Lotmaria Passim As Third Parasite Gastrointestinal Tract of Honey Bees Living in Tree Trunk

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Honey bees (<jats:italic>Apis mellifera</jats:italic> L.) inhabiting trees in forests are not managed by humans or treated for pathogens; therefore, many researchers and beekeepers believe that viral, bacterial, and parasitic diseases may lead to their decline. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of <jats:italic>L. passim</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Nosema</jats:italic> spp. in feral colonies by real-time PCR. This study was performed on twenty-six samples of honey bees inhabiting tree trunks in north-eastern Poland. One sample consisted of sixty worker bee abdomens collected from hollow trees. Honey bees were sampled only from naturally colonized sites. Amplicons of the three evaluated pathogens were detected in twenty of the twenty-six tested samples. A significant correlation was observed between infection with three pathogens (<jats:italic>N. apis, N. ceranae, L. passim</jats:italic>) (r = 0.84) compared to infection with only two pathogens (<jats:italic>N. apis</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>N. ceranae</jats:italic>) (r = 0.49). <jats:italic>N. ceranae</jats:italic> was the predominant pathogen, but infections with various severity caused by <jats:italic>L. passim</jats:italic> were also noted in fourteen of the twenty-six tested samples. In view of the general scarcity of epidemiological data concerning coinfections with <jats:italic>Nosema</jats:italic> spp. and <jats:italic>L. passim</jats:italic> in honey bees in tree trunks in other countries, further research is needed to confirm the effect of concurrent pathogenic infections on the decline of bee colonies.</jats:p>

Phylogenetic analysis of the trypanosomatid parasite Lotmaria passim in honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Poland

“…( 23 ) analysed 357 trypanosomatid-positive samples in bumblebees and their sequencing revealed only one sample positive for L. passim . In our earlier research we also found L. passim in bumblebees ( 8 ). This research proves that this protozoan is commonly found in the environment and indicates that phylogenetic analyses should be carried out to test the difference in the strength of its affinity for individual species.…”

“…They showed the presence of these honey bee pathogens in hive beetles collected from free-flying colonies. Lotmaria passim colonise the guts of various insects like honey bees, bumblebees, solitary bees and wasps ( 8 , 10 , 15 ), to varying extents: Tripodi et al . ( 23 ) analysed 357 trypanosomatid-positive samples in bumblebees and their sequencing revealed only one sample positive for L. passim .…”

“…They obtained similar results to those of our study: 41% of the samples tested positive for this pathogen. Lotmaria passim was also identified in other parts of the world including Hawaii and American Samoa ( 20 ), and in Poland in wild bees ( 8 ).…”

Screening of Honey Bee Pathogens in the Czech Republic and Their Prevalence in Various Habitats

“…In addition, it led to a reduction in immune gene expression [37]. The high incidence of trypanosomatids is similar in other European countries [36,62].…”

“…Of even more concern is that trypanosomatids affect the composition of the symbiotic bacterial taxa of bees [40]. However, little is known about the full extent of the harmfulness and mechanism of pathogenesis of these two pathogens [38,62]. Other studies have shown an even higher risk of trypanosomatids when co-infected with N. ceranae [35][36][37].…”