprocal Transplant Experiment Confirmed Mite-Resistance in a Honey Bee Population from Uruguay. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9110596. [PMID: 36356073 PMCID: PMC9694040 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9110596] [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: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In Uruguay, as in many countries around the world, the Varroa destructor mite is the main biotic threat to honey bees (Apis mellifera). Most beekeepers regularly apply acaricides to their colonies to have good honey harvests and avoid large losses, with the exception of beekeepers in the east of the country where bees coexist with V. destructor without suffering significant damage. To unravel the different A. mellifera–V. destructor relationships found in the country, a reciprocal transplant experiment was performed between the mite-resistant bee colonies and the mite-susceptible bee colonies from the east and the west of the country, respectively. The differences between the two groups of bees in the control of V. destructor were maintained in the two environments. No mite-susceptible colonies survived the winter. The behavioral resistance of bees (hygienic behavior) and reproductive aspects of V. destructor (phoretic mites/reproductive mites and mites in drone cells/mites in worker cells ratio) could explain the results obtained. Abstract In the past few years there has been an increasing interest for the study of honey bee populations that are naturally resistant to the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, aiming to identify the mechanisms that allow the bees to limit the reproduction of the mite. In eastern Uruguay there are still bees resistant to mites that survive without acaricides. In order to determine if the differential resistance to V. destructor was maintained in other environments, a reciprocal transplant experiment was performed between the mite-resistant bee colonies and the mite-susceptible bee colonies from the east and the west of the country, respectively, infesting bees with local mites. In both regions, the mite-resistant colonies expressed a higher hygienic behavior and presented a higher phoretic mites/reproductive mites and mites in drone cells/mites in worker cells ratio than the mite-susceptible colonies. All the mite-susceptible colonies died during fall–winter, while a considerable number of mite-resistant colonies survived until spring, especially in the east of the country. This study shows that the bees in the east of the country maintain in good measure the resistance to V. destructor in other regions and leaves open the possibility that the mites of the two populations have biases in the reproductive behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamandú Mendoza
- Sección Apicultura, Programa de Producción Familiar, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria La Estanzuela, Ruta 50 km 11, Colonia 70002, Uruguay
| | - Estela Santos
- Sección Etología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Sabrina Clavijo-Baquett
- Sección Etología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas (PEDECIBA), Isidoro de María 1614, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
| | - Ciro Invernizzi
- Sección Etología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
- Programa de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básicas (PEDECIBA), Isidoro de María 1614, Montevideo 11800, Uruguay
- Correspondence:
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Lin Z, Zhang N, Wang Z, Zhuang M, Wang Q, Niu D, Page P, Wang K, Niu Q, Ji T. Acute and chronic viruses mediated by an ectoparasite targeting different developmental stages of honeybee ( Apis mellifera and Apis cerana) brood. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:951159. [PMID: 36277062 PMCID: PMC9583130 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.951159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The health of the western honeybee, Apis mellifera, the most crucial pollinator, has been challenged globally over the past decades. An ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, together with the viruses it vectored, is generally regarded as the vital pathogenic agent. Although the poor health status of A. mellifera compared to its eastern counterpart, Apis cerana, has been broadly identified, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood and comparison between susceptible and resistant hosts will potentially ameliorate this predicament. Here, we investigated the impacts of two widespread viruses—deformed wing virus type A (DWV-A) and Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), mediated by V. destructor mite, on the capped developing honeybee brood, in the absence of adult workers, of A. mellifera and A. cerana, with positive and negative controls. Our results demonstrated that the endogenous viruses imposed limited damage on the hosts even if the brood was wounded. In contrast, the exogenous viruses introduced by ectoparasites triggered variable mortality of the infested brood between host species. Intriguingly, death causes of both honeybee species presented a similar trend: the acute IAPV generally causes morbidity and mortality of late larvae, while the chronic DWV-A typically leads to brood mortality during and after pupation. Notably, the susceptible immature A. cerana individuals, supported by higher observed mortality and a lower virus tolerance, serve the interests of the colony and foster the overall survival of a resistant honeybee superorganism. These results improve our understanding of the interactions between viruses carried by ectoparasites and their developing hosts, and the novel insight of weak individuals fostering strong colonies may promote breeding efforts to mitigate the indefensible colony losses globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheguang Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Nan Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhi Wang
