Submit to Veterinary Sciences Review for Veterinary Sciences Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 46944

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giovanni Cilia

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 40128 Bologna, Italy
Interests: honeybee; pathogens; microbiology; molecular biology; antimicrobials; bacterial infectious disease; zoonosis; antimicrobial resistance; nosemosis; bee viral disease; bee health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Antonio Nanetti

E-Mail
Guest Editor

CREA Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment, 00198 Roma, Italy
Interests: honeybee; nosemosis; bee health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the great participation that the Special Issue “Honey Bee Health” saw, we have decided to launch another issue on this topic. This new invitation extends beyond honeybees, including also wild and solitary bees.

Honeybee diseases are continuously studied by researchers to investigate their relationship with host/parasites. Diseases are caused by several types of pathogens: bacteria, such as Melissococcus plutonius and Paenibacillus larvae; microsporidia, such as Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae; fungi, such as Ascosphaera apis; trypanosomatids, such as Crithidia mellificae, Lotmaria passim, and Crithidia bombi; mites, such as Varroa destructor; predatory wasps, including Vespa velutina; and invasive beetle, such as Aethina tumida, all of which are of great veterinary interest.

All these pathogens may be able to infect not only other bees, such as Bombus spp., Osmia spp., Megachiles spp., etc, but also invasive species that could be vectors for the honeybee population—not only Varroa destructor, which represents the mainly virus transmission route, but also Aethina tumida and Vespa velutina, which can be infected by a wide range of bee pathogens, but whose roles in epidemiology remain unclear.

Recently, host–pathogen interactions for bee health have been included in a multifactorial approach, involving a dynamic balance among a range of threats and resources interacting at multiple levels of scale.

The aim of this Special Issue is to explore bee health through a series of research articles focused on different aspects of bee health, including Apis mellifera but also other wild bee species, at different levels of organization, including molecular health, microbial health, population genetic health, and interaction with invasive species that live in close contact with the bee population.

Dr. Giovanni Cilia
Dr. Antonio Nanetti
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

bee pathogens
Apis mellifiera
bee health
wild bees
Apoidei
honeybee–wild bee spillover
spillover
host–pathogen interaction
invasive pest
bee bacteria
bee virus
microsporidia
Melissococcus plutonius
Paenibacillus larvae
Nosema apis
Nosema ceranae
Ascosphaera apis
Aspegillus spp.
Lotmaria passim
Crithidia bombi
Crithidia mellificae
acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV)
chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV)
Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV)
black queen cell virus (BQCV)
deformed wing virus (DWV)
sac brood virus (SBV)
Kashmir bee virus (KBV)

Published Papers (14 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

4 pages, 633 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases

by Giovanni Cilia and Antonio Nanetti

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(4), 253; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10040253 - 28 Mar 2023

Viewed by 1391

Abstract

Understanding the health status of bees is crucial in assessing the epidemiology of pathogens that cause diseases in honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies and wild bees [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

19 pages, 2706 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Honey Bee Pathogen Prevalence and Interactions within the Marmara Region of Turkey

by Christopher Mayack and Haşim Hakanoğlu

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(10), 573; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9100573 - 17 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2056

Abstract

Beekeeping has yet to reach its full potential in terms of productivity in Turkey where it has a relatively large role in the economy. Poor colony health is suspected to be the reason for this, but comprehensive disease monitoring programs are lacking to support this notion. We sampled a total of 115 colonies across five different apiaries throughout the Marmara region of Turkey and screened for all of the major bee pathogens using PCR and RNA-seq methods. We found that Varroa mites are more prevalent in comparison to Nosema infections. The pathogens ABPV, DWV, KV, and VDV1 are near 100% prevalent and are the most abundant across all locations, which are known to be vectored by the Varroa mite. We therefore suspect that controlling Varroa mites will be key for improving bee health in Turkey moving forward. We also documented significant interactions between DWV, KV, and VDV1, which may explain how the more virulent strain of the virus becomes abundant. ABPV had a positive interaction with VDV1, thereby possibly facilitating this more virulent viral strain, but a negative interaction with Nosema ceranae. Therefore, these complex pathogen interactions should be taken into consideration in the future to improve bee health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2465 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Epidemiological Situation of the Managed Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Colonies in the Italian Region Emilia-Romagna

by Giovanni Cilia, Elena Tafi, Laura Zavatta, Valeria Caringi and Antonio Nanetti

