1
|
Flores JM, Gámiz V, Jiménez-Marín Á, Flores-Cortés A, Gil-Lebrero S, Garrido JJ, Hernando MD. Impact of Varroa destructor and associated pathologies on the colony collapse disorder affecting honey bees. Res Vet Sci 2021; 135:85-95. [PMID: 33454582 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Varroa mite is the major threat to the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, and the cause of significant economic losses in the apiculture industry. Varroa destructor feeds on brood and adult bees being responsible for vectoring virus infections and other diseases. This study analyses the role of Varroa and other associated pathogens, such as viruses or the fungus Nosema ceranae, and their relationships regarding the viability of the bee colony. It has been carried out during one beekeeping season, with the subspecies A. m. iberiensis, commonly used in the apiculture industry of Spain. Our study shows a significant relationship between the presence of Varroa destructor and viral infection by deformed wing virus and acute bee paralysis virus. Nosema ceranae behaved as an opportunistic pathogen. In addition, this study explored a potential naturally occurring subset of peptides, responsible for the humoral immunity of the bees. The expression of the antimicrobial peptides abaecin and melittin showed a significant relationship with the levels of Varroa mite and the deformed wing virus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José M Flores
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Córdoba, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Victoria Gámiz
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Córdoba, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ángeles Jiménez-Marín
- Department of Genetic, Faculty of Veterinary, Grupo de Genómica y Mejora Animal, University of Córdoba, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alicia Flores-Cortés
- Department of Genetic, Faculty of Veterinary, Grupo de Genómica y Mejora Animal, University of Córdoba, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Sergio Gil-Lebrero
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Córdoba, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Juan J Garrido
- Department of Genetic, Faculty of Veterinary, Grupo de Genómica y Mejora Animal, University of Córdoba, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - María Dolores Hernando
- National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Steinhauer N, Kulhanek K, Antúnez K, Human H, Chantawannakul P, Chauzat MP, vanEngelsdorp D. Drivers of colony losses. Curr Opin Insect Sci 2018; 26:142-148. [PMID: 29764654 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 01/27/2018] [Accepted: 02/02/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade, in some regions of the world, honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies have experienced rates of colony loss that are difficult for beekeepers to sustain. The reasons for losses are complex and interacting, with major drivers including Varroaand related viruses, pesticides, nutrition and beekeeper practices. In these endeavors it has also become apparent that defining a dead colony, and singling out the effects of specific drivers of loss, is not so straightforward. Using the class of neonicotinoid pesticides as an example we explain why quantifying risk factor impact at the colony level is at times elusive and in some cases unpractical. In this review, we discuss the caveats of defining and quantifying dead colonies. We also summarize the current leading drivers of colony losses, their interactions and the most recent research on their effects on colony mortality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Steinhauer
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Kelly Kulhanek
- Department of Entomology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Karina Antúnez
- Departamento de Microbiología, Instituto de Investigaciones, Biológicas Clemente Estable, Avda. Italia 3318, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Hannelie Human
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Panuwan Chantawannakul
- Bee Protection Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, 50200, Thailand; Environmental Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, 50200, Thailand
| | - Marie-Pierre Chauzat
- Unit of Honey Bee Pathology, ANSES, European Union and National Reference Laboratory for Honey Bee Health, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zanni V, Galbraith DA, Annoscia D, Grozinger CM, Nazzi F. Transcriptional signatures of parasitization and markers of colony decline in Varroa-infested honey bees (Apis mellifera). Insect Biochem Mol Biol 2017; 87:1-13. [PMID: 28595898 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2017.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Extensive annual losses of honey bee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) reported in the northern hemisphere represent a global problem for agriculture and biodiversity. The parasitic mite Varroa destructor, in association with deformed wing virus (DWV), plays a key role in this phenomenon, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear. To elucidate these mechanisms, we analyzed the gene expression profile of uninfested and mite infested bees, under laboratory and field conditions, highlighting the effects of parasitization on the bee's transcriptome under a variety of conditions and scenarios. Parasitization was significantly correlated with higher viral loads. Honey bees exposed to mite infestation exhibited an altered expression of genes related to stress response, immunity, nervous system function, metabolism and behavioural maturation. Additionally, mite infested young bees showed a gene expression profile resembling that of forager bees. To identify potential molecular markers of colony decline, the expression of genes that were commonly regulated across the experiments were subsequently assessed in colonies experiencing increasing mite infestation levels. These studies suggest that PGRP-2, hymenoptaecin, a glucan recognition protein, UNC93 and a p450 cytocrome maybe suitable general biomarkers of Varroa-induced colony decline. Furthermore, the reliability of vitellogenin, a yolk protein previously identified as a good marker of colony survival, was confirmed here.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Zanni
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - David A Galbraith
- Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Desiderato Annoscia
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| | - Christina M Grozinger