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, China
| | | | - Qi Wang
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, China,College of Forestry, Beihua University, Jilin, China
| | - Defang Niu
- College of Food Science and Technology, Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College, Taizhou, China
| | - Paul Page
- Institute of Agricultural Technology, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
| | - Kang Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qingsheng Niu
- Apiculture Science Institute of Jilin Province, Jilin, China,Qingsheng Niu
| | - Ting Ji
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China,*Correspondence: Ting Ji
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Transmission of deformed wing virus between Varroa destructor foundresses, mite offspring and infested honey bees. Parasit Vectors 2022; 15:333. [PMID: 36151583 PMCID: PMC9502634 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-022-05463-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Varroa destructor is the major ectoparasite of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). Through both its parasitic life-cycle and its role as a vector of viral pathogens, it can cause major damage to honey bee colonies. The deformed wing virus (DWV) is the most common virus transmitted by this ectoparasite, and the mite is correlated to increased viral prevalence and viral loads in infested colonies. DWV variants A and B (DWV-A and DWV-B, respectively) are the two major DWV variants, and they differ both in their virulence and transmission dynamics. Methods We studied the transmission of DWV between bees, parasitic mites and their offspring by quantifying DWV loads in bees and mites collected in in vitro and in situ environments. In vitro, we artificially transmitted DWV-A to mites and quantified both DWV-A and DWV-B in mites and bees. In situ, we measured the natural presence of DWV-B in bees, mites and mites’ offspring. Results Bee and mite viral loads were correlated, and mites carrying both variants were associated with higher mortality of the infected host. Mite infestation increased the DWV-B loads and decreased the DWV-A loads in our laboratory conditions. In situ, viral quantification in the mite offspring showed that, after an initially non-infected egg stage, the DWV-B loads were more closely correlated with the foundress (mother) mites than with the bee hosts. Conclusions The association between mites and DWV-B was highlighted in this study. The parasitic history of a mite directly impacts its DWV infection potential during the rest of its life-cycle (in terms of variant and viral loads). Regarding the mite’s progeny, we hypothesize that the route of contamination is likely through the feeding site rather than by vertical transmission, although further studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis. Graphical Abstract ![]()
Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-022-05463-9.
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Ryabov EV, Posada-Florez F, Rogers C, Lamas ZS, Evans JD, Chen Y, Cook SC. The vectoring competence of the mite Varroa destructor for deformed wing virus of honey bees is dynamic and affects survival of the mite. FRONTIERS IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:931352. [PMID: 38468796 PMCID: PMC10926515 DOI: 10.3389/finsc.2022.931352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor and the viruses it vectors, including types A and B of Deformed wing virus (DWV), pose a major threat to honey bees, Apis mellifera. Analysis of 256 mites collected from the same set of field colonies on five occasions from May to October 2021 showed that less than a half of them, 39.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 34.0 - 46.0%), were able to induce a high (overt) level DWV infection with more than 109 viral genomes per bee in the pupa after 6 days of feeding, with both DWV-A and DWV-B being vectored at similar rates. To investigate the effect of the phoretic (or dispersal) stage on adult bees on the mites' ability to vector DWV, the mites from two collection events were divided into two groups, one of which was tested immediately for their infectiveness, and the other was kept with adult worker bees in cages for 12 days prior to testing their infectiveness. We found that while 39.2% (95% CI: 30.0 - 49.1%) of the immediately tested mites induced overt-level infections, 12-day passage on adult bees significantly increased the infectiousness to 89.8% (95% CI: 79.2 - 95.6%). It is likely that Varroa mites that survive brood interruptions in field colonies are increasingly infectious. The mite lifespan was affected by the DWV type it transmitted to pupae. The mites, which induced high DWV-B but not DWV-A infection had an average lifespan of 15.5 days (95% CI: 11.8 - 19.2 days), which was significantly shorter than those of the mites which induced high DWV-A but not DWV-B infection, with an average lifespan of 24.3 days (95% CI: 20.2 - 28.5), or the mites which did not induce high levels of DWV-A or DWV-B, with an average survival of 21.2 days (95% CI: 19.0 - 23.5 days). The mites which transmitted high levels of both DWV-A and DWV-B had an intermediate average survival of 20.5 days (95% CI: 15.1 - 25.9 days). The negative impact of DWV-B on mite survival could be a consequence of the ability of DWV-B, but not DWV-A to replicate in Varroa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene V. Ryabov
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Francisco Posada-Florez
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Curtis Rogers
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Zachary S. Lamas
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, United States
