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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. R Soc Open Sci 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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2
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Oddie MAY, Lanz S, Dahle B, Yañez O, Neumann P. Virus infections in honeybee colonies naturally surviving ectoparasitic mite vectors. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289883. [PMID: 38100484 PMCID: PMC10723705 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Western honeybee populations, Apis mellifera, in Europe have been known to survive infestations of the ectoparasitic mite, Varroa destructor, by means of natural selection. Proposed mechanisms in literature have been focused on the management of this parasite, however literature remains scare on the differences in viral ecology between colonies that have adapted to V. destructor and those that are consistently treated for it. Samples were collected from both a mite-surviving and a sympatric mite-susceptible honeybee population in Norway. The prevalence and abundances of 10 viruses, vectored by the parasite or not, were investigated in adult host workers and pupae as well as in V. destructor mites. Here we show that the mite-vectored Deformed wing virus (DWV-A) is often lower in both abundance and prevalence in the mite-surviving population in tandem with lower phoretic mite infestations compared to the mite susceptible population. However, the non-mite-vectored Black queen cell virus (BQCV), had both a higher abundance and prevalence in the mite-surviving population compared to the susceptible population. The data therefore suggest that general adaptations to virus infections may be unlikely to explain colony survival. Instead, mechanisms suppressing mite reproduction and therefore the impact seem to be more important.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sandra Lanz
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Bjørn Dahle
- Norwegian Beekeepers Association, Dyrskuev, Kløfta, Norway
| | - 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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3
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Papach A, Beaurepaire A, Yañez O, Huwiler M, Williams GR, Neumann P. Multiple mating by both sexes in an invasive insect species, Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae). Insect Sci 2023; 30:517-529. [PMID: 36097706 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Multiple mating by both sexes is common among sexually reproducing animals. Small hive beetles (SHB), Aethina tumida, are parasites of bee nests endemic to sub-Saharan Africa and have become a widespread invasive species. Despite the considerable economic damages they can cause, their basic biology remains poorly understood. Here we show that male and female small hive beetles can mate multiple times, suggesting that costs for mating are low in this species. In an invasive A. tumida population in the United States, a combination of laboratory experiments for males and paternity analysis with eight polymorphic DNA microsatellite markers for field-caught females were used to estimate the number of mating by both sexes. The data show that females and males can mate multiple times-females mated with up to eight males, whereas males mated with at least seven females. The results also showed that A. tumida displayed a skewed paternity, although this was not consistent among the tested females. Thus, first or last male advantage seem to be unlikely in A. tumida. Our observations that individuals of both sexes of A. tumida can mate multiple times opens new research avenues for examining drivers of multiple mating and determining the role it may play in promoting biological invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Papach
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Alexis Beaurepaire
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Meret Huwiler
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
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4
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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5
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Straub L, Strobl V, Yañez O, Albrecht M, Brown MJ, Neumann P. Do pesticide and pathogen interactions drive wild bee declines? Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2022; 18:232-243. [PMID: 35800107 PMCID: PMC9253050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
There is clear evidence for wild insect declines globally. Habitat loss, climate change, pests, pathogens and environmental pollution have all been shown to cause detrimental effects on insects. However, interactive effects between these stressors may be the key to understanding reported declines. Here, we review the literature on pesticide and pathogen interactions for wild bees, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest avenues for future research fostering mitigation of the observed declines. The limited studies available suggest that effects of pesticides most likely override effects of pathogens. Bees feeding on flowers and building sheltered nests, are likely less adapted to toxins compared to other insects, which potential susceptibility is enhanced by the reduced number of genes encoding detoxifying enzymes compared with other insect species. However, to date all 10 studies using a fully-crossed design have been conducted in the laboratory on social bees using Crithidia spp. or Nosema spp., identifying an urgent need to test solitary bees and other pathogens. Similarly, since laboratory studies do not necessarily reflect field conditions, semi-field and field studies are essential if we are to understand these interactions and their potential effects in the real-world. In conclusion, there is a clear need for empirical (semi-)field studies on a range of pesticides, pathogens, and insect species to better understand the pathways and mechanisms underlying their potential interactions, in particular their relevance for insect fitness and population dynamics. Such data are indispensable to drive forward robust modelling of interactive effects in different environmental settings and foster predictive science. This will enable pesticide and pathogen interactions to be put into the context of other stressors more broadly, evaluating their relative importance in driving the observed declines of wild bees and other insects. Ultimately, this will enable the development of more effective mitigation measures to protect bees and the ecosystem services they supply.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Verena Strobl
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Mark J.F. Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London, Egham, UK
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
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6