- Center for Pollinator Research, Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Francesco Nazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze AgroAlimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università degli Studi di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100, Udine, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wu JL, Zhou CX, Wu PJ, Xu J, Guo YQ, Xue F, Getachew A, Xu SF. Brain metabolomic profiling of eastern honey bee (Apis cerana) infested with the mite Varroa destructor. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175573. [PMID: 28403242 PMCID: PMC5389839 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The mite Varroa destructor is currently the greatest threat to apiculture as it is causing a global decrease in honey bee colonies. However, it rarely causes serious damage to its native hosts, the eastern honey bees Apis cerana. To better understand the mechanism of resistance of A. cerana against the V. destructor mite, we profiled the metabolic changes that occur in the honey bee brain during V. destructor infestation. Brain samples were collected from infested and control honey bees and then measured using an untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based global metabolomics method, in which 7918 and 7462 ions in ESI+ and ESI- mode, respectively, were successfully identified. Multivariate statistical analyses were applied, and 64 dysregulated metabolites, including fatty acids, amino acids, carboxylic acid, and phospholipids, amongst others, were identified. Pathway analysis further revealed that linoleic acid metabolism; propanoate metabolism; and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism were acutely perturbed. The data obtained in this study offer insight into the defense mechanisms of A. cerana against V. destructor mites and provide a better method for understanding the synergistic effects of parasitism on honey bee colonies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Li Wu
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chun-Xue Zhou
- Department of Parasitology, Shandong University School of Basic Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China
- National Animal Protozoa Laboratory and College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, PR China
| | - Peng-Jie Wu
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yue-Qin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Xue
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Awraris Getachew
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Fa Xu
- Key Laboratory of Pollinating Insect Biology, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Desai SD, Currie RW. Effects of Wintering Environment and Parasite-Pathogen Interactions on Honey Bee Colony Loss in North Temperate Regions. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159615. [PMID: 27448049 PMCID: PMC4957765 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2015] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Extreme winter losses of honey bee colonies are a major threat to beekeeping but the combinations of factors underlying colony loss remain debatable. We monitored colonies in two environments (colonies wintered indoors or outdoors) and characterized the effects of two parasitic mites, seven viruses, and Nosema on honey bee colony mortality and population loss over winter. Samples were collected from two locations within hives in fall, mid-winter and spring of 2009/2010. Although fall parasite and pathogen loads were similar in outdoor and indoor-wintered colonies, the outdoor-wintered colonies had greater relative reductions in bee population score over winter. Seasonal patterns in deformed wing virus (DWV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), and Nosema level also differed with the wintering environment. DWV and Nosema levels decreased over winter for indoor-wintered colonies but BQCV did not. Both BQCV and Nosema concentration increased over winter in outdoor-wintered colonies. The mean abundance of Varroa decreased and concentration of Sacbrood virus (SBV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), and Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) increased over winter but seasonal patterns were not affected by wintering method. For most viruses, either entrance or brood area samples were reasonable predictors of colony virus load but there were significant season*sample location interactions for Nosema and BQCV, indicating that care must be taken when selecting samples from a single location. For Nosema spp., the fall entrance samples were better predictors of future infestation levels than were fall brood area samples. For indoor-wintered colonies, Israeli acute paralysis virus IAPV concentration was negatively correlated with spring population size. For outdoor-wintered hives, spring Varroa abundance and DWV concentration were positively correlated with bee loss and negatively correlated with spring population size. Multivariate analyses for fall collected samples indicated higher DWV was associated with colony death as did high SBV for spring-collected samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suresh D. Desai
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Robert W. Currie
- Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3T 2N2, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Budge GE, Pietravalle S, Brown M, Laurenson L, Jones B, Tomkies V, Delaplane KS. Pathogens as Predictors of Honey Bee Colony Strength in England and Wales. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0133228. [PMID: 26186735 PMCID: PMC4506140 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Inspectors with the UK National Bee Unit were asked for 2007-2008 to target problem apiaries in England and Wales for pathogen screening and colony strength measures. Healthy colonies were included in the sampling to provide a continuum of health conditions. A total of 406 adult bee samples was screened and yielded 7 viral, 1 bacterial, and 2 microsporidial pathogens and 1 ectoparasite (Acarapis woodi). In addition, 108 samples of brood were screened and yielded 4 honey bee viruses. Virus prevalence varied from common (deformed wing virus, black queen cell virus) to complete absence (Israeli acute paralysis virus). When colonies were forced into one of two classes, strong or weak, the weak colonies contained more pathogens in adult bees. Among observed pathogens, only deformed wing virus was able to predict colony strength. The effect was negative such that colonies testing positive for deformed wing virus were likely to have fewer combs of bees or brood. This study constitutes the first record for Nosema ceranae in Great Britain. These results contribute to the growing body of evidence linking pathogens to poor honey bee health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giles E. Budge
- The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO411LZ, United Kingdom
| | - Stéphane Pietravalle
- The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO411LZ, United Kingdom
| | - Mike Brown
- The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO411LZ, United Kingdom