| | - Jay D. Evans
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Yanping Chen
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
| | - Steven C. Cook
- United States Department of Agriculture - Agricultural Research Service, Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD, United States
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Jabal-Uriel C, Barrios L, Bonjour-Dalmon A, Caspi-Yona S, Chejanovsly N, Erez T, Henriques D, Higes M, Le Conte Y, Lopes AR, Meana A, Pinto MA, Reyes-Carreño M, Soroker V, Martín-Hernández R. Epidemiology of the Microsporidium Nosema ceranae in Four Mediterranean Countries. INSECTS 2022; 13:844. [PMID: 36135545 PMCID: PMC9505483 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nosema ceranae is a highly prevalent intracellular parasite of honey bees' midgut worldwide. This Microsporidium was monitored during a long-term study to evaluate the infection at apiary and intra-colony levels in six apiaries in four Mediterranean countries (France, Israel, Portugal, and Spain). Parameters on colony strength, honey production, beekeeping management, and climate were also recorded. Except for São Miguel (Azores, Portugal), all apiaries were positive for N. ceranae, with the lowest prevalence in mainland France and the highest intra-colony infection in Israel. A negative correlation between intra-colony infection and colony strength was observed in Spain and mainland Portugal. In these two apiaries, the queen replacement also influenced the infection levels. The highest colony losses occurred in mainland France and Spain, although they did not correlate with the Nosema infection levels, as parasitism was low in France and high in Spain. These results suggest that both the effects and the level of N. ceranae infection depends on location and beekeeping conditions. Further studies on host-parasite coevolution, and perhaps the interactions with other pathogens and the role of honey bee genetics, could assist in understanding the difference between nosemosis disease and infection, to develop appropriate strategies for its control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Jabal-Uriel
- Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal de Castilla La Mancha (IRIAF), CIAPA de Marchamalo (Guadalajara, Spain), 19180 Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Laura Barrios
- Unidad de Estadística, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Anne Bonjour-Dalmon
- INRAE, Unité de Recherche Abeilles et Environnement, National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research, 84000 Avignon, France
| | - Shiran Caspi-Yona
- Mina and Aberhard Gudman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Nor Chejanovsly
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Tal Erez
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
- Department of Environmental Economics and Management, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 7610001, Israel
| | - Dora Henriques
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Mariano Higes
- Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal de Castilla La Mancha (IRIAF), CIAPA de Marchamalo (Guadalajara, Spain), 19180 Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Yves Le Conte
- INRAE, Unité de Recherche Abeilles et Environnement, National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research, 84000 Avignon, France
| | - Ana R. Lopes
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Aránzazu Meana
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Alice Pinto
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha, Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
- Laboratório Associado Para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Maritza Reyes-Carreño
- INRAE, Unité de Recherche Abeilles et Environnement, National Institute for Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research, 84000 Avignon, France
| | - Victoria Soroker
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Institute, Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Raquel Martín-Hernández
- Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal de Castilla La Mancha (IRIAF), CIAPA de Marchamalo (Guadalajara, Spain), 19180 Marchamalo, Spain
- Instituto de Recursos Humanos para la Ciencia y la Tecnología, Fundación Parque Científico y Tecnológico de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain
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Sacbrood Virus: A Growing Threat to Honeybees and Wild Pollinators. Viruses 2022; 14:v14091871. [PMID: 36146677 PMCID: PMC9505205 DOI: 10.3390/v14091871] [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: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sacbrood virus (SBV) is one of the many viruses that infect both the Western honeybee (Apis mellifera) and the Eastern honeybee (Apis cerana). Recently, the interspecies transmission of SBV has been discovered, especially among wild pollinators. This newly discovered evolutionary occurrence regarding SBV indicates a much wider host range than previously believed, causing further concern about the future sustainability of agriculture and the resilience of ecosystems. Over the past few decades, vast numbers of studies have been undertaken concerning SBV infection in honeybees, and remarkable progress has been made in our understanding of the epidemiology, pathogenesis, transmission, and manifestations of SBV infection in honeybees and other pollinators. Meanwhile, some methods, including Chinese medicine, have been established to control and prevent sacbrood disease in A. cerana in Asian countries. In this review, we summarize the existing knowledge of SBV and address the gaps in the knowledge within the existing literature in the hope of providing future directions for the research and development of management strategies for controlling the spread of this deadly disease.