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Schläppi D, Kettler N, Glauser G, Straub L, Yañez O, Neumann P. Varying impact of neonicotinoid insecticide and acute bee paralysis virus across castes and colonies of black garden ants, Lasius niger (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Sci Rep 2021; 11:20500. [PMID: 34654848 PMCID: PMC8519937 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98406-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Pesticides and pathogens are known drivers of declines in global entomofauna. However, interactions between pesticides and viruses, which could range from antagonistic, over additive to synergistic, are poorly understood in ants. Here, we show that in ants the impact of single and combined pesticide and virus stressors can vary across castes and at the colony level. A fully-crossed laboratory assay was used to evaluate interactions between a sublethal dose of the neonicotinoid thiamethoxam and Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) in black garden ants, Lasius niger. After monitoring colonies over 64 weeks, body mass, neonicotinoid residues and virus titres of workers and queens, as well as worker behavioural activity were measured. ABPV, but not thiamethoxam, reduced activity of workers. Neonicotinoid exposure resulted in reduced body mass of workers, but not of queens. Further, thiamethoxam facilitated ABPV infections in queens, but not in workers. Overall, virus exposure did not compromise detoxification and body mass, but one colony showed high virus titres and worker mortality. Although the data suggest additive effects at the level of individuals and castes, co-exposure with both stressors elicited antagonistic effects on colony size. Our results create demand for long-term holistic risk assessment of individual stressors and their interactions to protect biodiversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schläppi
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
| | - Nina Kettler
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gaétan Glauser
- Neuchâtel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
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7
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Drew GC, Budge GE, Frost CL, Neumann P, Siozios S, Yañez O, Hurst GDD. Transitions in symbiosis: evidence for environmental acquisition and social transmission within a clade of heritable symbionts. ISME J 2021; 15:2956-2968. [PMID: 33941888 PMCID: PMC8443716 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-021-00977-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A dynamic continuum exists from free-living environmental microbes to strict host-associated symbionts that are vertically inherited. However, knowledge of the forces that drive transitions in symbiotic lifestyle and transmission mode is lacking. Arsenophonus is a diverse clade of bacterial symbionts, comprising reproductive parasites to coevolving obligate mutualists, in which the predominant mode of transmission is vertical. We describe a symbiosis between a member of the genus Arsenophonus and the Western honey bee. The symbiont shares common genomic and predicted metabolic properties with the male-killing symbiont Arsenophonus nasoniae, however we present multiple lines of evidence that the bee Arsenophonus deviates from a heritable model of transmission. Field sampling uncovered spatial and seasonal dynamics in symbiont prevalence, and rapid infection loss events were observed in field colonies and laboratory individuals. Fluorescent in situ hybridisation showed Arsenophonus localised in the gut, and detection was rare in screens of early honey bee life stages. We directly show horizontal transmission of Arsenophonus between bees under varying social conditions. We conclude that honey bees acquire Arsenophonus through a combination of environmental exposure and social contacts. These findings uncover a key link in the Arsenophonus clades trajectory from free-living ancestral life to obligate mutualism, and provide a foundation for studying transitions in symbiotic lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia C Drew
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Giles E Budge
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Crystal L Frost
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stefanos Siozios
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gregory D D Hurst
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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8
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Minnameyer A, Strobl V, Bruckner S, Camenzind DW, Van Oystaeyen A, Wäckers F, Williams GR, Yañez O, Neumann P, Straub L. Eusocial insect declines: Insecticide impairs sperm and feeding glands in bumblebees. Sci Total Environ 2021; 785:146955. [PMID: 33957580 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Insecticides are contributing to global insect declines, thereby creating demand to understand the mechanisms underlying reduced fitness. In the eusocial Hymenoptera, inclusive fitness depends on successful mating of male sexuals (drones) and efficient collaborative brood care by female workers. Therefore, sublethal insecticide effects on sperm and glands used in larval feeding (hypopharyngeal glands (HPG)) would provide key mechanisms for population declines in eusocial insects. However, while negative impacts for bumblebee colony fitness have been documented, the effects of insecticide exposure on individual physiology are less well understood. Here, we show that field-realistic concentrations (4.5-40 ng ml-1) of the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam significantly impair Bombus terrestris sperm and HPGs, thereby providing plausible mechanisms underlying bumblebee population decline. In the laboratory, drones and workers were exposed to five thiamethoxam concentrations (4.5 to 1000 ng ml-1). Then, survival, food consumption, body mass, HPG development, sperm quantity and viability were assessed. At all concentrations, drones were more exposed than workers due to higher food consumption. Increased body mass was observed in drones starting at 20 ng ml-1 and in workers at 100 ng ml-1. Furthermore, environmentally realistic concentrations (4.5-40 ng ml-1) did not significantly affect survival or consumption for either sex. However, thiamethoxam exposure significantly negatively affected both sperm viability and HPG development at all tested concentrations. Therefore, the results indicate a trade-off between survival and fitness components, possibly due to costly detoxification. Since sperm and HPG are corner stones of colony fitness, the data offer plausible mechanisms for bumblebee population declines. To adequately mitigate ongoing biodiversity declines for the eusocial insects, this study suggests it is essential to evaluate the impact of insecticides on fitness parameters of both sexuals and workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Minnameyer
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Verena Strobl
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Selina Bruckner
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Domenic W Camenzind
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - 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; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland.
