scholarly journals Effect of Immune Inducers on Nosema ceranae Multiplication and Their Impact on Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Survivorship and Behaviors

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pegah Valizadeh ◽  
Ernesto Guzman-Novoa ◽  
Paul H. Goodwin
Keyword(s):  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Current Control ◽  
Memory Retention ◽  
Pollen Foraging ◽  
Hygienic Behavior ◽  
Proboscis Extension Reflex ◽  
Proboscis Extension ◽  
And Behaviors ◽  
Nosema Disease

Nosema disease is a major disease of honey bees caused by two species of microsporidia, Nosema apis and N. ceranae. Current control involves using antibiotics, which is undesirable because of possible antibiotic resistance and contamination. In this study, flagellin, zymosan, chitosan, and peptidoglycan were investigated as alternatives for controlling N. ceranae infections and for their effect on bee survivorship and behaviors. Chitosan and peptidoglycan significantly reduced the infection, and significantly increased survivorship of infected bees, with chitosan being more effective. However, neither compound altered the bees’ hygienic behavior, which was also not affected by the infection. Chitosan significantly increased pollen foraging and both compounds significantly increased non-pollen foraging compared to healthy and infected bees. Memory retention, evaluated with the proboscis extension reflex assay, was temporarily impaired by chitosan but was not affected by peptidoglycan, nor was it affected by N. ceranae infection compared to the non-infected bees. This study indicates that chitosan and peptidoglycan provide benefits by partially reducing N. ceranae spore numbers while increasing survivorship compared to N. ceranae infected bees. Also, chitosan and peptidoglycan improved aspects of foraging behavior even more than in healthy bees, showing that they may act as stimulators of important honey bee behaviors.

scholarly journals Perspectives on hygienic behavior in Apis mellifera and other social insects

Apidologie ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marla Spivak ◽  
Robert G. Danka
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Social Insects ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Hygienic Behavior ◽  
Bee Health ◽  
Honey Bee Health ◽  
Behavioral Mechanisms ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractHygienic behavior in honey bees, Apis mellifera, has been studied for over 80 years with the aim of understanding mechanisms of pathogen and parasite resistance and colony health. This review emphasizes the underlying behavioral mechanisms of hygienic behavior in honey bees and when known, in other social insects. We explore the relationship between honey bee hygienic behavior toward diseased brood and Varroa-parasitized brood (Varroa-sensitive hygiene, VSH); the timing of hygienic removal of diseased, Varroa-infested, and virus-infected brood relative to risk of transmission that can affect colony fitness; and the methods, utility, and odorants associated with different assays used to select colonies for resistance to diseases and Varroa. We also provide avenues for future research that would benefit honey bee health and survivorship.

scholarly journals Comparison of Hygienic Behavior of Exotic Honey Bee Apis mellifera L. and Indigenous Honey Bee Apis cerana of Pakistan

Sociobiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shakeel ◽  
Hussain Ali ◽  
Sajjad Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Exotic Species ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Climatic Condition ◽  
Apis Cerana ◽  
Hygienic Behavior ◽  
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ◽  
Equal Strength ◽  
Significant Difference

Indigenous and exotic honey bee species were evaluated for their hygienic behavior in the climatic condition of Peshawar Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Colonies of equal strength from indigenous (Apis cerana) and exotic (Apis mellifera) species were selected for the study. The same colonies were tested in two seasons. Sealed brood were killed with different methods i.e pin killed and freeze killed. The uncapping of cells and brood removal was recorded at different intervals. Significant differences were recorded between hygienic behavior of both species of honey bees. Apis cerana showed significantly superior hygienic behavior than Apis mellifera in both seasons. At different intervals in both species significant differences were recorded. A significant difference was recorded after 12 and 24 hours between the species in both seasons. No significant differences were recorded after 48hours in both species. From the study it is concluded that indigenous honey bee species has superior hygienic behavior than exotic species.

scholarly journals Prevalence and distribution of Nosema ceranae in Croatian honeybee colonies

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 457-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Tlak Gajger ◽  
O. Vugrek ◽  
D. Grilec ◽  
Z. Petrinec
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Microscopic Examination ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Nosema Ceranae ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Microsporidian Parasite ◽  
Nosema Species ◽  
Nosema Disease ◽  
Bee Colonies

Nosema disease of European honey bees afflicts bees worldwide. Nosema ceranae is a recently described microsporidian parasite of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) and its geographical distribution is not well known. The disease may have many negative effects on bee colonies and cause high losses for apiculture and consequently in agriculture. With this in mind, a total of 204 samples of dead bees from different localities in Croatia were selected and investigated for distribution, prevalence and diversity of N. ceranae infection, using light microscopic examination and multiplex PCR. Our results show that N. ceranae is the only nosema species found to infect honeybees in our geographically varied collection. The nucleotide sequences of amplicons from Nosema-infested honeybee samples were 100% identical with the N. ceranae sequence deposited in the GenBank database. N. ceranae infected bees were found in samples collected from each of 21 districts, and in all three climatic areas, i.e., mediterranean, mountain, and continental parts regions of Croatia.

scholarly journals Similar Comparative Low and High Doses of Deltamethrin and Acetamiprid Differently Impair the Retrieval of the Proboscis Extension Reflex in the Forager Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

Insects ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 805-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steeve Thany ◽  
Céline Bourdin ◽  
Jérôme Graton ◽  
Adèle Laurent ◽  
Monique Mathé-Allainmat ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Proboscis Extension Reflex ◽  
Proboscis Extension ◽  
High Doses

scholarly journals Transferrin-mediated iron sequestration suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for controlling Nosema disease in the honey bee, Apis mellifera

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. e1009270
Author(s):  
Cristina Rodríguez-García ◽  
Matthew C. Heerman ◽  
Steven C. Cook ◽  
Jay D. Evans ◽  
Gloria DeGrandi-Hoffman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Iron Homeostasis ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Functional Roles ◽  
Iron Sequestration ◽  
Essential Nutrient ◽  
Nosema Disease ◽  
The Impact

Nosemosis C, a Nosema disease caused by microsporidia parasite Nosema ceranae, is a significant disease burden of the European honey bee Apis mellifera which is one of the most economically important insect pollinators. Nevertheless, there is no effective treatment currently available for Nosema disease and the disease mechanisms underlying the pathological effects of N. ceranae infection in honey bees are poorly understood. Iron is an essential nutrient for growth and survival of hosts and pathogens alike. The iron tug-of-war between host and pathogen is a central battlefield at the host-pathogen interface which determines the outcome of an infection, however, has not been explored in honey bees. To fill the gap, we conducted a study to investigate the impact of N. ceranae infection on iron homeostasis in honey bees. The expression of transferrin, an iron binding and transporting protein that is one of the key players of iron homeostasis, in response to N. ceranae infection was analysed. Furthermore, the functional roles of transferrin in iron homeostasis and honey bee host immunity were characterized using an RNA interference (RNAi)-based method. The results showed that N. ceranae infection causes iron deficiency and upregulation of the A. mellifera transferrin (AmTsf) mRNA in honey bees, implying that higher expression of AmTsf allows N. ceranae to scavenge more iron from the host for its proliferation and survival. The suppressed expression levels of AmTsf via RNAi could lead to reduced N. ceranae transcription activity, alleviated iron loss, enhanced immunity, and improved survival of the infected bees. The intriguing multifunctionality of transferrin illustrated in this study is a significant contribution to the existing body of literature concerning iron homeostasis in insects. The uncovered functional role of transferrin on iron homeostasis, pathogen growth and honey bee’s ability to mount immune responses may hold the key for the development of novel strategies to treat or prevent diseases in honey bees.

scholarly journals Safety assessment of sugar dusting treatments by analysis of hygienic behavior in honey bee colonies

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 1199-1207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jevrosima Stevanovic ◽  
Z. Stanimirovic ◽  
Nada Lakic ◽  
Nevenka Aleksic ◽  
P. Simeunovic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Varroa Destructor ◽  
Safety Assessment ◽  
Defense Mechanism ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Hygienic Behavior ◽  
Natural Defense ◽  
Bee Colonies

The hygienic behavior in honey bees is a dominant natural defense mechanism against brood diseases. In this study, the influence of sugar dusting treatments on hygienic behavior was evaluated in 44 strong honey bee colonies. Three doses of pulverized sugar, 20, 30 and 40 g, each applied at three-, seven- and fourteen-day intervals were tested. The percentage of cleaned cells (PCC) in the total number of those with pin-killed brood served as a measure of the hygienic potential. The effect was dependent on the frequency of treatments: all doses applied every third and seventh day significantly (p<0.001) decreased the PCC in comparison with the untreated control colonies. Nevertheless, sugar did not threaten the hygienic potential, as PPC values remained above 94% following all treatments. Thus, it can be concluded that the tested sugar treatments are safe and can be justifiably implemented into integrated pest management strategies to control Varroa destructor.

scholarly journals RNA Interference-Mediated Knockdown of Genes Encoding Spore Wall Proteins Confers Protection against Nosema ceranae Infection in the European Honey Bee, Apis mellifera

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 505
Author(s):  
Nan He ◽  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Xin Le Duan ◽  
Jiang Hong Li ◽  
Wei-Fone Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Apis Mellifera ◽  
Rna Interference ◽  
Honey Bee ◽  
Honey Bees ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Spore Wall ◽  
Nosema Ceranae ◽  
Host Responses ◽  
Colony Losses ◽  
Nosema Disease

Nosema ceranae (Opisthosporidia: Microsporidia) is an emergent intracellular parasite of the European honey bee (Apis mellifera) and causes serious Nosema disease which has been associated with worldwide honey bee colony losses. The only registered treatment for Nosema disease is fumagillin-b, and this has raised concerns about resistance and off-target effects. Fumagillin-B is banned from use in honey bee colonies in many countries, particularly in Europe. As a result, there is an urgent need for new and effective therapeutic options to treat Nosema disease in honey bees. An RNA interference (RNAi)-based approach can be a potent strategy for controlling diseases in honey bees. We explored the therapeutic potential of silencing the sequences of two N. ceranae encoded spore wall protein (SWP) genes by means of the RNAi-based methodology. Our study revealed that the oral ingestion of dsRNAs corresponding to SWP8 and SWP12 used separately or in combination could lead to a significant reduction in spore load, improve immunity, and extend the lifespan of N. ceranae-infected bees. The results from the work completed here enhance our understanding of honey bee host responses to microsporidia infection and highlight that RNAi-based therapeutics are a promising treatment for honey bee diseases.

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