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(8), 437; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9080437 - 17 Aug 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2040

Abstract

The recent decades witnessed the collapse of honey bee colonies at a global level. The major drivers of this collapse include both individual and synergic pathogen actions, threatening the colonies’ survival. The need to define the epidemiological pattern of the pathogens that are involved has led to the establishment of monitoring programs in many countries, Italy included. In this framework, the health status of managed honey bees in the Emilia–Romagna region (northern Italy) was assessed, throughout the year 2021, on workers from 31 apiaries to investigate the presence of major known and emerging honey bee pathogens. The prevalence and abundance of DWV, KBV, ABPV, CBPV, Nosema ceranae, and trypanosomatids (Lotmaria passim, Crithidia mellificae, Crithidia bombi) were assessed by molecular methods. The most prevalent pathogen was DWV, followed by CBPV and N. ceranae. Trypanosomatids were not found in any of the samples. Pathogens had different peaks in abundance over the months, showing seasonal trends that were related to the dynamics of both bee colonies and Varroa destructor infestation. For some of the pathogens, a weak but significant correlation was observed between abundance and geographical longitude. The information obtained in this study increases our understanding of the epidemiological situation of bee colonies in Emilia–Romagna and helps us to implement better disease prevention and improved territorial management of honey bee health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 2503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genotype, but Not Climate, Affects the Resistance of Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) to Viral Infections and to the Mite Varroa destructor

by Ana K. Ramos-Cuellar, Alvaro De la Mora, Francisca Contreras-Escareño, Nuria Morfin, José M. Tapia-González, José O. Macías-Macías, Tatiana Petukhova, Adriana Correa-Benítez and Ernesto Guzman-Novoa

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(7), 358; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9070358 - 15 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2180

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of genotype and climate on the resistance of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies to parasitic and viral diseases. The prevalence and intensity of parasitism by Varroa destructor, or infection by Nosema spp., and four honey bee viruses were determined in 365 colonies of predominantly European or African ancestry (descendants of A. m. scutellata) in subtropical and temperate regions of Mexico. Varroa destructor was the most prevalent parasite (95%), whilst N. ceranae was the least prevalent parasite (15%). Deformed wing virus (DWV) and black queen cell virus (BQCV) were the only viruses detected, at frequencies of 38% and 66%, respectively. Varroa destructor was significantly more prevalent in colonies of European ancestry (p < 0.05), and the intensity of parasitism by V. destructor or infection by DWV and BQCV was also significantly higher in colonies of European descent than in African descent colonies (p < 0.01), although no genotype–parasite associations were found for N. ceranae. Additionally, significant and positive correlations were found between V. destructor and DWV levels, and the abundance of these pathogens was negatively correlated with the African ancestry of colonies (p < 0.01). However, there were no significant effects of environment on parasitism or infection intensity for the colonies of both genotypes. Therefore, it is concluded that the genotype of honey bee colonies, but not climate, influences their resistance to DWV, BQCV, and V. destructor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1145 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Two Diagnostic Techniques for the Apis mellifera Varroatosis: Strengths, Weaknesses and Impact on the Honeybee Health

by Roberto Bava, Fabio Castagna, Cristina Carresi, Antonio Cardamone, Giovanni Federico, Paola Roncada, Ernesto Palma, Vincenzo Musella and Domenico Britti

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(7), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9070354 - 13 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1883

Abstract

Varroa destructor is the most dangerous pest that poses a threat to honey bee survival. In recent years, increasingly worrying phenomena of drug resistance have occurred to various active ingredients of pharmaceutical formulations used to control this parasitosis. Determining the level of infestation is essential to preventing the inappropriate use and abuse of veterinary medicines, and to choose the most appropriate time for treatment. This comparative study investigates the sensitivity and diagnostic accuracy of two field techniques for diagnosing V. destructor infestations in hives. The EasyCheck device (Véto-pharma) was used in two of its application modes, namely, the sugar roll test and carbon dioxide (CO₂) injection. The experiments were conducted on 15 samples of 300 bees each taken from the same frame and checked for the presence of mites using standard and modified field techniques in both uncaged and caged queen hive conditions. The results demonstrate that the sugar roll technique is significantly more effective and safer than CO₂ injection, allowing for a higher accuracy in diagnosing a V. destructor infestation. Furthermore, the evaluation of mites present on bees in brood block conditions has proven to be particularly reliable. Considering the number of mites on the filter of the device as an additional step helps to implement the diagnostic accuracy of the CO₂ injection technique, however, not achieving the efficacy results of the sugar roll. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 1913 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Colonisation Patterns of Nosema ceranae in the Azores Archipelago

by Ana Rita Lopes, Raquel Martín-Hernández, Mariano Higes, Sara Kafafi Segura, Dora Henriques and Maria Alice Pinto