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9
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Barascou L, Sene D, Barraud A, Michez D, Lefebvre V, Medrzycki P, Di Prisco G, Strobl V, Yañez O, Neumann P, Le Conte Y, Alaux C. Pollen nutrition fosters honeybee tolerance to pesticides. R Soc Open Sci 2021; 8:210818. [PMID: 34540259 PMCID: PMC8437229 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.210818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
A reduction in floral resource abundance and diversity is generally observed in agro-ecosystems, along with widespread exposure to pesticides. Therefore, a better understanding on how the availability and quality of pollen diets can modulate honeybee sensitivity to pesticides is required. For that purpose, we evaluated the toxicity of acute exposure and chronic exposures to field realistic and higher concentrations of azoxystrobin (fungicide) and sulfoxaflor (insecticide) in honeybees provided with pollen diets of differing qualities (named S and BQ pollens). We found that pollen intake reduced the toxicity of the acute doses of pesticides. Contrary to azoxystrobin, chronic exposures to sulfoxaflor increased by 1.5- to 12-fold bee mortality, which was reduced by pollen intake. Most importantly, the risk of death upon exposure to a high concentration of sulfoxaflor was significantly lower for the S pollen diet when compared with the BQ pollen diet. This reduced pesticide toxicity was associated with a higher gene expression of vitellogenin, a glycoprotein that promotes bee longevity, a faster sulfoxaflor metabolization and a lower concentration of the phytochemical p-coumaric acid, known to upregulate detoxification enzymes. Thus, our study revealed that pollen quality can influence the ability of bees to metabolize pesticides and withstand their detrimental effects, providing another strong argument for the restoration of suitable foraging habitat.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Deborah Sene
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | - Alexandre Barraud
- Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Denis Michez
- Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Victor Lefebvre
- Research Institute for Biosciences, Laboratory of Zoology, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, 7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Piotr Medrzycki
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics—Agriculture and Environment Research Centre, Via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
| | - Gennaro Di Prisco
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics—Agriculture and Environment Research Centre, Via di Corticella 133, 40128 Bologna, Italy
- Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection, National Research-Council, Piazzale Enrico Fermi 1, 80055 Portici, Naples, Italy
| | - Verena Strobl
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - 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
| | | | - Cedric Alaux
- INRAE, Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
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10
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Yañez O, Piot N, Dalmon A, de Miranda JR, Chantawannakul P, Panziera D, Amiri E, Smagghe G, Schroeder D, Chejanovsky N. Bee Viruses: Routes of Infection in Hymenoptera. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:943. [PMID: 32547504 PMCID: PMC7270585 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have recently reported on the discovery of bee viruses in different arthropod species and their possible transmission routes, vastly increasing our understanding of these viruses and their distribution. Here, we review the current literature on the recent advances in understanding the transmission of viruses, both on the presence of bee viruses in Apis and non-Apis bee species and on the discovery of previously unknown bee viruses. The natural transmission of bee viruses will be discussed among different bee species and other insects. Finally, the research potential of in vivo (host organisms) and in vitro (cell lines) serial passages of bee viruses is discussed, from the perspective of the host-virus landscape changes and potential transmission routes for emerging bee virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Niels Piot
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Anne Dalmon
- INRAE, Unité de Recherche Abeilles et Environnement, Avignon, France
| | | | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Delphine Panziera
- General Zoology, Institute for Biology, Martin-Luther-University of Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
- Halle-Jena-Leipzig, German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv), Leipzig, Germany
| | - Esmaeil Amiri
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC, United States
- Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Declan Schroeder
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Entomology Department, Institute of Plant Protection, The Volcani Center, Rishon LeZion, Israel
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11
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Beaurepaire A, Piot N, Doublet V, Antunez K, Campbell E, Chantawannakul P, Chejanovsky N, Gajda A, Heerman M, Panziera D, Smagghe G, Yañez O, de Miranda JR, Dalmon A. Diversity and Global Distribution of Viruses of the Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera. Insects 2020; 11:E239. [PMID: 32290327 PMCID: PMC7240362 DOI: 10.3390/insects11040239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In the past centuries, viruses have benefited from globalization to spread across the globe, infecting new host species and populations. A growing number of viruses have been documented in the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Several of these contribute significantly to honey bee colony losses. This review synthetizes the knowledge of the diversity and distribution of honey-bee-infecting viruses, including recent data from high-throughput sequencing (HTS). After presenting the diversity of viruses and their corresponding symptoms, we surveyed the scientific literature for the prevalence of these pathogens across the globe. The geographical distribution shows that the most prevalent viruses (deformed wing virus, sacbrood virus, black queen cell virus and acute paralysis complex) are also the most widely distributed. We discuss the ecological drivers that influence the distribution of these pathogens in worldwide honey bee populations. Besides the natural transmission routes and the resulting temporal dynamics, global trade contributes to their dissemination. As recent evidence shows that these viruses are often multihost pathogens, their spread is a risk for both the beekeeping industry and the pollination services provided by managed and wild pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Beaurepaire
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland;
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Center, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
- UR Abeilles et Environnement, INRAE, 84914 Avignon, France;
| | - Niels Piot
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Vincent Doublet
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, 86069 Ulm, Germany;
| | - Karina Antunez
- Department of Microbiology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo 11600, Uruguay;
| | - Ewan Campbell
- Centre for Genome Enabled Biology and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK;
| | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Environmental Science Research Center (ESRC), Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand;
- Bee Protection Laboratory (BeeP), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Entomology Department, Institute of Plant Protection, The Volcani Center, Rishon Lezion, Tel Aviv 5025001, Israel;
| | - Anna Gajda
- Laboratory of Bee Diseases, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland;
| | | | - Delphine Panziera
- Institute of Biology, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany;
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Guy Smagghe
- Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; (N.P.); (G.S.)
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland;
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Center, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joachim R. de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750-07 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Anne Dalmon
- UR Abeilles et Environnement, INRAE, 84914 Avignon, France;
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12
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Yañez O, Chávez-Galarza J, Tellgren-Roth C, Pinto MA, Neumann P, de Miranda JR. The honeybee (Apis mellifera) developmental state shapes the genetic composition of the deformed wing virus-A quasispecies during serial transmission. Sci Rep 2020; 10:5956. [PMID: 32249797 PMCID: PMC7136270 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-62673-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The main biological threat to the western honeybee (Apis mellifera) is the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, largely because it vectors lethal epidemics of honeybee viruses that, in the absence of this mite, are relatively innocuous. The severe pathology is a direct consequence of excessive virus titres caused by this novel transmission route. However, little is known about how the virus adapts genetically during transmission and whether this influences the pathology. Here, we show that upon injection into honeybee pupae, the deformed wing virus type-A (DWV-A) quasispecies undergoes a rapid, extensive expansion of its sequence space, followed by strong negative selection towards a uniform, common shape by the time the pupae have completed their development, with no difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic adults in either DWV titre or genetic composition. This suggests that the physiological and molecular environment during pupal development has a strong, conservative influence on shaping the DWV-A quasispecies in emerging adults. There was furthermore no evidence of any progressive adaptation of the DWV-A quasispecies to serial intra-abdominal injection, simulating mite transmission, despite the generation of ample variation immediately following each transmission, suggesting that the virus either had already adapted to transmission by injection, or was unaffected by it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, CH-3000, Switzerland
| | - Julio Chávez-Galarza
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Sta. Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
- Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), Av. La Molina, 1981, Lima, Perú
| | | | - M Alice Pinto
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Sta. Apolónia, 5300-253, Bragança, Portugal
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, CH-3000, Switzerland
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden.
