Bacterial Diseases in Honeybees

Forsgren, Eva; Locke, Barbara; Sircoulomb, Fabrice; Schäfer, Marc Oliver

doi:10.1007/s40588-018-0083-0

Cited by 40 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…The absence of a clear effect at cantonal level might also be explained by the fact that some honey bee colonies may be disease resistant (Spivak & Reuter, 2001). In this case, the disease would be spatial enzootic (as known from other European countries, (Forsgren et al, 2018)) whereas in other regions it remains epizootic. Furthermore, the pure presence of the causative agent does not automatically cause a disease outbreak (Belloy et al, 2007; Forsgren et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…AFB and EFB, both caused by Gram-positive bacteria (AFB: Paenibacillus larvae ; EFB: Melissococcus plutonius ), are widely distributed in Switzerland (Forsgren et al, 2018; Gillard, Charriere & Belloy, 2008; Roetschi et al, 2008) and both diseases are potentially lethal to the brood of infected colonies (Forsgren, 2010; Forsgren et al, 2018). Adult bees can act as carriers and spread (in combination with the beekeeper) the disease between colonies and apiaries (Belloy et al, 2007; Lindström, Korpela & Fries, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-resolution maps of Swiss apiaries and their applicability to study spatial distribution of bacterial honey bee brood diseases

Büren

Oehen

Kuhn

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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Honey bees directly affect and are influenced by their local environment, in terms of food sources, pollinator densities, pathogen and toxin exposure and climate. Currently, there is a lack of studies analyzing these data with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to investigate spatial relationships with the environment. Particularly for inter-colonial pathogen transmission, it is known that the likelihood of a healthy colony to become infested (e.g., Varroosis) or infected (e.g., American foulbrood—AFB, European foulbrood—EFB) increases with higher colony density. Whether these transmission paths can actually be asserted at apiary level is largely unknown. Here, we unraveled spatial distribution and high-resolution density of apiaries and bacterial honey bee brood diseases in Switzerland based on available GIS data. Switzerland as ‘model country’ offers the unique opportunity to get apiary data since 2010 owing to compulsory registration for every beekeeper. Further, both destructive bee brood diseases (AFB and EFB) are legally notifiable in Switzerland, and EFB has an epizootic character for the last decades. As governmental data sets have to be ameliorated, raw data from the cantonal agricultural or veterinary offices have been included. We found a mean density of 0.56 apiaries per km2, and high resolution spatial analyzes showed strong correlation between density of apiaries and human population density as well as agricultural landscape type. Concerning two bacterial bee brood diseases (AFB, EFB), no significant correlation was detectable with density of apiaries on cantonal level, though a high correlation of EFB cases and apiary density became obvious on higher resolution (district level). Hence, Swiss EFB epizootics seem to have benefited from high apiary densities, promoting the transmission of pathogens by adult bees. The GIS-based method presented here, might also be useful for other bee diseases, anthropogenic or environmental factors affecting bee colonies.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-resolution maps of Swiss apiaries and their applicability to study spatial distribution of bacterial honey bee brood diseases

Büren

Oehen

Kuhn

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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“…Disease diagnosis using samples of honey and adult bees has a higher prognostic value compared to the detection of the bacteria in wax, pollen, and debris samples [ 23 , 24 ]. Regular disease monitoring is important because if AFB is not detected and treated, it will lead to the loss of the infected hive and serve as a major source for infections to neighboring colonies [ 25 ]. Ritter [ 26 ] found that timely diagnosis of the prevalence of AFB disease through testing honey and wax in honey which is available in the hive is one of the ways that are currently being applied globally.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence of American foulbrood in asymptomatic apiaries of Kurdistan, Iran

Khezri¹,

Moharrami²,

Modirrousta³

et al. 2018

Vet World

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Aim:Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae is the etiological agent of American foulbrood (AFB), the most virulent bacterial disease of honey bee brood worldwide. In many countries, AFB is a notifiable disease since it is highly contagious, in most cases incurable, and able to kill affected colonies. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of P. larvae subsp. larvae in Kurdistan province apiaries by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.Materials and Methods:A total of 100 samples were randomly purchased from apiaries in Kurdistan, Iran. Apiaries were randomly sampled in accordance with the instructions of the veterinary organization from different provinces and were tested using PCR method and an exclusive primer of 16S rRNA for the presence of P. larvae subsp. larvae.Results:The results of this study indicated a low level of contamination with P. larvae subsp. larvae in the Kurdistan province. The number of positive samples obtained by PCR was 2%.Conclusion:Therefore, monitoring programs for this honeybee disease in Kurdistan should be developed and implemented to ensure that it is detected early and managed.

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“…The use of antibiotics to treat AFB is not a permanent solution due to the production of resistant spores and increase in antibiotic resistance in bacterial cells ( Lodesani and Costa, 2005 ; Alippi et al, 2007 ); they can also contaminate honey, which could be dangerous for humans consuming this product ( Ortelli et al, 2004 ; Martel et al, 2006 ; Saridaki-Papakonstadinou et al, 2006 ; Meeraus et al, 2015 ; Muriano et al, 2015 ). This is the reason why antibiotic application in AFB treatment has been banned in most European countries ( Genersch, 2010 ; Forsgren et al, 2018 ). In many countries, disease control even includes burning of infected colonies that generates huge economic losses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phages in Therapy and Prophylaxis of American Foulbrood – Recent Implications From Practical Applications

et al. 2020

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American foulbrood is one of the most serious and yet unsolved problems of beekeeping around the world, because it causes a disease leading to the weakening of the vitality of honey bee populations and huge economic losses both in agriculture and horticulture. The etiological agent of this dangerous disease is an extremely pathogenic spore-forming bacterium, Paenibacillus larvae , which makes treatment very difficult. What is more, the use of antibiotics in the European Union is forbidden due to restrictions related to the prevention of the presence of antibiotic residues in honey, as well as the global problem of spreading antibiotic resistance in case of bacterial strains. The only available solution is burning of entire bee colonies, which results in large economic losses. Therefore, bacteriophages and their lytic enzymes can be a real effective alternative in the treatment and prevention of this Apis mellifera disease. In this review, we summarize phage characteristics that make them a potentially useful tool in the fight against American foulbrood. In addition, we gathered data regarding phage application that have been described so far, and attempted to show practical implications and possible limitations of their usage.

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Bacterial Diseases in Honeybees

Cited by 40 publications

References 63 publications

High-resolution maps of Swiss apiaries and their applicability to study spatial distribution of bacterial honey bee brood diseases

High-resolution maps of Swiss apiaries and their applicability to study spatial distribution of bacterial honey bee brood diseases

Prevalence of American foulbrood in asymptomatic apiaries of Kurdistan, Iran

Phages in Therapy and Prophylaxis of American Foulbrood – Recent Implications From Practical Applications

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