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(7), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9070320 - 25 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2141

Abstract

Nosema ceranae is a highly prevalent pathogen of Apis mellifera, which is distributed worldwide. However, there may still exist isolated areas that remain free of N. ceranae. Herein, we used molecular tools to survey the Azores to detect N. ceranae and unravel its colonisation patterns. To that end, we sampled 474 colonies from eight islands in 2014/2015 and 91 from four islands in 2020. The findings revealed that N. ceranae was not only present but also the dominant species in the Azores. In 2014/2015, N. apis was rare and N. ceranae prevalence varied between 2.7% in São Jorge and 50.7% in Pico. In 2020, N. ceranae prevalence increased significantly (p < 0.001) in Terceira and São Jorge also showing higher infection levels. The spatiotemporal patterns suggest that N. ceranae colonised the archipelago recently, and it rapidly spread across other islands, where at least two independent introductions might have occurred. Flores and Santa Maria have escaped the N. ceranae invasion, and it is remarkable that Santa Maria is also free of Varroa destructor, which makes it one of the last places in Europe where the honey bee remains naive to these two major biotic stressors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 3433 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

The Haptomonad Stage of Crithidia acanthocephali in Apis mellifera Hindgut

by María Buendía-Abad, Pilar García-Palencia, Luis Miguel de Pablos, Raquel Martín-Hernández and Mariano Higes

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(6), 298; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9060298 - 16 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1854

Abstract

Crithidia acanthocephali is a trypanosomatid species that was initially described in the digestive tract of Hemiptera. However, this parasite was recently detected in honey bee colonies in Spain, raising the question as to whether bees can act as true hosts for this species. To address this issue, worker bees were experimentally infected with choanomastigotes from the early stationary growth phase and after 12 days, their hindgut was extracted for analysis by light microscopy and TEM. Although no cellular lesions were observed in the honey bee’s tissue, trypanosomatids had differentiated and adopted a haptomonad morphology, transforming their flagella into an attachment pad. This structure allows the protozoa to remain attached to the gut walls via hemidesmosomes-such as junctions. The impact of this species on honey bee health, as well as the pathogenic mechanisms involved, remains unknown. Nevertheless, these results suggest that insect trypanosomatids may have a broader range of hosts than initially thought. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1195 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Antimicrobial Activity from Putative Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria for the Biological Control of American and European Foulbrood Diseases

by Massimo Iorizzo, Sonia Ganassi, Gianluca Albanese, Francesco Letizia, Bruno Testa, Cosimo Tedino, Sonia Petrarca, Franco Mutinelli, Alessandra Mazzeo and Antonio De Cristofaro

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(5), 236; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9050236 - 12 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3529

Abstract

The balance of the gut microbiome is important for the honey bee’s growth and development, immune function and defense against pathogens. The use of a beneficial bacteria-based strategy for the prevention and biocontrol of American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) diseases in honey bees offers interesting prospects. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are common inhabitants of the gastrointestinal tract of the honey bee. Among LABs associated with bee gut microbiota, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (previously Lactobacillus plantarum) and Apilactobacillus kunkeei (formerly classified as Lactobacillus kunkeei) are two of the most abundant species. In this study, four Lactiplantibacillus plantarum strains and four Apilactobacillus kunkeei strains, isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) were selected for their in vitro inhibition ability of Paenibacillus larvae ATCC 9545 and Melissococccus plutonius ATCC 35311. In addition, these LABs have been characterized through some biochemical and functional characteristics: cell surface properties (hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation), carbohydrates assimilation and enzymatic activities. The antimicrobial, biochemical and cell surface properties of these LABs have been functional to their candidature as potential probiotics in beekeeping and for the biocontrol of AFB and EFB diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1143 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Green Veterinary Pharmacology for Honey Bee Welfare and Health: Origanum heracleoticum L. (Lamiaceae) Essential Oil for the Control of the Apis mellifera Varroatosis

by Fabio Castagna, Roberto Bava, Cristian Piras, Cristina Carresi, Vincenzo Musolino, Carmine Lupia, Mariangela Marrelli, Filomena Conforti, Ernesto Palma, Domenico Britti and Vincenzo Musella

