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Tiritelli R, Giannetti D, Schifani E, Grasso DA, Cilia G. Neighbors sharing pathogens: the intricate relationship between Apis mellifera and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) nesting in hives. INSECT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 39126179 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Ants are ubiquitous and eusocial insects that exhibit frequent physical contact among colony members, thereby increasing their susceptibility to diseases. Some species are often found in beehives and in their surroundings, where they exploit the food resources of honey bees. This intricate relationship may facilitate the interspecific transmission of honey bee pathogens to ants, although ants themselves may contribute to spillback phenomena. The objective of this study was to assess the presence and abundance of honey bee pathogens in ants sampled from Italian apiaries. A total of 37 colonies within 24 apiaries across 7 regions were monitored. In total, 6 pathogens were detected in adult ants and 3 in the brood. In particular, the study revealed a high prevalence of honey bee pathogens in ants, with DWV, BQCV, and CBPV being the most commonly encountered. The brood also tested positive for the same viruses. Notably, all analyzed viruses were found to be replicative in both adult ants and ant broods. Furthermore, co-infections were prevalent, suggesting complex pathogen interactions within ant populations. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences in pathogen prevalence and abundance among ant species and sample types. The findings highlight active infection in both the ants and the brood, suggesting a potential role of ants as reservoir hosts and vectors of honey bee pathogens emphasizing the need for further research to understand the implications of interspecific pathogen transmission on ant and bee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Tiritelli
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Bologna, Italy
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Daniele Giannetti
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Enrico Schifani
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Donato A Grasso
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences & Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cilia
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Bologna, Italy
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2
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Requier F, Abdelli M, Baude M, Genoud D, Gens H, Geslin B, Henry M, Ropars L. Neglecting non-bee pollinators may lead to substantial underestimation of competition risk among pollinators. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 6:100093. [PMID: 39220234 PMCID: PMC11364274 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2024.100093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Due to the increasing pressures on bees, many beekeepers currently wish to move their managed livestock of Apis mellifera into little disturbed ecosystems such as protected natural areas. This may, however, exert detrimental competitive effects upon local wild pollinators. While it appears critical for land managers to get an adequate knowledge of this issue for effective wildlife conservation schemes, the frequency of this competition is not clear to date. Based on a systematic literature review of 96 studies, we assessed the frequency of exploitative competition between honey bees and wild pollinators. We found that 78% of the studies highlighted exploitative competition from honey bees to wild pollinators. Importantly, these studies have mostly explored competition with wild bees, while only 18% of them considered other pollinator taxa such as ants, beetles, bugs, butterflies, flies, moths, and wasps. The integration of non-bee pollinators into scientific studies and conservation plans is urgently required as they are critical for the pollination of many wild plants and crops. Interestingly, we found that a majority (88%) of these studies considering also non-bee pollinators report evidence of competition. Thus, neglecting non-bee pollinators could imply an underestimation of competition risks from honey bees. More inclusive work is needed to estimate the risks of competition in its entirety, but also to apprehend the context-dependency of competition so as to properly inform wildlife conservation schemes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrice Requier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Myriam Abdelli
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, IRD, UMR Évolution, Génomes, Comportement et Écologie, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Mathilde Baude
- Université d′Orléans, Chateau de la Source, BP 6749, Cedex2, 45067, Orléans, France
- Sorbonne Université, UPEC,Université Paris Cité, CNRS, IRD, INRAE, Institut d'Ecologie et des Sciences de l'Environnement (iEESParis), Paris, France
| | | | - Hadrien Gens
- Amis de la réserve naturelle du lac de Remoray, 25320, Labergement-Sainte-Marie, France
| | - Benoît Geslin
- Aix Marseille Univ, Avignon Univ, CNRS, IRD, IMBE, Marseille, France
- Université de Rennes (UNIR), UMR 6553 ECOBIO, CNRS, Rennes, France
| | - Mickaël Henry
- INRAE, UR 406 Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | - Lise Ropars
- Centre d'Ecologie et des Sciences de la Conservation (CESCO), Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, CP 135, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005, Paris, France
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3
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Cilia G, Caringi V, Zavatta L, Bortolotti L. Pathogen occurrence in different developmental stages of the invasive Vespa velutina nigrithorax (Buysson, 1905). PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 39054884 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The yellow-legged hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) is a predatory species native to South-East Asia. The hornet is invasive in Europe, spreading to several countries and becoming a pest for Apis mellifera due to its behaviour of preying in front of apiaries. The aim of this study was (i) to investigate the presence of honey bee pathogens within the developmental stages of V. velutina after neutralizing a nest in Bologna province (Emilia-Romagna, Italy) and (ii) to analyze the mitochondrial DNA to determine if the population derived from the population initially introduced in Europe. RESULTS The results indicated that deformed wing virus (82.76%) and Nosema ceranae (67.28%) were the most prevalent pathogens. Deformed wing virus, N. ceranae and sacbrood virus were found in all investigated stages, while chronic bee paralysis virus and Kashmir bee virus were exclusively found in foraging adults. All detected viruses were found to be replicative, highlighting active infection in the hosts. The mtDNA analysis demonstrated that the origin derived from the invasive population arrived in France. CONCLUSION This study underscores the importance of further research to understand the effect of interspecific transmission, especially concerning the potential role of these pathogens as a biocontrol for the invasive V. velutina nigrithorax. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Cilia
