Outcome of Colonization of Apis mellifera by Nosema ceranae

Abstract

A multiplex PCR-based method, in which two small-subunit rRNA regions are simultaneously amplified in a single reaction, was designed for parallel detection of honeybee microsporidians (Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae). Each of two pairs of primers exclusively amplified the 16S rRNA targeted gene of a specific microsporidian. The multiplex PCR assay was useful for specific detection of the two species of microsporidians related to bee nosemosis, not only in purified spores but also in honeybee homogenates and in naturally infected bees. The multiplex PCR assay was also able to detect coinfections by the two species. Screening of bee samples from Spain, Switzerland, France, and Germany using the PCR technique revealed a greater presence of N. ceranae than of N. apis in Europe, although both species are widely distributed.

Standard methods forNosemaresearch

“…Nosema apis, the historical microsporidian parasite of European honey bees, can decrease worker longevity and cause considerable winter colony losses (Fries, 1993), whilst N. ceranae, probably introduced into European honey bees from its Asian congener (Apis cerana) within the last few decades Martín-Hernández et al, 2007;Klee et al, 2007;Paxton et al, 2007;Chen et al, 2008;Williams et al, 2008;Invernizzi et al, 2009;Currie et al, 2010;Botías et al, 2011), is associated with colony depopulation and collapse in warmer areas of Europe (Higes et al, 2008a), but not in northern parts of Europe (Gisder et al, 2010a), in…”

Does infection by Nosema ceranae cause “Colony Collapse Disorder” in honey bees (Apis mellifera)?

“…Experiments on caged worker bees have nevertheless revealed N. ceranae to be a potentially highly virulent pathogen (Higes et al, 2007), one that seems to be more pathogenic than Nosema apis (Paxton et al, 2007 N. ceranae can be controlled by the fungicide fumagillin is of some reassurance for apiculture with A. mellifera (Martín-Hernandéz et al, 2007;Higes et al, 2008;2009b;Williams et al, 2008b).…”

Enfraquecimento e perda de colônias de abelhas no Brasil: há casos de CCD?

“…O possível envolvimento do microsporídio N. ceranae foi reportado em colapsos de colônias nos Estados Unidos e Europa Paxton et al, 2010), no entanto, sabe-se que o patógeno está presente em todos os continentes, inclusive a América do Sul, onde colapsos ainda não estão bem documentados sistematicamente (Klee et al, 2007;Martín-Hernández et al, 2007). Embora o primeiro registro do patógeno no Brasil tenha sido feito somente em 2007 (Klee et al, 2007), recentemente foi confirmada a presença do microsporídio no país há pelo menos três décadas (Teixeira et al, 2013).…”