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(3), 124; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9030124 - 09 Mar 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4176

Abstract

Varroatosis, caused by the Varroa destructor mite, is currently the most dangerous parasitic disease threatening the survival of honey bees worldwide. Its adverse effect on the welfare and health of honey bees requires the regular use of specific acaricides. This condition has led to a growing development of resistance phenomena towards the most frequently used drugs. In addition, another important aspect that should not be understated, is the toxicity and persistence of chemicals in the environment. Therefore, the identification of viable and environmentally friendly alternatives is urgently needed. In this scenario, essential oils are promising candidates. The aim of this study was to assess the contact toxicity, the fumigation efficacy and the repellent effect of Origanum heracleoticum L. essential oil (EO) against V. destructor mite. In the contact tests, each experimental replicate consisted of 15 viable adult female mites divided as follows: 5 treated with EO diluted in HPLC grade acetone, 5 treated with acetone alone (as negative control) and 5 treated with Amitraz diluted in acetone (as positive control). The EO was tested at concentrations of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/mL. For each experimental replicate, mortality was manually assessed after one hour. The efficacy of EO fumigation was evaluated through prolonged exposure at different time intervals. After each exposure, the 5 mites constituting an experimental replicate were transferred to a Petri dish containing a honey bee larva and mortality was assessed after 48 h. The repellent action was investigated by implementing a directional choice test in a mandatory route. During the repellency tests the behavior of the mite (90 min after its introduction in the mandatory route) was not influenced by the EO. In contact tests, EO showed the best efficacy at 2 and 1 mg/mL concentrations, neutralizing (dead + inactivated) 90.9% and 80% of the mites, respectively. In fumigation tests, the mean mortality rate of V. destructor at maximum exposure time (90 min) was 60% and 84% at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Overall, these results demonstrate a significant efficacy of O. heracleoticum EO against V. destructor, suggesting a possible alternative use in the control of varroatosis in honey bee farms in order to improve Apis mellifera welfare and health and, consequently, the hive productions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 2415 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Replicative Deformed Wing Virus Found in the Head of Adults from Symptomatic Commercial Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) Colonies

by Giovanni Cilia, Laura Zavatta, Rosa Ranalli, Antonio Nanetti and Laura Bortolotti

Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(7), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8070117 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4934

Abstract

The deformed wing virus (DWV) is one of the most common honey bee pathogens. The virus may also be detected in other insect species, including Bombus terrestris adults from wild and managed colonies. In this study, individuals of all stages, castes, and sexes were sampled from three commercial colonies exhibiting the presence of deformed workers and analysed for the presence of DWV. Adults (deformed individuals, gynes, workers, males) had their head exscinded from the rest of the body and the two parts were analysed separately by RT-PCR. Juvenile stages (pupae, larvae, and eggs) were analysed undissected. All individuals tested positive for replicative DWV, but deformed adults showed a higher number of copies compared to asymptomatic individuals. Moreover, they showed viral infection in their heads. Sequence analysis indicated that the obtained DWV amplicons belonged to a strain isolated in the United Kingdom. Further studies are needed to characterize the specific DWV target organs in the bumblebees. The result of this study indicates the evidence of DWV infection in B. terrestris specimens that could cause wing deformities, suggesting a relationship between the deformities and the virus localization in the head. Further studies are needed to define if a specific organ could be a target in symptomatic bumblebees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

10 pages, 254 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Activity of Several Essential Oils Extracted from Aromatic Plants against Ascosphaera apis

by Michelina Pusceddu, Ignazio Floris, Nicoletta P. Mangia, Alberto Angioni and Alberto Satta

Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(5), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8050080 - 10 May 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3847

Abstract

The use of natural substances such as essentials oils against bee pathogens is of great interest as an alternative to traditional methods based on synthetic compounds like antibiotics and fungicides, in order to minimize the risk of having toxic residues in hive products and to prevent the development of resistance phenomena. This study evaluated the inhibitory, fungicidal and sporicidal activity of ten essential oils extracted from aromatic plants against Ascosphaera apis, the etiological agent of chalkbrood, an invasive honey bee mycosis. The most effective essential oils were Thymus herba-barona, Thymus capitatus and Cinnamomum zeylanicum, which showed values of minimum fungicidal concentration and minimum sporicidal concentration ranging from 200 to 400 ppm. Carvacrol was the main component of Thymus capitatus and Thymus herba-barona oils, whereas cinnamic aldehyde prevailed in Cinnamomum zeylanicum oil. Further in-apiary studies will allow the evaluation of side effects on bees and residues in hive products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