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Valeria Caringi
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Zavatta
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
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Zavatta L, Bortolotti L, Catelan D, Granato A, Guerra I, Medrzycki P, Mutinelli F, Nanetti A, Porrini C, Sgolastra F, Tafi E, Cilia G. Spatiotemporal evolution of the distribution of Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) in honey bee colonies. Virology 2024; 598:110191. [PMID: 39098182 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2024.110191] [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: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 07/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) is a Apis mellifera viral infectious disease, exhibiting dark and hairless abdomen in workers with tremors and ataxita. Clinical signs are also typically linked to adverse weather conditions and overcrowding in the hive. The disease occurs in spring but recently it has been observed cases increase and seasonality loss of the disease incidence. This study analyses the evolution of CBPV in Italy, through data collected from 2009 to 2023 within three monitoring projects comprising nationwide extended detection networks, aimed to investigate the evolution of the CBPV spatial distribution, identifying high-risk areas for the virus spread. This study highlights an increased risk over years. Prevalence increased from 4.3% during 2009-2010 to 84.7% during 2021-2023 monitoring years. CBPV outbreaks were irregular between investigated seasons, highlighting Spring and Autumn as the most susceptible seasons. Risk of CBPV infection has increased, reaching high-risk in last years of monitoring. Sequence analysis showed a high similarity to other isolated Italian CBPVs. The study offers an epidemiological insight into the aetiology of this disease. CBPV distribution is a prerequisite to predict its future spread and factors involved in its propagation not only in honey bees but also in other pollinators and environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Zavatta
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy; Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Dolores Catelan
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Anna Granato
- National Reference Laboratory for Honey Bee Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, (PD), Italy
| | - Irene Guerra
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Piotr Medrzycki
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Franco Mutinelli
- National Reference Laboratory for Honey Bee Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, (PD), Italy
| | - Antonio Nanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Porrini
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Sgolastra
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Elena Tafi
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cilia
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
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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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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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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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8
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McCormick EC, Cohen OR, Dolezal AG, Sadd BM. Consequences of microsporidian prior exposure for virus infection outcomes and bumble bee host health. Oecologia 2023:10.1007/s00442-023-05394-x. [PMID: 37284861 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-023-05394-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Host-parasite interactions do not occur in a vacuum, but in connected multi-parasite networks that can result in co-exposures and coinfections of individual hosts. These can affect host health and disease ecology, including disease outbreaks. However, many host-parasite studies examine pairwise interactions, meaning we still lack a general understanding of the influence of co-exposures and coinfections. Using the bumble bee Bombus impatiens, we study the effects of larval exposure to a microsporidian Nosema bombi, implicated in bumble bee declines, and adult exposure to Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), an emerging infectious disease from honey bee parasite spillover. We hypothesize that infection outcomes will be modified by co-exposure or coinfection. Nosema bombi is a potentially severe, larval-infecting parasite, and we predict that prior exposure will result in decreased host resistance to adult IAPV infection. We predict double parasite exposure will also reduce host tolerance of infection, as measured by host survival. Although our larval Nosema exposure mostly did not result in viable infections, it partially reduced resistance to adult IAPV infection. Nosema exposure also negatively affected survival, potentially due to a cost of immunity in resisting the exposure. There was a significant negative effect of IAPV exposure on survivorship, but prior Nosema exposure did not alter this survival outcome, suggesting increased tolerance given the higher IAPV infections in the bees previously exposed to Nosema. These results again demonstrate that infection outcomes can be non-independent when multiple parasites are present, even when exposure to one parasite does not result in a substantial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elyse C McCormick
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA
| | - Olivia R Cohen
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA
| | - Adam G Dolezal
- School of Integrated Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Ben M Sadd
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL, 61790, USA.