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13
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Huwiler M, Papach A, Cristina E, Yañez O, Williams GR, Neumann P. Deformed wings of small hive beetle independent of virus infections and mites. J Invertebr Pathol 2020; 172:107365. [PMID: 32201240 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2020.107365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Insect wing deformities can be caused by viruses, mites and other environmental stressors during development. Here we conducted differential diagnostics of deformed wings in small hive beetles, Aethina tumida (SHB). Adult SHB with and without deformed wings from individual and mass reared scenarios were evaluated for the mite Tyrophagus putrescentiae and for deformed wing virus. Viral load and mite number were similar for SHB with deformed wings and unaffected beetles. Because deformed wings were only observed in individually pupating SHB, a humidity challenge most likely explains the observed clinical symptoms. Our observations support the importance of differential diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meret Huwiler
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anna Papach
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Elodie Cristina
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, USA
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Switzerland; Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
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14
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Schläppi D, Chejanovsky N, Yañez O, Neumann P. Foodborne Transmission and Clinical Symptoms of Honey Bee Viruses in Ants Lasius spp. Viruses 2020; 12:E321. [PMID: 32192027 PMCID: PMC7150850 DOI: 10.3390/v12030321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases are often the products of host shifts, where a pathogen jumps from its original host to a novel species. Viruses in particular cross species barriers frequently. Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and deformed wing virus (DWV) are viruses described in honey bees (Apis mellifera) with broad host ranges. Ants scavenging on dead honey bees may get infected with these viruses via foodborne transmission. However, the role of black garden ants, Lasius niger and Lasius platythorax, as alternative hosts of ABPV and DWV is not known and potential impacts of these viruses have not been addressed yet. In a laboratory feeding experiment, we show that L. niger can carry DWV and ABPV. However, negative-sense strand RNA, a token of virus replication, was only detected for ABPV. Therefore, additional L. niger colonies were tested for clinical symptoms of ABPV infections. Symptoms were detected at colony (fewer emerging workers) and individual level (impaired locomotion and movement speed). In a field survey, all L. platythorax samples carried ABPV, DWV-A and -B, as well as the negative-sense strand RNA of ABPV. These results show that L. niger and L. platythorax are alternative hosts of ABPV, possibly acting as a biological vector of ABPV and as a mechanical one for DWV. This is the first study showing the impact of honey bee viruses on ants. The common virus infections of ants in the field support possible negative consequences for ecosystem functioning due to host shifts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schläppi
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3097 Bern, Switzerland; (N.C.); (O.Y.); (P.N.)
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3097 Bern, Switzerland; (N.C.); (O.Y.); (P.N.)
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, Volcani Center, 50250 Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3097 Bern, Switzerland; (N.C.); (O.Y.); (P.N.)
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, 3097 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3097 Bern, Switzerland; (N.C.); (O.Y.); (P.N.)
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, 3097 Bern, Switzerland
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15
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Schläppi D, Lattrell P, Yañez O, Chejanovsky N, Neumann P. Foodborne Transmission of Deformed Wing Virus to Ants ( Myrmica rubra). Insects 2019; 10:E394. [PMID: 31703426 PMCID: PMC6920936 DOI: 10.3390/insects10110394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Virus host shifts occur frequently, but the whole range of host species and the actual transmission pathways are often poorly understood. Deformed wing virus (DWV), an RNA virus described from honeybees (Apis mellifera), has been shown to have a broad host range. Since ants are often scavenging on dead honeybees, foodborne transmission of these viruses may occur. However, the role of the ant Myrmica rubra as an alternative host is not known and foodborne transmission to ants has not been experimentally addressed yet. Here, we show with a 16-week feeding experiment that foodborne transmission enables DWV type-A and -B to infect M. rubra and that these ants may serve as a virus reservoir. However, the titers of both plus- and minus-sense viral RNA strands decreased over time. Since the ants were fed with highly virus-saturated honeybee pupae, this probably resulted in initial viral peaks, then approaching lower equilibrium titers in infected individuals later. Since DWV infections were also found in untreated field-collected M. rubra colonies, our results support the wide host range of DWV and further suggest foodborne transmission as a so far underestimated spread mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schläppi
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3097 Bern, Switzerland; (P.L.); (O.Y.); (N.C.); (P.N.)
| | - Patrick Lattrell
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3097 Bern, Switzerland; (P.L.); (O.Y.); (N.C.); (P.N.)
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3097 Bern, Switzerland; (P.L.); (O.Y.); (N.C.); (P.N.)
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3097 Bern, Switzerland; (P.L.); (O.Y.); (N.C.); (P.N.)
- Department of Entomology, Agricultural Research Organization, the Volcani Center, Bet Dagan 50250, Israel
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3097 Bern, Switzerland; (P.L.); (O.Y.); (N.C.); (P.N.)
