Molecular detection of Nosema spp. and black queen-cell virusin honeybees in Van Province, Turkey

Abstract

This study was planned to determine the prevalences of the Nosema spp. and the black queen-cell virus (BQCV) among honeybees (Apis mellifera) raised in the province of Van by PCR and to determine the molecular characteristics of the determined isolates. A total of 260 adult worker bees from 26 colonies at 5 apiary locations belonging to the province of Van in April and May 2015 were collected for this reason. Samples were examined microscopically. In the case of positivity, spore identification was done by multiplex PCR. Reverse transcription/PCR analysis (RT/PCR) was carried out for the BQCV analysis. At the end of the microscopic examination, Nosema spp. spores were detected in 8 out of 26 colonies (32.5%). The result of multiplex-PCR revealed Nosema ceranae positivity in all of the samples, but no Nosema apis was determined. As a result of the RT/PCR tests of the samples BQCV was detected in 23 (88.5%) of the total 26 colonies. This study is the first to investigate Nosema spp. and BQCV with the PCR technique in bees raised in the province of Van.

Nosema ceranae in Apis mellifera: a 12 years postdetection perspective

“…The increasing worldwide prevalence of N. ceranae in the past decade, particularly in Mediterranean countries like Spain, Italy, Israel, Greece or Turkey (Klee et al ., ; Higes et al ., ; Soroker et al ; Hatjina et al ., ; Oguz et al ., ), coupled with the absence of N. apis in several surveys, has led to the hypothesis that N. ceranae might be displacing N. apis (Klee et al ., , Traver and Fell, ). The seasonal pattern typical of N. apis infection was well known: (i) low levels of infection during the hot summer months; (ii) a short peak in the autumn; (iii) a slow rise in the number of infections during the winter; (iv) and a peak in the spring, with the level of infection rapidly increasing when foraging is limited by humid and cold climatic conditions (Fries, ).…”

Prevalence of the Microsporidian Nosema spp. in Honey Bee Populations (Apis mellifera) in Some Ecological Regions of North Asia

“…The prevalence of Nosema species in A. mellifera populations in Eurasia is currently studied in most European countries [6,25,[40][41][42] and some countries of Southwest Asia as well [29,[43][44][45][46][47]. As the sole causative agent of nosemosis, N. ceranae was detected in Croatia [48], Central Italy [49,50], Iran [43,47], and Saudi Arabia [45].…”

Kuzey Marmara Bölgesindeki Bal ve Arılardaki Patojenlerin Tespiti ve Moleküler İncelenmesi

“…There are many studies carried out in different provinces related to Nosema, which is very common in our country. Oğuz et al [12] determined Nosema spp. spores in Van province.…”

“…The fecal-oral route is an important way for these diseases transmission. The agents contaminating bees through water and food can be transmitted to larvae and pupae by infected bees [12] . Another contamination that may occur in honey is seconder contamination caused by secondary sources of contamination such as personnel, tools and equipment.…”