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9
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Chesters D, Liu X, Bell KL, Orr MC, Xie T, Zhou Q, Zhu C. An integrative bioinformatics pipeline shows that honeybee-associated microbiomes are driven primarily by pollen composition. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:555-568. [PMID: 36001735 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13104] [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: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The microbiomes associated with bee nests influence colony health through various mechanisms, although it is not yet clear how honeybee congeners differ in microbiome assembly processes, in particular the degrees to which floral visitations and the environment contribute to different aspects of diversity. We used DNA metabarcoding to sequence bacterial 16S rRNA from honey and stored pollen from nests of 4 honeybee species (Apis cerana, A. dorsata, A. florea, and A. laboriosa) sampled throughout Yunnan, China, a global biodiversity hotspot. We developed a computational pipeline integrating multiple databases for quantifying key facets of diversity, including compositional, taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional ones. Further, we assessed candidate drivers of observed microbiome dissimilarity, particularly differences in floral visitations, habitat disturbance, and other key environmental variables. Analyses revealed that microbiome alpha diversity was broadly equivalent across the study sites and between bee species, apart from functional diversity which was very low in nests of the reclusive A. laboriosa. Turnover in microbiome composition across Yunnan was driven predominantly by pollen composition. Human disturbance negatively impacted both compositional and phylogenetic alpha diversity of nest microbiomes, but did not correlate with microbial turnover. We herein make progress in understanding microbiome diversity associated with key pollinators in a biodiversity hotspot, and provide a model for the use of a comprehensive informatics framework in assessing pattern and drivers of diversity, which enables the inclusion of explanatory variables both subtly and fundamentally different and enables elucidation of emergent or unexpected drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas Chesters
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuwei Liu
- Institute of Agro-Products Processing, Yunnan Province Academy of Agricultural Science, Kunming, China
| | - Karen L Bell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- CSIRO Health & Biosecurity, Floreat, WA, Australia
| | - Michael C Orr
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tingting Xie
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui Province, China
| | - Qingsong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chaodong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Zoological Systematics and Evolution, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- International College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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10
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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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11
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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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12
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Zada S, Sajjad W, Rafiq M, Ali S, Hu Z, Wang H, Cai R. Cave Microbes as a Potential Source of Drugs Development in the Modern Era. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2022; 84:676-687. [PMID: 34693460 PMCID: PMC8542507 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-021-01889-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The world is constantly facing threats, including the emergence of new pathogens and antibiotic resistance among extant pathogens, which is a matter of concern. Therefore, the need for natural and effective sources of drugs is inevitable. The ancient and pristine ecosystems of caves contain a unique microbial world and could provide a possible source of antimicrobial metabolites. The association between humans and caves is as old as human history itself. Historically, cave environments have been used to treat patients with respiratory tract infections, which is referred to as speleotherapy. Today, the pristine environment of caves that comprise a poorly explored microbial world is a potential source of antimicrobial and anticancer drugs. Oligotrophic conditions in caves enhance the competition among microbial communities, and unique antimicrobial agents may be used in this competition. This review suggests that the world needs a novel and effective source of drug discovery. Therefore, being the emerging spot of modern human civilization, caves could play a crucial role in the current medical crisis, and cave microorganisms may have the potential to produce novel antimicrobial and anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahib Zada
- Biology Department, College of Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Wasim Sajjad
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, QUETTA, Pakistan
| | - Sardar Ali
- Biology Department, College of Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Zhong Hu
- Biology Department, College of Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Biology Department, College of Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | - Runlin Cai
- Biology Department, College of Science, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Institute of Marine Sciences, Shantou University, Shantou, China.