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, 3097 Bern, Switzerland
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16
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Abstract
International trade can facilitate biological invasions, but the possible role of beeswax trade for small hive beetles (SHBs), Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) is poorly understood. SHBs are parasites of social bee colonies native to sub-Saharan Africa and have become an invasive species. Since 1996, SHBs have established in all continents except Antarctica. Here, we combine mitochondrial DNA analyses (COI gene, N = 296 SHBs, 98 locations) with previously published beeswax trade data (FAO) for 12 confirmed SHB invasions. Our genetic data confirm previous findings and suggest novel SHB African origins. In nine out of 12 invasion cases, the genetic and beeswax trade data match. When excluding one confirmed pathway (bee imports) and two cases, for which no FAO data were available, the genetics and beeswax trade data consistently predict the same source. This strongly suggests that beeswax imports from Ethiopia, South Africa, Tanzania and the USA, respectively, have mainly been responsible for the past invasion success of this beetle species. Adequate mitigation measures should be applied to limit this key role of beeswax imports for the further spread of SHBs. Combining genetics with trade data appears to be a powerful tool to better understand and eventually mitigate biological invasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franck Ouessou Idrissou
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Qiang Huang
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.,Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. .,Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland.
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17
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Strobl V, Yañez O, Straub L, Albrecht M, Neumann P. Trypanosomatid parasites infecting managed honeybees and wild solitary bees. Int J Parasitol 2019; 49:605-613. [PMID: 31163178 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The parasite Crithidia mellificae (Kinetoplastea: Trypanosomatidae) infects honeybees, Apis mellifera. No pathogenic effects have been found in individual hosts, despite positive correlations between infections and colony mortalities. The solitary bee Osmia cornuta might constitute a host, but controlled infections are lacking to date. Here, we challenged male and female O. cornuta and honeybee workers in laboratory cages with C. mellificae. No parasite cells were found in any control. Parasite numbers increased 6.6 fold in honeybees between days 6 and 19 p.i. and significantly reduced survival. In O. cornuta, C. mellificae numbers increased 2-3.6 fold within cages and significantly reduced survival of males, but not females. The proportion of infected hosts increased in O. cornuta cages with faeces, but not in honeybee cages without faeces, suggesting faecal - oral transmission. The data show that O. cornuta is a host of C. mellificae and suggest that males are more susceptible. The higher mortality of infected honeybees proposes a mechanism for correlations between C. mellificae infections and colony mortalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Strobl
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Agroecology and Environment, Agroscope, Zürich, Switzerland.
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Lars Straub
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
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18
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Khongphinitbunjong K, Chantawannakul P, Yañez O, Neumann P. Survival of Ectoparasitic Mites Tropilaelaps mercedesae in Association with Honeybee Hive Products. Insects 2019; 10:insects10020036. [PMID: 30699888 PMCID: PMC6410018 DOI: 10.3390/insects10020036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The global trade of honeybee hive products imposes the risk of the introduction of exotic pests. However, data on the potential of specific products enabling pest survival are often lacking. This holds especially true for ectoparasitic mites Tropilaelaps spp., which are mandatory pests of honeybees in many countries. Here, we evaluated the longevity of Tropilaelaps mercedesae mites associated with empty honeycomb and dry pollen as two possible global import routes. Mites were able to survive up to three days in dry pollen and up to six days in empty honeycomb, thereby suggesting a sufficient time window for the potential introduction of T. mercedesae into mite-free countries via import of these hive products.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3097 Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Peter Neumann
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand.
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern and Agroscope, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3097 Bern, Switzerland.
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19
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Tritschler M, Vollmann JJ, Yañez O, Chejanovsky N, Crailsheim K, Neumann P. Protein nutrition governs within-host race of honey bee pathogens. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14988. [PMID: 29118416 PMCID: PMC5678143 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15358-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 10/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple infections are common in honey bees, Apis mellifera, but the possible role of nutrition in this regard is poorly understood. Microsporidian infections, which are promoted by protein-fed, can negatively correlate with virus infections, but the role of protein nutrition for the microsporidian-virus interface is unknown. Here, we challenged naturally deformed wing virus - B (DWV-B) infected adult honey bee workers fed with or without pollen ( = protein) in hoarding cages, with the microsporidian Nosema ceranae. Bee mortality was recorded for 14 days and N. ceranae spore loads and DWV-B titers were quantified. Amongst the groups inoculated with N. ceranae, more spores were counted in protein-fed bees. However, N. ceranae infected bees without protein-diet had reduced longevity compared to all other groups. N. ceranae infection had no effect on protein-fed bee's longevity, whereas bees supplied only with sugar-water showed reduced survival. Our data also support that protein-feeding can have a significant negative impact on virus infections in insects. The negative correlation between N. ceranae spore loads and DWV-B titers was stronger expressed in protein-fed hosts. Proteins not only enhance survival of infected hosts, but also significantly shape the microsporidian-virus interface, probably due to increased spore production and enhanced host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Tritschler
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Chemisches und Veterinäruntersuchungsamt Freiburg (CVUA), Bienengesundheit, 79108, Freiburg i. Br., Germany
| | | | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Nor Chejanovsky
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Institute of Plant Protection, The Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Rishon LeTsiyon, Israel
| | | | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.