| | - Lynn Laurenson
- The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO411LZ, United Kingdom
| | - Ben Jones
- The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO411LZ, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria Tomkies
- The Food and Environment Research Agency, Sand Hutton, York, YO411LZ, United Kingdom
| | - Keith S. Delaplane
- Department of Entomology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
van der Zee R, Gray A, Pisa L, de Rijk T. An Observational Study of Honey Bee Colony Winter Losses and Their Association with Varroa destructor, Neonicotinoids and Other Risk Factors. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131611. [PMID: 26154346 PMCID: PMC4496033 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 10/16/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
This article presents results of an analysis of honey bee losses over the winter of 2011-2012 in the Netherlands, from a sample of 86 colonies, located at 43 apiaries. The apiaries were selected using spatially stratified random sampling. Colony winter loss data were collected and related to various measures of colony strength recorded in summer, as well as data from laboratory analysis of sample material taken from two selected colonies in each of the 43 apiaries. The logistic regression model which best explained the risk of winter loss included, in order of statistical importance, the variables (1) Varroa destructor mite infestation rate in October 2011, (2) presence of the cyano-substituted neonicotinoids acetamiprid or thiacloprid in the first 2 weeks of August 2011 in at least one of the honey bee matrices honey, bees or bee bread (pollen), (3) presence of Brassica napus (oilseed rape) or Sinapis arvensis (wild mustard) pollen in bee bread in early August 2011, and (4) a measure of the unexplained winter losses for the postal code area where the colonies were located, obtained from a different dataset. We consider in the discussion that reduced opportunities for foraging in July and August because of bad weather may have added substantially to the adverse effects of acetamiprid and thiacloprid. A novel feature of this work is its use of postal code random effects from two other independent datasets collected in the annual national monitoring by questionnaires of winter losses of honey bees in the Netherlands. These were used to plan the sample selection and also in the model fitting of the data in this study. It should however be noted that the results of the present pilot study are based on limited data, which may consequently reveal strong factors but fail to demonstrate possible interaction effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alison Gray
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Lennard Pisa
- Netherlands Centre for Bee Research, Tersoal, Netherlands
| | - Theo de Rijk
- RIKILT Wageningen UR, Institute of Food Safety, Wageningen, Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Kielmanowicz MG, Inberg A, Lerner IM, Golani Y, Brown N, Turner CL, Hayes GJR, Ballam JM. Prospective large-scale field study generates predictive model identifying major contributors to colony losses. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1004816. [PMID: 25875764 PMCID: PMC4395366 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1004816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, unusually high losses of colonies have been reported by beekeepers across the USA. Multiple factors such as Varroa destructor, bee viruses, Nosema ceranae, weather, beekeeping practices, nutrition, and pesticides have been shown to contribute to colony losses. Here we describe a large-scale controlled trial, in which different bee pathogens, bee population, and weather conditions across winter were monitored at three locations across the USA. In order to minimize influence of various known contributing factors and their interaction, the hives in the study were not treated with antibiotics or miticides. Additionally, the hives were kept at one location and were not exposed to potential stress factors associated with migration. Our results show that a linear association between load of viruses (DWV or IAPV) in Varroa and bees is present at high Varroa infestation levels (>3 mites per 100 bees). The collection of comprehensive data allowed us to draw a predictive model of colony losses and to show that Varroa destructor, along with bee viruses, mainly DWV replication, contributes to approximately 70% of colony losses. This correlation further supports the claim that insufficient control of the virus-vectoring Varroa mite would result in increased hive loss. The predictive model also indicates that a single factor may not be sufficient to trigger colony losses, whereas a combination of stressors appears to impact hive health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Alex Inberg
- Monsanto Company, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | | | - Yael Golani
- Monsanto Company, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Brown
- Monsanto Company, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| | | | | | - Joan M. Ballam
- Monsanto Company, Chesterfield, Missouri, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Smith KM, Loh EH, Rostal MK, Zambrana-Torrelio CM, Mendiola L, Daszak P. Pathogens, pests, and economics: drivers of honey bee colony declines and losses. Ecohealth 2013; 10:434-45. [PMID: 24496582 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-013-0870-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Revised: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 08/19/2013] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The Western honey bee (Apis mellifera) is responsible for ecosystem services (pollination) worth US$215 billion annually worldwide and the number of managed colonies has increased 45% since 1961. However, in Europe and the U.S., two distinct phenomena; long-term declines in colony numbers and increasing annual colony losses, have led to significant interest in their causes and environmental implications. The most important drivers of a long-term decline in colony numbers appear to be socioeconomic and political pressure on honey production. In contrast, annual colony losses seem to be driven mainly by the spread of introduced pathogens and pests, and management problems due to a long-term intensification of production and the transition from large numbers of small apiaries to fewer, larger operations. We conclude that, while other causal hypotheses have received substantial interest, the role of pests, pathogens, and management issues requires increased attention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kristine M Smith
- EcoHealth Alliance, 460 West 34th Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY, 10001, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|