Trypanosomatid parasites infecting managed honeybees and wild solitary bees

Strobl, Verena; Yañez, Orlando; Straub, Lars; Albrecht, Matthias; Neumann, Peter

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.03.006

Cited by 39 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…competition for nutrients, water balance and damage to gut tissue (Schaub, 1994). For example, inoculation with C. mellificae can elevate mortality of O. cornuta , at least in males (Strobl et al ., 2019). Otherwise, the effects of parasites on alternative hosts – and the biotic and abiotic factors that affect parasite establishment and host resistance and tolerance – remain largely unknown, but are currently under investigation (Laura Figueroa and Scott McArt, unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Crithidia mellificae is a confirmed multi-host parasite, with the type strains isolated from A. mellifera and the yellow jacket Vespula squamosa (Langridge and McGhee, 1967; Schwarz et al ., 2015). Experimental inoculations have indicated infectivity in Osmia cornuta and Osmia bicornis (Schwarz et al ., 2015; Strobl et al ., 2019). Molecular analyses of field samples have also detected the parasite in B. terrestris (Bartolomé et al ., 2018).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…hosts other than the ‘primary’ genus or species with which the parasite is traditionally associated) (Ravoet et al ., 2014; McMahon et al ., 2015; Alger et al ., 2019). In a few cases, parasites have remained detectable for days following experimental inoculation, and occasionally elevated mortality of alternative hosts (Ruiz-González and Brown, 2006; Graystock et al ., 2013; Fürst et al ., 2014; Dolezal et al ., 2016; Müller et al ., 2019; Purkiss and Lach, 2019; Strobl et al ., 2019). These studies suggest the potential for spillover of parasitic infection from honey bees and bumble bees to other managed and wild bees (Mallinger et al ., 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites across three bee families

et al. 2020

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Abstract Recent declines of wild pollinators and infections in honey, bumble and other bee species have raised concerns about pathogen spillover from managed honey and bumble bees to other pollinators. Parasites of honey and bumble bees include trypanosomatids and microsporidia that often exhibit low host specificity, suggesting potential for spillover to co-occurring bees via shared floral resources. However, experimental tests of trypanosomatid and microsporidial cross-infectivity outside of managed honey and bumble bees are scarce. To characterize potential cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites, we inoculated three trypanosomatids and one microsporidian into five potential hosts – including four managed species – from the apid, halictid and megachilid bee families. We found evidence of cross-infection by the trypanosomatids Crithidia bombi and C. mellificae, with evidence for replication in 3/5 and 3/4 host species, respectively. These include the first reports of experimental C. bombi infection in Megachile rotundata and Osmia lignaria, and C. mellificae infection in O. lignaria and Halictus ligatus. Although inability to control amounts inoculated in O. lignaria and H. ligatus hindered estimates of parasite replication, our findings suggest a broad host range in these trypanosomatids, and underscore the need to quantify disease-mediated threats of managed social bees to sympatric pollinators.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites across three bee families

et al. 2020

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“…Lotmaria passim was described only a few years ago [ 1 ] and is now considered the most predominant trypanosome of honey bees in Asia, Europe and South and North Americas, wherein C. mellificae is considered infrequent or absent [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Trypanosomes in bee species have become more relevant in recent years, since they have proven to have negative effects on behavior, physiology, the immune system and the lifespan of the hosts [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. However, the specific effects of L. passim on honey bee survival, immunity and host physiology is still unclear.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Mixed Infections of Gut Parasites Lotmaria passim and Nosema ceranae on the Lifespan and Immune-related Biomarkers in Apis mellifera

Arismendi

Caro

Castro

et al. 2020

Insects

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Lotmaria passim currently appears to be the predominant trypanosome in honey bees worldwide. Although, the specific effects of L. passim by single or mixed with other gut parasites such as Nosema ceranae on honey bees’ health is still unclear. We consequently measured bees’ survival, parasite loads, the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and vitellogenin gene. Thus, (1) bees naturally infected with L. passim, (2) healthy bees inoculated with Nosema ceranae, (3) bees naturally infected with L. passim and inoculated with N. ceranae and (4) healthy bees (control) were maintained under controlled conditions. Honey bees infected with N. ceranae or with mixed infections of L. passim and N. ceranae had significantly lower survival rates than the control group at 20 days post-inoculation (dpi). A competitive suppression was also detected, provided that the L. passim load was significantly affected by the presence of N. ceranae at 15 dpi. Expressions of the AMPs defensin and hymenoptaecin rapidly (two hours post-inoculation) increased in bees infected with N. ceranae and mixed infections. However, this effect was not continuous. In fact, expressions of abaecin, defensin, hymenoptaecin and vitellogenin decreased drastically at 15 dpi in bees with both single and mixed infections. The decrease in the expression of AMPs and vitellogenin throughout this period was consistent with the reduced survivals observed in this study, indicating that mixed infections of L. passim and N. ceranae, and even into a scenario of competition between them, may have a synergic effect on the survival and immune-related gene expressions (biomarkers) of worker bees.

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“…Considering solitary bees, knowledge about their natural and healthy microbiomes advanced in the recent years [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. Studies investigating potential microbial pathogens, however, focused on infections that are common between honey bees or bumble bees and solitary bees [ 25 , 26 , 27 ]. While studies investigated non-lethal endosymbionts in solitary bees, e.g., Wolbachia [ 28 ], dedicated studies screening for potential bacterial pathogens and other harmful bacteria in solitary bees specifically are currently lacking.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Susceptibility of Red Mason Bee Larvae to Bacterial Threats Due to Microbiome Exchange with Imported Pollen Provisions

Voulgari-Kokota

Steffan‐Dewenter

Keller

2020

Insects

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Solitary bees are subject to a variety of pressures that cause severe population declines. Currently, habitat loss, temperature shifts, agrochemical exposure, and new parasites are identified as major threats. However, knowledge about detrimental bacteria is scarce, although they may disturb natural microbiomes, disturb nest environments, or harm the larvae directly. To address this gap, we investigated 12 Osmia bicornis nests with deceased larvae and 31 nests with healthy larvae from the same localities in a 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene metabarcoding study. We sampled larvae, pollen provisions, and nest material and then contrasted bacterial community composition and diversity in healthy and deceased nests. Microbiomes of pollen provisions and larvae showed similarities for healthy larvae, whilst this was not the case for deceased individuals. We identified three bacterial taxa assigned to Paenibacillus sp. (closely related to P. pabuli/amylolyticus/xylanexedens), Sporosarcina sp., and Bacillus sp. as indicative for bacterial communities of deceased larvae, as well as Lactobacillus for corresponding pollen provisions. Furthermore, we performed a provisioning experiment, where we fed larvae with untreated and sterilized pollens, as well as sterilized pollens inoculated with a Bacillus sp. isolate from a deceased larva. Untreated larval microbiomes were consistent with that of the pollen provided. Sterilized pollen alone did not lead to acute mortality, while no microbiome was recoverable from the larvae. In the inoculation treatment, we observed that larval microbiomes were dominated by the seeded bacterium, which resulted in enhanced mortality. These results support that larval microbiomes are strongly determined by the pollen provisions. Further, they underline the need for further investigation of the impact of detrimental bacterial acquired via pollens and potential buffering by a diverse pollen provision microbiome in solitary bees.

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Trypanosomatid parasites infecting managed honeybees and wild solitary bees

Cited by 39 publications

References 63 publications

Cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites across three bee families

Cross-infectivity of honey and bumble bee-associated parasites across three bee families

Impact of Mixed Infections of Gut Parasites Lotmaria passim and Nosema ceranae on the Lifespan and Immune-related Biomarkers in Apis mellifera

Susceptibility of Red Mason Bee Larvae to Bacterial Threats Due to Microbiome Exchange with Imported Pollen Provisions

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