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20
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Tritschler M, Retschnig G, Yañez O, Williams GR, Neumann P. Host sharing by the honey bee parasites Lotmaria passim and Nosema ceranae. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:1850-1857. [PMID: 28331592 PMCID: PMC5355176 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The trypanosome Lotmaria passim and the microsporidian Nosema ceranae are common parasites of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, intestine, but the nature of interactions between them is unknown. Here, we took advantage of naturally occurring infections and quantified infection loads of individual workers (N = 408) originating from three apiaries (four colonies per apiary) using PCR to test for interactions between these two parasites. For that purpose, we measured the frequency of single and double infections, estimated the parasite loads of single and double infections, and determined the type of correlation between both parasites in double infections. If interactions between both parasites are strong and antagonistic, single infections should be more frequent than double infections, double infections will have lower parasite loads than single infections, and double infections will present a negative correlation. Overall, a total of 88 workers were infected with N. ceranae, 53 with L. passim, and eight with both parasites. Although both parasites were found in all three apiaries, there were significant differences among apiaries in the proportions of infected bees. The data show no significant differences between the expected and observed frequencies of single‐ and double‐infected bees. While the infection loads of individual bees were significantly higher for L. passim compared to N. ceranae, there were no significant differences in infection loads between single‐ and double‐infected hosts for both parasites. These results suggest no strong interactions between the two parasites in honey bees, possibly due to spatial separation in the host. The significant positive correlation between L. passim and N. ceranae infection loads in double‐infected hosts therefore most likely results from differences among individual hosts rather than cooperation between parasites. Even if hosts are infected by multiple parasites, this does not necessarily imply that there are any significant interactions between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Tritschler
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Gina Retschnig
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland
| | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland; Agroscope Swiss Bee Research Centre Bern Switzerland; Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology Auburn University Auburn AL USA
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health Vetsuisse Faculty University of Bern Bern Switzerland; Agroscope Swiss Bee Research Centre Bern Switzerland
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21
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Drescher N, Klein AM, Neumann P, Yañez O, Leonhardt SD. Inside Honeybee Hives: Impact of Natural Propolis on the Ectoparasitic Mite Varroa destructor and Viruses. Insects 2017; 8:E15. [PMID: 28178181 PMCID: PMC5371943 DOI: 10.3390/insects8010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Social immunity is a key factor for honeybee health, including behavioral defense strategies such as the collective use of antimicrobial plant resins (propolis). While laboratory data repeatedly show significant propolis effects, field data are scarce, especially at the colony level. Here, we investigated whether propolis, as naturally deposited in the nests, can protect honeybees against ectoparasitic mites Varroa destructor and associated viruses, which are currently considered the most serious biological threat to European honeybee subspecies, Apis mellifera, globally. Propolis intake of 10 field colonies was manipulated by either reducing or adding freshly collected propolis. Mite infestations, titers of deformed wing virus (DWV) and sacbrood virus (SBV), resin intake, as well as colony strength were recorded monthly from July to September 2013. We additionally examined the effect of raw propolis volatiles on mite survival in laboratory assays. Our results showed no significant effects of adding or removing propolis on mite survival and infestation levels. However, in relation to V. destructor, DWV titers increased significantly less in colonies with added propolis than in propolis-removed colonies, whereas SBV titers were similar. Colonies with added propolis were also significantly stronger than propolis-removed colonies. These findings indicate that propolis may interfere with the dynamics of V. destructor-transmitted viruses, thereby further emphasizing the importance of propolis for honeybee health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Drescher
- Institute of Ecology, Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Scharnhorststr. 1, Lüneburg D-21335, Germany.
| | - Alexandra-Maria Klein
- Department of Nature Conservation and Landscape Ecology, University of Freiburg, Tennenbacher Str. 4, Freiburg D-79106, Germany.
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, Bern CH-3003, Switzerland.
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern CH-3003, Switzerland.
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, Bern CH-3003, Switzerland.
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern CH-3003, Switzerland.
| | - Sara D Leonhardt
- Department of Animal Department of Ecology and Tropical Biology, University of Würzburg, Biocenter-Am Hubland, Würzburg D-97074, Germany.
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22
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Haddad NJ, Noureddine A, Al-Shagour B, Loucif-Ayad W, El-Niweiri MAA, Anaswah E, Hammour WA, El-Obeid D, Imad A, Shebl MA, Almaleky AS, Nasher A, Walid N, Bergigui MF, Yañez O, de Miranda JR. Distribution and variability of deformed wing virus of honeybees (Apis mellifera) in the Middle East and North Africa. Insect Sci 2017; 24:103-113. [PMID: 26445352 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.12277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Three hundred and eleven honeybee samples from 12 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen, Palestine, and Sudan) were analyzed for the presence of deformed wing virus (DWV). The prevalence of DWV throughout the MENA region was pervasive, but variable. The highest prevalence was found in Lebanon and Syria, with prevalence dropping in Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt before increasing slightly moving westwards to Algeria and Morocco Phylogenetic analysis of a 194 nucleotide section of the DWV Lp gene did not identify any significant phylogenetic resolution among the samples, although the sequences did show consistent regional clustering, including an interesting geographic gradient from Morocco through North Africa to Jordan and Syria. The sequences revealed several clear variability hotspots in the deduced amino acid sequence, which furthermore showed some patterns of regional identity. Furthermore, the sequence variants from the Middle East and North Africa appear more numerous and diverse than those from Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nizar Jamal Haddad
- Bee Research Department, National Center for Agriculture Research and Extension, Baq'a, Jordan
| | - Adjlane Noureddine
- Department of Biology, M'hamed Bougara University of Boumerdes, ENS Kouba, Algeries
| | - Banan Al-Shagour
- Bee Research Department, National Center for Agriculture Research and Extension, Baq'a, Jordan
| | - Wahida Loucif-Ayad
- Laboratory of Applied Animal Biology, University Badji-Mokhtar, Annaba, Algeria
| | - Mogbel A A El-Niweiri
- Department of Bee Research, Environment, Natural Resources and Desertification Research Institute, National Centre for Research, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Eman Anaswah
