<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The objective of the research was a comparative assessment of the infection levels of <italic>Nosema</italic> spp. in honey bees collected from different areas of the hive. A total of 588 honey bee colonies were sampled in spring (April-May) 2015 and 2016 through the simultaneous collection of dead worker bees from the bottom board of the hive and live bees from peripheral combs. A microscopic assay of composite samples of 60 bees was used for the detection and quantification of <italic>Nosema</italic> spp. spores. Consistent positive results of laboratory tests (detection of <italic>Nosema</italic> spp. spores in both live and dead bee samples) were achieved for 28% of colonies from surveyed group. In 36% of colonies both types of samples were <italic>Nosema</italic>-negative. Spores of <italic>Nosema</italic> spp. were detected solely in worker bees from the bottom board or exclusively in bees from nests in every 18% of sampled colonies. No differences were found between the share of colonies that had been identified as Nosema-infected on the basis of an analysis of only the live or dead bees (46% versus 46%). Laboratory examination of both types of bee samples can improve the reliability and accuracy of spore counting for the diagnosis of <italic>Nosema</italic> spp. infection in spring. The introduction of this sampling strategy in routine laboratory diagnostics can be considered as an alternative to the application of more sensitive PCR methods or sampling a higher number of live bees.</p></abstract>

The objective of the research was a comparative assessment of the infection levels of Nosema spp. in honey bees collected from different areas of the hive. A total of 588 honey bee colonies were sampled in spring (April-May) 2015 and 2016 through the simultaneous collection of dead worker bees from the bottom board of the hive and live bees from peripheral combs. A microscopic assay of composite samples of 60 bees was used for the detection and quantification of Nosema spp. spores. Consistent positive results of laboratory tests (detection of Nosema spp. spores in both live and dead bee samples) were achieved for 28% of colonies from surveyed group. In 36% of colonies both types of samples were Nosema-negative. Spores of Nosema spp. were detected solely in worker bees from the bottom board or exclusively in bees from nests in every 18% of sampled colonies. No differences were found between the share of colonies that had been identified as Nosema-infected on the basis of an analysis of only the live or dead bees (46% versus 46%). Laboratory examination of both types of bee samples can improve the reliability and accuracy of spore counting for the diagnosis of Nosema spp. infection in spring. The introduction of this sampling strategy in routine laboratory diagnostics can be considered as an alternative to the application of more sensitive PCR methods or sampling a higher number of live bees.

The Spring Assessment of <italic>Nosema</italic> Spp. Infection in Honey Bee Colonies (<italic>Apis mellifera</italic> L.) - Sampling as an Important Aspect of a Reliable Diagnosis

National Veterinary Research Institute, Department of Honeybee Diseases

Journal of Apicultural Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The Spring Assessment of  Spp. Infection in Honey Bee Colonies ( L.) - Sampling as an Important Aspect of a Reliable Diagnosis

The objective of the research was a comparative assessment of the infection levels of Nosema spp. in honey bees collected from different areas of the hive. A...

The Spring Assessment of Nosema Spp. Infection in Honey Bee Colonies (Apis mellifera L.) - Sampling as an Important Aspect of a Reliable Diagnosis

Published Online: Jun 21, 2018

Page range: 61 - 66

Received: Nov 11, 2017

Accepted: Jan 17, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2018-0007

Keywords
composite samples, dead and live bees, microscopic examination, spp

© 2018 Krystyna Pohorecka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The Spring Assessment of Nosema Spp. Infection in Honey Bee Colonies (Apis mellifera L.) - Sampling as an Important Aspect of a Reliable Diagnosis

Published Online: Jun 21, 2018

Page range: 61 - 66

Received: Nov 11, 2017

Accepted: Jan 17, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jas-2018-0007

Keywordscomposite samples, dead and live bees, microscopic examination, spp

© 2018 Krystyna Pohorecka et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
composite samples, dead and live bees, microscopic examination, spp