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Cilia G, Tafi E, Zavatta L, Caringi V, Nanetti A. The Epidemiological Situation of the Managed Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colonies in the Italian Region Emilia-Romagna. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9080437. [PMID: 36006352 PMCID: PMC9412502 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9080437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The recent decades witnessed the collapse of honey bee colonies at a global level. The major drivers of this collapse include both individual and synergic pathogen actions, threatening the colonies’ survival. The need to define the epidemiological pattern of the pathogens that are involved has led to the establishment of monitoring programs in many countries, Italy included. In this framework, the health status of managed honey bees in the Emilia–Romagna region (northern Italy) was assessed, throughout the year 2021, on workers from 31 apiaries to investigate the presence of major known and emerging honey bee pathogens. The prevalence and abundance of DWV, KBV, ABPV, CBPV, Nosema ceranae, and trypanosomatids (Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae, Crithidia bombi) were assessed by molecular methods. The most prevalent pathogen was DWV, followed by CBPV and N. ceranae. Trypanosomatids were not found in any of the samples. Pathogens had different peaks in abundance over the months, showing seasonal trends that were related to the dynamics of both bee colonies and Varroa destructor infestation. For some of the pathogens, a weak but significant correlation was observed between abundance and geographical longitude. The information obtained in this study increases our understanding of the epidemiological situation of bee colonies in Emilia–Romagna and helps us to implement better disease prevention and improved territorial management of honey bee health.
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Wang J, Gou QY, Luo GY, Hou X, Liang G, Shi M. Total RNA sequencing of Phlebotomus chinensis, a neglected vector in China, simultaneously revealed viral, bacterial, and eukaryotic microbes that are potentially pathogenic to humans. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:2080-2092. [PMID: 35916448 PMCID: PMC9448391 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2109516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Phlebotomus chinensis sandfly is a neglected insect vector in China that is well-known for carrying Leishmania. Recent studies have expanded its pathogen repertoire with two novel arthropod-borne phleboviruses capable of infecting humans and animals. Despite these discoveries, our knowledge of the general pathogen diversity and overall microbiome composition of this vector species is still very limited. Here we carried out a meta-transcriptomics analysis that revealed the actively replicating/transcribing RNA viruses, DNA viruses, bacteria, and eukaryotic microbes, namely, the “total microbiome”, of several sandfly populations in China. Strikingly, “microbiome” made up 1.8% of total non-ribosomal RNA and comprised more than 87 species, among which 70 were novel, including divergent members of the genera Flavivirus and of the family Trypanosomatidae. Importantly, among these microbes we were able to reveal four distinguished types of human and/or mammalian pathogens, including two phleboviruses (hedi and wuxiang viruses), one novel Spotted fever group rickettsia, as well as a member of Leishmania donovani complex, among which hedi virus and Leishmania each had > 50% pool prevalence rate and relatively high abundance levels. Our study also showed the ubiquitous presence of an endosymbiont, namely Wolbachia, although no anti-viral or anti-pathogen effects were detected based on our data. In summary, our results uncovered the much un-explored diversity of microbes harboured by sandflies in China and demonstrated that high pathogen diversity and abundance are currently present in multiple populations, implying disease potential for exposed local human population or domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- The Center for Infection & Immunity Study, School of Medicine, Shenzhen campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Qin-Yu Gou
- The Center for Infection & Immunity Study, School of Medicine, Shenzhen campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Geng-Yan Luo
- The Center for Infection & Immunity Study, School of Medicine, Shenzhen campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Xin Hou
- The Center for Infection & Immunity Study, School of Medicine, Shenzhen campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
| | - Guodong Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Mang Shi
- The Center for Infection & Immunity Study, School of Medicine, Shenzhen campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, China