- Bee Research Department, National Center for Agriculture Research and Extension, Baq'a, Jordan
| | - Wafaa Abu Hammour
- Bee Research Department, National Center for Agriculture Research and Extension, Baq'a, Jordan
| | - Dany El-Obeid
- Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Albaba Imad
- West Bank, State of Palestine, Halhul-Hebron District, Palestine
| | - Mohamed A Shebl
- Department of Plant Protection, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | | | - Abdullah Nasher
- Department of Plant Protection, Sana'a University, Sana'a, Yemen
| | - Nagara Walid
- National Federation of Tunisian beekeepers, Tunis, Tunisia
| | | | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
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23
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Yañez O, Vásquez-Espinal A, Pino-Rios R, Ferraro F, Pan S, Osorio E, Merino G, Tiznado W. Exploiting electronic strategies to stabilize a planar tetracoordinate carbon in cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Chem Commun (Camb) 2017; 53:12112-12115. [DOI: 10.1039/c7cc06248f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A new approach to stabilize compounds containing a planar tetracoordinate carbon (ptC), embedded in aromatic hydrocarbons, is presented herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- O. Yañez
- Doctorado en Fisicoquímica Molecular
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas
- Universidad Andres Bello
- República 275
- Santiago
| | - A. Vásquez-Espinal
- Departamento de Física Aplicada
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Unidad Mérida
- Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso
- Apdo. Postal 73
- Mérida
| | - R. Pino-Rios
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Universidad Andres Bello
- República 275
- Santiago
- Chile
| | - F. Ferraro
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas
- Universidad Católica Luis Amigó, SISCO
- Transversal 51A # 67B 90
- Medellín
- Colombia
| | - S. Pan
- Departamento de Física Aplicada
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Unidad Mérida
- Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso
- Apdo. Postal 73
- Mérida
| | - E. Osorio
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas
- Universidad Católica Luis Amigó, SISCO
- Transversal 51A # 67B 90
- Medellín
- Colombia
| | - G. Merino
- Departamento de Física Aplicada
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Unidad Mérida
- Km. 6 Antigua carretera a Progreso
- Apdo. Postal 73
- Mérida
| | - W. Tiznado
- Departamento de Ciencias Químicas
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Universidad Andres Bello
- República 275
- Santiago
- Chile
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24
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Yañez O, Gauthier L, Chantawannakul P, Neumann P. Endosymbiotic bacteria in honey bees: Arsenophonus spp. are not transmitted transovarially. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2016; 363:fnw147. [PMID: 27279628 PMCID: PMC4941583 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria are common and can play a crucial role for insect pathology. Therefore, such bacteria could be a potential key to our understanding of major losses of Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) colonies. However, the transmission and potential effects of endosymbiotic bacteria in A. mellifera and other Apis spp. are poorly understood. Here, we explore the prevalence and transmission of the genera Arsenophonus, Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Rickettsia in Apis spp. Colonies of A. mellifera (N = 33, with 20 eggs from worker brood cells and 100 adult workers each) as well as mated honey bee queens of A. cerana, A. dorsata and A. florea (N = 12 each) were screened using PCR. While Wolbachia, Spiroplasma and Rickettsia were not detected, Arsenophonus spp. were found in 24.2% of A. mellifera colonies and respective queens as well as in queens of A. dorsata (8.3%) and A. florea (8.3%), but not in A. cerana. The absence of Arsenophonus spp. from reproductive organs of A. mellifera queens and surface-sterilized eggs does not support transovarial vertical transmission. Instead, horizontal transmission is most likely. Arsenophonus endosymbiotic bacteria are not transmitted transovarially in honey bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland
| | | | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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25
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Abstract
Parasites and pathogens are apparent key factors for the detrimental health of managed European honey bee subspecies, Apis mellifera. Apicultural trade is arguably the main factor for the almost global distribution of most honey bee diseases, thereby increasing chances for multiple infestations/infections of regions, apiaries, colonies and even individual bees. This imposes difficulties to evaluate the effects of pathogens in isolation, thereby creating demand to survey remote areas. Here, we conducted the first comprehensive survey for 14 honey bee pathogens in Mongolia (N = 3 regions, N = 9 locations, N = 151 colonies), where honey bee colonies depend on humans to overwinter. In Mongolia, honey bees, Apis spp., are not native and colonies of European A. mellifera subspecies have been introduced ~60 years ago. Despite the high detection power and large sample size across Mongolian regions with beekeeping, the mite Acarapis woodi, the bacteria Melissococcus plutonius and Paenibacillus larvae, the microsporidian Nosema apis, Acute bee paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus, Israeli acute paralysis virus and Lake Sinai virus strain 2 were not detected, suggesting that they are either very rare or absent. The mite Varroa destructor, Nosema ceranae and four viruses (Sacbrood virus, Black queen cell virus, Deformed wing virus (DWV) and Chronic bee paralysis virus) were found with different prevalence. Despite the positive correlation between the prevalence of V. destructor mites and DWV, some areas had only mites, but not DWV, which is most likely due to the exceptional isolation of apiaries (up to 600 km). Phylogenetic analyses of the detected viruses reveal their clustering and European origin, thereby supporting the role of trade for pathogen spread and the isolation of Mongolia from South-Asian countries. In conclusion, this survey reveals the distinctive honey bee pathosphere of Mongolia, which offers opportunities for exciting future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khaliunaa Tsevegmid
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Mongolian State University of Agriculture, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, Bern, Switzerland
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
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26
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Williams GR, Troxler A, Retschnig G, Roth K, Yañez O, Shutler D, Neumann P, Gauthier L. Neonicotinoid pesticides severely affect honey bee queens. Sci Rep 2015; 5:14621. [PMID: 26459072 PMCID: PMC4602226 DOI: 10.1038/srep14621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Queen health is crucial to colony survival of social bees. Recently, queen failure has been proposed to be a major driver of managed honey bee colony losses, yet few data exist concerning effects of environmental stressors on queens. Here we demonstrate for the first time that exposure to field-realistic concentrations of neonicotinoid pesticides during development can severely affect queens of western honey bees (Apis mellifera). In pesticide-exposed queens, reproductive anatomy (ovaries) and physiology (spermathecal-stored sperm quality and quantity), rather than flight behaviour, were compromised and likely corresponded to reduced queen success (alive and producing worker offspring). This study highlights the detriments of neonicotinoids to queens of environmentally and economically important social bees, and further strengthens the need for stringent risk assessments to safeguard biodiversity and ecosystem services that are vulnerable to these substances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey R. Williams