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13
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Wei R, Cao L, Feng Y, Chen Y, Chen G, Zheng H. Sacbrood Virus: A Growing Threat to Honeybees and Wild Pollinators. Viruses 2022; 14:1871. [PMID: 36146677 PMCID: PMC9505205 DOI: 10.3390/v14091871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [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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Affiliation(s)
- Ruike Wei
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lianfei Cao
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Ye Feng
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yanping Chen
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA
| | - Gongwen Chen
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Huoqing Zheng
- College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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14
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Tuerlings T, Buydens L, Smagghe G, Piot N. The impact of mass-flowering crops on bee pathogen dynamics. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:135-147. [PMID: 35586790 PMCID: PMC9108762 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.05.001] [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: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nearly two fifths of the Earth's land area is currently used for agriculture, substantially impacting the environment and ecosystems. Besides the direct impact through land use change, intensive agriculture can also have an indirect impact, for example by changing wildlife epidemiology. We review here the potential effects of mass-flowering crops (MFCs), which are rapidly expanding in global cropping area, on the epidemiology of known pathogens in bee pollinators. We bring together the fifty MFCs with largest global area harvested and give an overview of their pollination dependency as well as their impact on bee pollinators. When in bloom these crops provide an abundance of flowers, which can provide nutrition for bees and increase bee reproduction. After their short bloom peak, however, the fields turn into green deserts. These big changes in floral availability strongly affect the plant-pollinator network, which in turn affects the pathogen transmission network, mediated by shared flowers. We address this dual role of flowers provided by MFCs, serving as nutritional resources as well as pathogen transmission spots, and bring together the current knowledge to assess how MFCs could affect pathogen prevalence in bee pollinator communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Coupure links 653, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Niels Piot
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Coupure links 653, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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15
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Cilia G, Flaminio S, Zavatta L, Ranalli R, Quaranta M, Bortolotti L, Nanetti A. Occurrence of Honey Bee ( Apis mellifera L.) Pathogens in Wild Pollinators in Northern Italy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:907489. [PMID: 35846743 PMCID: PMC9280159 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.907489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases contribute to the decline of pollinator populations, which may be aggravated by the interspecific transmission of honey bee pests and pathogens. Flowers increase the risk of transmission, as they expose the pollinators to infections during the foraging activity. In this study, both the prevalence and abundance of 21 honey bee pathogens (11 viruses, 4 bacteria, 3 fungi, and 3 trypanosomatids) were assessed in the flower-visiting entomofauna sampled from March to September 2021 in seven sites in the two North-Italian regions, Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont. A total of 1,028 specimens were collected, identified, and analysed. Of the twenty-one pathogens that were searched for, only thirteen were detected. Altogether, the prevalence of the positive individuals reached 63.9%, with Nosema ceranae, deformed wing virus (DWV), and chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) as the most prevalent pathogens. In general, the pathogen abundance averaged 5.15 * 106 copies, with CBPV, N. ceranae, and black queen cell virus (BQCV) as the most abundant pathogens, with 8.63, 1.58, and 0.48 * 107 copies, respectively. All the detected viruses were found to be replicative. The sequence analysis indicated that the same genetic variant was circulating in a specific site or region, suggesting that interspecific transmission events among honey bees and wild pollinators are possible. Frequently, N. ceranae and DWV were found to co-infect the same individual. The circulation of honey bee pathogens in wild pollinators was never investigated before in Italy. Our study resulted in the unprecedented detection of 72 wild pollinator species as potential hosts of honey bee pathogens. Those results encourage the implementation of monitoring actions aiming to improve our understanding of the environmental implications of such interspecific transmission events, which is pivotal to embracing a One Health approach to pollinators' welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Rosa Ranalli
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Bologna, Italy
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16
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Effects of planted pollinator habitat on pathogen prevalence and interspecific detection between bee species. Sci Rep 2022; 12:7806. [PMID: 35551218 PMCID: PMC9098541 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-11734-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Shared resources can instigate pathogen spread due to large congregations of individuals in both natural and human modified resources. Of current concern is the addition of pollinator habitat in conservation efforts as it attracts bees of various species, potentially instigating interspecific sharing of pathogens. Common pathogens have been documented across a wide variety of pollinators with shared floral resources instigating their spread in some, but not all, cases. To evaluate the impact of augmented pollinator habitat on pathogen prevalence, we extracted RNA from samples of eight bee species across three families and screened these samples for nine pathogens using RT-qPCR. We found that some habitat characteristics influenced pathogen detection; however, we found no evidence that pathogen detection in one bee species was correlated with pathogen detection in another. In fact, pathogen detection was rare in wild bees. While gut parasites were detected in 6 out of the 8 species included in this study, viruses were only detected in honey bees. Further, virus detection in honey bees was low with a maximum 21% of samples testing positive for BQCV, for example. These findings suggest factors other than the habitat itself may be more critical in the dissemination of pathogens among bee species. However, we found high relative prevalence and copy number of gut parasites in some bee species which may be of concern, such as Bombus pensylvanicus. Long-term monitoring of pathogens in different bee species at augmented pollinator habitat is needed to evaluate if these patterns will change over time.
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17
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Power K, Altamura G, Martano M, Maiolino P. Detection of Honeybee Viruses in Vespa orientalis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:896932. [PMID: 35601108 PMCID: PMC9114811 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.896932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis) is spreading across the Italian territory threatening the health and wellbeing of honeybees by feeding on adult individuals and larvae and by plundering hive resources. Considering the capacity of other hornets in harboring honeybee viruses, the aim of this study was to identify the possible role of the Oriental hornet as a vector for honeybee viruses. Adult hornets were subjected to macroscopical examination to identify the presence of lesions, and to biomolecular investigation to detect the presence of six honeybee viruses: Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), Sac Brood Virus (SBV). No macroscopical alterations were found while biomolecular results showed that DWV was the most detected virus (25/30), followed by ABPV (19/30), BQCV (13/30), KBV (1/30) and SBV (1/30). No sample was found positive for CBPV. In 20/30 samples several co-infections were identified. The most frequent (17/30) was the association between DWV and ABPV, often associated to BQCV (9/17). One sample (1/30) showed the presence of four different viruses namely DWV, ABPV, BQCV and KBV. The detected viruses are the most widespread in apiaries across the Italian territory suggesting the possible passage from honeybees to V. orientalis, by predation of infected adult honeybees and larvae, and cannibalization of their carcasses. However, to date, it is still not clear if these viruses are replicative but we can suggest a role as mechanical vector of V. orientalis in spreading these viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Power
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
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18
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Piot N, Smagghe G. Critical View on the Importance of Host Defense Strategies on Virus Distribution of Bee Viruses: What Can We Learn from SARS-CoV-2 Variants? Viruses 2022; 14:503. [PMID: 35336909 PMCID: PMC8951442 DOI: 10.3390/v14030503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Bees, both wild and domesticated ones, are hosts to a plethora of viruses, with most of them infecting a wide range of bee species and genera. Although viral discovery and research on bee viruses date back over 50 years, the last decade is marked by a surge of new studies, new virus discoveries, and reports on viral transmission in and between bee species. This steep increase in research on bee viruses was mainly initiated by the global reports on honeybee colony losses and the worldwide wild bee decline, where viruses are regarded as one of the main drivers. While the knowledge gained on bee viruses has significantly progressed in a short amount of time, we believe that integration of host defense strategies and their effect on viral dynamics in the multi-host viral landscape are important aspects that are currently still missing. With the large epidemiological dataset generated over the last two years on the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, the role of these defense mechanisms in shaping viral dynamics has become eminent. Integration of these dynamics in a multi-host system would not only greatly aid the understanding of viral dynamics as a driver of wild bee decline, but we believe bee pollinators and their viruses provide an ideal system to study the multi-host viruses and their epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Piot
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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19
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Honey bees and climate explain viral prevalence in wild bee communities on a continental scale. Sci Rep 2022; 12:1904. [PMID: 35115568 PMCID: PMC8814194 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05603-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses are omnipresent, yet the knowledge on drivers of viral prevalence in wild host populations is often limited. Biotic factors, such as sympatric managed host species, as well as abiotic factors, such as climatic variables, are likely to impact viral prevalence. Managed and wild bees, which harbor several multi-host viruses with a mostly fecal-oral between-species transmission route, provide an excellent system with which to test for the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on viral prevalence in wild host populations. Here we show on a continental scale that the prevalence of three broad host viruses: the AKI-complex (Acute bee paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus), Deformed wing virus, and Slow bee paralysis virus in wild bee populations (bumble bees and solitary bees) is positively related to viral prevalence of sympatric honey bees as well as being impacted by climatic variables. The former highlights the need for good beekeeping practices, including Varroa destructor management to reduce honey bee viral infection and hive placement. Furthermore, we found that viral prevalence in wild bees is at its lowest at the extreme ends of both temperature and precipitation ranges. Under predicted climate change, the frequency of extremes in precipitation and temperature will continue to increase and may hence impact viral prevalence in wild bee communities.
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20
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Sacbrood viruses cross-infection between Apis cerana and Apis mellifera: Rapid detection, viral dynamics, evolution and spillover risk assessment. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 186:107687. [PMID: 34728219 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent outbreaks of sacbrood virus (SBV) have caused serious epizootic disease in Apis cerana populations across Asia including Taiwan. Earlier phylogenetic analyses showed that cross-infection of AcSBV and AmSBV in both A. cerana and A. mellifera seems common, raising a concern of cross-infection intensifying the risk of disease resurgence in A. cerana. In this study, we analyzed the dynamics of cross-infection in three different types of apiaries (A. mellifera-only, A. cerana-only and two species co-cultured apiaries) over one year in Taiwan. Using novel, genotype-specific primer sets, we showed that SBV infection status varies across apiaries: AmSBV-AM and AcSBV-AC were the major genotype in the A. mellifera-only and the A. cerana-only apiaries, respectively, while AmSBV-AC and AcSBV-AC were the dominant genotypes in the co-cultured apiaries. Interestingly, co-cultured apiaries were among the only apiary type that harbored all variants and dual infections (i.e., AC and AM genotype co-infection in a single sample), indicating the interactions between hosts may form a conduit for cross-infection. The cross-infection between the two honey bee species appears to occur in a regular cycle with temporal fluctuation of AmSBV-AC and AcSBV-AC prevalence synchronized to each other in the co-cultured apiaries. Artificial infection of AcSBV in A. mellifera workers showed the suppression of viral replication, suggesting the potential of A. mellifera serving as a AcSBV reservoir that may contribute to virus spillover. Furthermore, the survival rate of A. cerana larvae was significantly reduced after artificial infections of both SBVs, indicating fitness costs of cross-infection on A. cerana and thus a high risk of disease resurgence in co-cultured apiaries. Our field and laboratory data provide baseline information that facilitates understanding of the risk of SBV cross-infection, and highlights the urgent need of SBV monitoring in co-cultured apiaries.
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21
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Jones LJ, Ford RP, Schilder RJ, López-Uribe MM. Honey bee viruses are highly prevalent but at low intensities in wild pollinators of cucurbit agroecosystems. J Invertebr Pathol 2021; 185:107667. [PMID: 34560106 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2021.107667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Managed and wild bee populations are in decline around the globe due to several biotic and abiotic stressors. Pathogenic viruses associated with the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) have been identified as key contributors to losses of managed honey bee colonies, and are known to be transmitted to wild bee populations through shared floral resources. However, little is known about the prevalence and intensity of these viruses in wild bee populations, or how bee visitation to flowers impacts viral transmission in agroecosystems. This study surveyed honey bee, bumble bee (Bombus impatiens) and wild squash bee (Eucera (Peponapis) pruinosa) populations in Cucurbita agroecosystems across Pennsylvania (USA) for the prevalence and intensity of five honey bee viruses: acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), deformed wing virus (DWV), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), and slow bee paralysis virus (SBPV). We investigated the potential role of bee visitation rate to flowers on DWV intensity among species in the pollinator community, with the expectation that increased bee visitation to flowers would increase the opportunity for transmission events between host species. We found that honey bee viruses are highly prevalent but in lower titers in wild E. pruinosa and B. impatiens than in A. mellifera populations throughout Pennsylvania (USA). DWV was detected in 88% of B. impatiens, 48% of E. pruinosa, and 95% of A. mellifera. IAPV was detected in 5% of B. impatiens and 4% of E. pruinosa, compared to 9% in A. mellifera. KBV was detected in 1% of B. impatiens and 5% of E. pruinosa, compared to 32% in A. mellifera. Our results indicate that DWV titers are not correlated with bee visitation in Cucurbita fields. The potential fitness impacts of these low viral titers detected in E. pruinosa remain to be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J Jones
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
| | - Ryan P Ford
- Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA; Department of Plant Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Rudolf J Schilder
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA; Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Margarita M López-Uribe
- Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA; Department of Entomology, Center for Pollinator Research, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, 16802, USA.
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22
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Nanetti A, Bortolotti L, Cilia G. Pathogens Spillover from Honey Bees to Other Arthropods. Pathogens 2021; 10:1044. [PMID: 34451508 PMCID: PMC8400633 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10081044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Honey bees, and pollinators in general, play a major role in the health of ecosystems. There is a consensus about the steady decrease in pollinator populations, which raises global ecological concern. Several drivers are implicated in this threat. Among them, honey bee pathogens are transmitted to other arthropods populations, including wild and managed pollinators. The western honey bee, Apis mellifera, is quasi-globally spread. This successful species acted as and, in some cases, became a maintenance host for pathogens. This systematic review collects and summarizes spillover cases having in common Apis mellifera as the mainteinance host and some of its pathogens. The reports are grouped by final host species and condition, year, and geographic area of detection and the co-occurrence in the same host. A total of eighty-one articles in the time frame 1960-2021 were included. The reported spillover cases cover a wide range of hymenopteran host species, generally living in close contact with or sharing the same environmental resources as the honey bees. They also involve non-hymenopteran arthropods, like spiders and roaches, which are either likely or unlikely to live in close proximity to honey bees. Specific studies should consider host-dependent pathogen modifications and effects on involved host species. Both the plasticity of bee pathogens and the ecological consequences of spillover suggest a holistic approach to bee health and the implementation of a One Health approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Bortolotti
- Council for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Economics Analysis, Centre for Agriculture and Environment Research (CREA-AA), Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (A.N.); (G.C.)
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23
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Burnham PA, Alger SA, Case B, Boncristiani H, Hébert‐Dufresne L, Brody AK. Flowers as dirty doorknobs: Deformed wing virus transmitted between
Apis mellifera
and
Bombus impatiens
through shared flowers. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Phillip Alexander Burnham
- Department of Biology University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Vermont Complex Systems Center University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Samantha A. Alger
- Plant and Soil Science University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc South Burlington VT USA
| | - Brendan Case
- Vermont Complex Systems Center University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Computer Science Department University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Humberto Boncristiani
- Honeybee Research and Extension Laboratory Entomology and Nematology Department University of Florida Gainesville FL USA
| | - Laurent Hébert‐Dufresne
- Vermont Complex Systems Center University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
- Computer Science Department University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
| | - Alison K. Brody
- Department of Biology University of Vermont Burlington VT USA
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24
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Betti M, Shaw K. A Multi-Scale Model of Disease Transfer in Honey Bee Colonies. INSECTS 2021; 12:700. [PMID: 34442266 PMCID: PMC8396591 DOI: 10.3390/insects12080700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Inter-colony disease transfer poses a serious hurdle to successfully managing healthy honeybee colonies. In this study, we build a multi-scale model of two interacting honey bee colonies. The model considers the effects of forager and drone drift, guarding behaviour, and resource robbing of dying colonies on the spread of disease between colonies. Our results show that when drifting is high, disease can spread rapidly between colonies, that guarding behaviour needs to be particularly efficient to be effective, and that for dense apiaries drifting is of greater concern than robbing. We show that while disease can put an individual colony at greater risk, drifting can help less the burden of disease in a colony. We posit some evolutionary questions that come from this study that can be addressed with this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Betti
- Mount Allison University, Sackville, NB E4L 1E2, Canada
| | - Karalyne Shaw
- Saint Mary’s University, Halifax, NS B3H 3C3, Canada;
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25
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Cilia G, Zavatta L, Ranalli R, Nanetti A, Bortolotti L. Replicative Deformed Wing Virus Found in the Head of Adults from Symptomatic Commercial Bumblebee ( Bombus terrestris) Colonies. Vet Sci 2021; 8:117. [PMID: 34201628 PMCID: PMC8310072 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8070117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The deformed wing virus (DWV) is one of the most common honey bee pathogens. The virus may also be detected in other insect species, including Bombus terrestris adults from wild and managed colonies. In this study, individuals of all stages, castes, and sexes were sampled from three commercial colonies exhibiting the presence of deformed workers and analysed for the presence of DWV. Adults (deformed individuals, gynes, workers, males) had their head exscinded from the rest of the body and the two parts were analysed separately by RT-PCR. Juvenile stages (pupae, larvae, and eggs) were analysed undissected. All individuals tested positive for replicative DWV, but deformed adults showed a higher number of copies compared to asymptomatic individuals. Moreover, they showed viral infection in their heads. Sequence analysis indicated that the obtained DWV amplicons belonged to a strain isolated in the United Kingdom. Further studies are needed to characterize the specific DWV target organs in the bumblebees. The result of this study indicates the evidence of DWV infection in B. terrestris specimens that could cause wing deformities, suggesting a relationship between the deformities and the virus localization in the head. Further studies are needed to define if a specific organ could be a target in symptomatic bumblebees.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Antonio Nanetti
- CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, Via di Saliceto 80, 40128 Bologna, Italy; (G.C.); (L.Z.); (R.R.); (L.B.)
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26
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Proesmans W, Albrecht M, Gajda A, Neumann P, Paxton RJ, Pioz M, Polzin C, Schweiger O, Settele J, Szentgyörgyi H, Thulke HH, Vanbergen AJ. Pathways for Novel Epidemiology: Plant-Pollinator-Pathogen Networks and Global Change. Trends Ecol Evol 2021; 36:623-636. [PMID: 33865639 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Multiple global change pressures, and their interplay, cause plant-pollinator extinctions and modify species assemblages and interactions. This may alter the risks of pathogen host shifts, intra- or interspecific pathogen spread, and emergence of novel population or community epidemics. Flowers are hubs for pathogen transmission. Consequently, the structure of plant-pollinator interaction networks may be pivotal in pathogen host shifts and modulating disease dynamics. Traits of plants, pollinators, and pathogens may also govern the interspecific spread of pathogens. Pathogen spillover-spillback between managed and wild pollinators risks driving the evolution of virulence and community epidemics. Understanding this interplay between host-pathogen dynamics and global change will be crucial to predicting impacts on pollinators and pollination underpinning ecosystems and human wellbeing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Proesmans
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France.
| | | | - Anna Gajda
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology and Veterinary Diagnostics, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-776 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Robert J Paxton
- General Zoology, Institute of Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Maryline Pioz
- Abeilles et Environnement, INRAE, 84140 Avignon, France
| | - Christine Polzin
- Department of Environmental Politics, UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Oliver Schweiger
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Josef Settele
- UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; iDiv, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research, Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany; Institute of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines, 4031 Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines
| | - Hajnalka Szentgyörgyi
- Institute of Botany, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Hans-Hermann Thulke
- Department of Ecological Modelling, UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, 04138 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Adam J Vanbergen
- Agroécologie, AgroSup Dijon, INRAE, Université de Bourgogne Franche-Comté, 21000 Dijon, France.
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