16 pages, 1722 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Bee Health and Productivity in Apis mellifera, a Consequence of Multiple Factors

by Verónica Rachel Olate-Olave, Mayda Verde, Leslie Vallejos, Leonel Perez Raymonda, Maria Carla Cortese and Marnix Doorn

Vet. Sci. 2021, 8(5), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8050076 - 04 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5529

Abstract

Managed honeybees play an important role as pollinators. The health and nutritional condition of honeybee colonies (Apis mellifera L.) depends for an important part on management practices, and it is influenced by multiple factors. This study aims to identify the stressors that lead to the loss of honeybee health and its consequences on the colony’s productivity. Different aspects related to management practices, productivity, clinical observations related to diseases, presence of sanitary gaps in the apiaries, colony strength, weather and infestation rates by Varroa sp. mites were measured. The information was collected during two monitoring in 53 apiaries in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina. The results show correlations among many of the management practices, health condition and yield. The most important factors affecting the productivity of the studied honeybee colonies were nuclei preparation, the number of combs in the brood chamber, change of bee queen, disinfection of beekeeping material, among other less significant ones. Although honey production is important in the region, the colony strength was deficient and inadequate during both monitoring. Due to its dependence on management by the beekeeper, it is suggested that a holistic approach could improve bee health, increasing the productivity of honeybees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Editorial, Research, Other

23 pages, 929 KiB

Open AccessReview

Bee Stressors from an Immunological Perspective and Strategies to Improve Bee Health

by Hesham R. El-Seedi, Hanan R. Ahmed, Aida A. Abd El-Wahed, Aamer Saeed, Ahmed F. Algethami, Nour F. Attia, Zhiming Guo, Syed G. Musharraf, Alfi Khatib, Sultan M. Alsharif, Yahya Al Naggar, Shaden A. M. Khalifa and Kai Wang

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(5), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9050199 - 21 Apr 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 7215

Abstract

Honeybees are the most prevalent insect pollinator species; they pollinate a wide range of crops. Colony collapse disorder (CCD), which is caused by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, incurs high economic/ecological loss. Despite extensive research to identify and study the various ecological stressors such as microbial infections, exposure to pesticides, loss of habitat, and improper beekeeping practices that are claimed to cause these declines, the deep understanding of the observed losses of these important insects is still missing. Honeybees have an innate immune system, which includes physical barriers and cellular and humeral responses to defend against pathogens and parasites. Exposure to various stressors may affect this system and the health of individual bees and colonies. This review summarizes and discusses the composition of the honeybee immune system and the consequences of exposure to stressors, individually or in combinations, on honeybee immune competence. In addition, we discuss the relationship between bee nutrition and immunity. Nutrition and phytochemicals were highlighted as the factors with a high impact on honeybee immunity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Other

Jump to: Editorial, Research, Review

10 pages, 460 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Molecular Detection of Nosema spp. in Honey in Bulgaria

by Delka Salkova, Rositsa Shumkova, Ralitsa Balkanska, Nadezhda Palova, Boyko Neov, Georgi Radoslavov and Peter Hristov

Vet. Sci. 2022, 9(1), 10; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9010010 - 28 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2241

Abstract

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is related to screening genetic material of various organisms in environmental samples. Honey represents a natural source of exogenous DNA, which allows for the detection of different honey bee pathogens and parasites. In the present study, we extracted DNA from 20 honey samples from different regions in Bulgaria and tested for the presence of DNA of the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, as well as Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. Only Nosema ceranae was detected, showing up in 30% of all samples, which confirms the widespread prevalence of this pathogen. All positive samples were found in plain regions of the country, while this pathogen was not detected in mountainous parts. None of the samples gave positive amplifications for the Nosema apis and Varroa mite. The obtained results from this study confirm previous observations that eDNA contained in honey is a potent source for effective biomonitoring of actual diseases in the honey bee. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Challenges and Advances in Bee Health and Diseases

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (14 papers)

Editorial

Research

Review

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI