Open Access

Phylogenetic analysis of the trypanosomatid parasite Lotmaria passim in honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Poland

Maria Iller

Maria Iller

Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and MazuryOlsztyn, Poland
Orcid profile
Search for this author on
Sciendo|Google Scholar
Iller, Maria
, 
Karolina Lipczyńska-Ilczuk

Karolina Lipczyńska-Ilczuk

Department of Epizootiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and MazuryOlsztyn, Poland
Orcid profile
Search for this author on
Sciendo|Google Scholar
Lipczyńska-Ilczuk, Karolina
, 
Rajmund Sokół

Rajmund Sokół

Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and MazuryOlsztyn, Poland
Orcid profile
Search for this author on
Sciendo|Google Scholar
Sokół, Rajmund
, 
Grzegorz Borsuk

Grzegorz Borsuk

Department of Apidology, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, Institute of Biological Basis of Animal Production, University of Life Sciences in LublinLublin, Poland
Orcid profile
Search for this author on
Sciendo|Google Scholar
Borsuk, Grzegorz
 and 
Agata Bancerz-Kisiel

Agata Bancerz-Kisiel

Department of Epizootiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and MazuryOlsztyn, Poland
Orcid profile
Search for this author on
Sciendo|Google Scholar
Bancerz-Kisiel, Agata
  
Mar 23, 2024
Phylogenetic analysis of the trypanosomatid parasite Lotmaria passim in honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Poland's Cover Image
About this article
Previous Article
Next Article
Cite
Download Cover
Published Online: Mar 23, 2024
Page range: 123 - 127
Received: Sep 04, 2023
Accepted: Mar 13, 2024
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2024-0018
Keywords
© 2024 Maria Iller et al., published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Introduction

Lotmaria passim (L. passim) is a single-celled flagellate which colonises the bee gastrointestinal tract and is highly prevalent in honey bees. This parasite is associated with colony losses. Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies were sampled from five apiaries in the north-eastern part of Poland for the phylogenetic analysis of L. passim.

Material and Methods

Each apiary consisted of approximately 60 bee colonies, of which 20 were randomly selected. Samples of 60 differently aged worker bees were collected from each colony and pooled. A total of 100 bee colonies from five apiaries were examined. Protozoa of the Trypanosomatidae family were identified by PCR. L. passim was detected in 47 (47%) of the samples. The 18S ribosomal (r) RNA amplicons of L. passim were sequenced by a commercial service. Their sequences were analysed with BLASTN and noted to be compatible with the GenBank sequences of this region of the organism’s genome. A sequence analysis was performed using the BioEdit Sequence Alignment Editor and Clustal W software.

Results

The amplicon sequences of L. passim were 100% homologous with the sequences deposited in GenBank under accession numbers KM066243.1., KJ684964.1 and KM980181.1.

Conclusion

This is the first study to perform a phylogenetic analysis of L. passim in Polish honey bees. The analysis demonstrated high levels of genetic similarity between isolates of L. passim colonising apiaries in the north-eastern region of Poland.
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
4 times per year
Journal Subjects:
Life Sciences, Molecular Biology, Microbiology and Virology, Life Sciences, other, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine
Journal RSS Feed