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Aline Troxler
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Gina Retschnig
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kaspar Roth
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Dave Shutler
- Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia B4P 2R6, Canada
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
- Agroscope, Swiss Bee Research Centre, 3003 Bern, Switzerland
- Social Insect Research Group, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0028, South Africa
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27
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Ravoet J, Schwarz RS, Descamps T, Yañez O, Tozkar CO, Martin-Hernandez R, Bartolomé C, De Smet L, Higes M, Wenseleers T, Schmid-Hempel R, Neumann P, Kadowaki T, Evans JD, de Graaf DC. Differential diagnosis of the honey bee trypanosomatids Crithidia mellificae and Lotmaria passim. J Invertebr Pathol 2015; 130:21-7. [PMID: 26146231 DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2015.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Revised: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosomatids infecting honey bees have been poorly studied with molecular methods until recently. After the description of Crithidia mellificae (Langridge and McGhee, 1967) it took about forty years until molecular data for honey bee trypanosomatids became available and were used to identify and describe a new trypanosomatid species from honey bees, Lotmaria passim (Evans and Schwarz, 2014). However, an easy method to distinguish them without sequencing is not yet available. Research on the related bumble bee parasites Crithidia bombi and Crithidia expoeki revealed a fragment length polymorphism in the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1), which enabled species discrimination. In search of fragment length polymorphisms for differential diagnostics in honey bee trypanosomatids, we studied honey bee trypanosomatid cell cultures of C. mellificae and L. passim. This research resulted in the identification of fragment length polymorphisms in ITS1 and ITS1-2 markers, which enabled us to develop a diagnostic method to differentiate both honey bee trypanosomatid species without the need for sequencing. However, the amplification success of the ITS1 marker depends probably on the trypanosomatid infection level. Further investigation confirmed that L. passim is the dominant species in Belgium, Japan and Switzerland. We found C. mellificae only rarely in Belgian honey bee samples, but not in honey bee samples from other countries. C. mellificae was also detected in mason bees (Osmia bicornis and Osmia cornuta) besides in honey bees. Further, the characterization and comparison of additional markers from L. passim strain SF (published as C. mellificae strain SF) and a Belgian honey bee sample revealed very low divergence in the 18S rRNA, ITS1-2, 28S rRNA and cytochrome b sequences. Nevertheless, a variable stretch was observed in the gp63 virulence factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorgen Ravoet
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Ryan S Schwarz
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - East, Beltsville, United States
| | - Tine Descamps
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Cansu Ozge Tozkar
- Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey
| | | | - Carolina Bartolomé
- Medicina Xenómica, CIMUS, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Xenómica Comparada de Parásitos Humanos, IDIS, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Lina De Smet
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mariano Higes
- Bee Pathology Laboratory, Centro Apícola Regional, Marchamalo, Spain
| | - Tom Wenseleers
- Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, K.U. Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Regula Schmid-Hempel
- Institute of Integrative Biology, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Peter Neumann
- Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tatsuhiko Kadowaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jay D Evans
- USDA-ARS Bee Research Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center - East, Beltsville, United States
| | - Dirk C de Graaf
- Laboratory of Molecular Entomology and Bee Pathology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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28
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Retschnig G, Williams GR, Mehmann MM, Yañez O, de Miranda JR, Neumann P. Sex-specific differences in pathogen susceptibility in honey bees (Apis mellifera). PLoS One 2014; 9:e85261. [PMID: 24465518 PMCID: PMC3894969 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 11/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-related differences in susceptibility to pathogens are a common phenomenon in animals. In the eusocial Hymenoptera the two female castes, workers and queens, are diploid and males are haploid. The haploid susceptibility hypothesis predicts that haploid males are more susceptible to pathogen infections compared to females. Here we test this hypothesis using adult male (drone) and female (worker) honey bees (Apis mellifera), inoculated with the gut endoparasite Nosema ceranae and/or black queen cell virus (BQCV). These pathogens were chosen due to previously reported synergistic interactions between Nosema apis and BQCV. Our data do not support synergistic interactions between N. ceranae and BQCV and also suggest that BQCV has limited effect on both drone and worker health, regardless of the infection level. However, the data clearly show that, despite lower levels of N. ceranae spores in drones than in workers, Nosema-infected drones had both a higher mortality and a lower body mass than non-infected drones, across all treatment groups, while the mortality and body mass of worker bees were largely unaffected by N. ceranae infection, suggesting that drones are more susceptible to this pathogen than workers. In conclusion, the data reveal considerable sex-specific differences in pathogen susceptibility in honey bees and highlight the importance of ultimate measures for determining susceptibility, such as mortality and body quality, rather than mere infection levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Retschnig
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Research Station Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux ALP-HARAS, Bern, Switzerland ; Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Geoffrey R Williams
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Research Station Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux ALP-HARAS, Bern, Switzerland ; Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland ; Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Marion M Mehmann
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Research Station Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux ALP-HARAS, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Orlando Yañez
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Research Station Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux ALP-HARAS, Bern, Switzerland ; Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Joachim R de Miranda
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Peter Neumann
- Swiss Bee Research Centre, Research Station Agroscope Liebefeld-Posieux ALP-HARAS, Bern, Switzerland ; Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland ; Social Insect Research Group, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
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29
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Neumann P, Yañez O, Fries I, de Miranda JR. Varroa invasion and virus adaptation. Trends Parasitol 2012; 28:353-4. [PMID: 22784564 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2012.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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