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Paxton RJ, Schäfer MO, Nazzi F, Zanni V, Annoscia D, Marroni F, Bigot D, Laws-Quinn ER, Panziera D, Jenkins C, Shafiey H. Epidemiology of a major honey bee pathogen, deformed wing virus: potential worldwide replacement of genotype A by genotype B. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:157-171. [PMID: 35592272 PMCID: PMC9112108 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is of major economic and ecological importance, with elevated rates of colony losses in temperate regions over the last two decades thought to be largely caused by the exotic ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor and deformed wing virus (DWV), which the mite transmits. DWV currently exists as two main genotypes: the formerly widespread DWV-A and the more recently described and rapidly expanding DWV-B. It is an excellent system to understand viral evolution and the replacement of one viral variant by another. Here we synthesise published results on the distribution and prevalence of DWV-A and -B over the period 2008-2021 and present novel data for Germany, Italy and the UK to suggest that (i) DWV-B has rapidly expanded worldwide since its first description in 2004 and (ii) that it is potentially replacing DWV-A. Both genotypes are also found in wild bee species. Based on a simple mathematical model, we suggest that interference between viral genotypes when co-infecting the same host is key to understanding their epidemiology. We finally discuss the consequences of genotype replacement for beekeeping and for wild pollinator species.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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
| | - Marc O. Schäfer
- Institute of Infectology Medicine, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Südufer 10, 17493, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Francesco Nazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Virginia Zanni
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Desiderato Annoscia
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Fabio Marroni
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy
| | - Diane Bigot
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Eoin R. Laws-Quinn
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Delphine Panziera
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Christina Jenkins
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Hoher Weg 8, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Hassan Shafiey
- 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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50
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Yang S, Deng Y, Zhang L, Wang X, Deng S, Dai P, Hou C. Recovery and genetic characterization of black queen cell virus. J Gen Virol 2022; 103. [PMID: 35947094 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.001770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Black queen cell virus (BQCV) is a severe threat to the honeybee (Apis mellifera) worldwide. Although several BQCV strains have been reported in China, the molecular basis for BQCV pathogenicity has not been well understood. Thus, a reverse genetic system of BQCV is required for studying viral replication and its pathogenic mechanism. Here, the complete genome sequence of BQCV was obtained from honeybees using reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR), namely a BQCV China-GS1 strain (KY741959). Then, a phylogenetic tree was built to analyse the genetic relationships among BQCV strains from different regions. Our results showed that the BQCV China-GS1 contained two ORFs, consistent with the known reference strains, except for the BQCV China-JL1 strain (KP119603). Furthermore, the infectious clone of BQCV was constructed based on BQCV China-GS1 using a low copy vector pACYC177 and gene recombination. Due to the lack of culture cells for bee viruses, we infected the healthy bees with infectious clone of BQCV, and the rescued BQCV resulted in the recovery of recombinant virus, which induced higher mortality than those of the control group. Immune response after inoculated with BQCV further confirmed that the infectious clone of BQCV caused the cellular and humoral immune response of honeybee (A. mellifera). In conclusion, the full nucleotide sequence of BQCV China-GS1 strain was determined, and the infectious clone of BQCV was constructed in this study. These data will improve the understanding of pathogenesis and the host immune responses to viral infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sa Yang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, PR China.,Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, PR China.,Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China
| | - Yanchun Deng
- Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, PR China
| | - Li Zhang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, PR China.,Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, PR China
| | - Xinling Wang
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, PR China.,Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, PR China
| | - Shuai Deng
- Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, PR China
| | - Pingli Dai
- Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, PR China.,Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, PR China
| | - Chunsheng Hou
- Institute of Bast Fiber Crops, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changsha 410205, PR China
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