Abstract
Colony collapse disorder has increased interest in the role of viruses in honey bee health. In this study, we determine if management practices affect the rates of infection for six common viruses by comparing the rates of infection between migratory, queen breeder, and hobbyist beekeepers. The study found that migratory beekeepers had higher rates of infection for Israeli acute paralysis virus and Kashmir bee virus. Migratory beekeepers also had higher rates of infection by more than one virus within a single colony. These results highlight the importance of management practices, perhaps including housing bees at high density, for the prevention of viral infection.
Highlights
Viral infection, along with other pathogens and factors, is thought to be involved in colony collapse disorder (CCD), a syndrome that has led to large losses of bees in recent years (BERTHOUD et al, 2010; CAVIGLI et al, 2016; EVANS; SCHWARZ, 2011; GENERSCH, 2010; HIGES et al, 2008; JOHNSON et al, 2009; MULLIN et al, 2010; VAN ENGELSDORP et al, 2008, 2009).Honey bees are infected by at least 18 viruses, six of which have widespread distributions (GENERSCH; AUBERT, 2010)
It was found that migratory beekeepers had higher rates of infection for two viruses, Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) and Kashmir bee virus (KBV), and higher rates of multiple viral infections
KBV has recently been found to be associated with CCD (VAN ENGELSDORP et al, 2009)
Summary
Honey bees are infected by at least 18 viruses (reviewed in CHEN; SIEDE, 2007; RUNCKEL et al, 2011), six of which have widespread distributions (GENERSCH; AUBERT, 2010). This study explores the presence and prevalence of virus infections in honey bees across California, which has the highest densities of colonies in the US. It examines rates of infection for six viruses deformed wing virus (DWV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), sacbrood virus (SBV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), and Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) in three distinct honey bee operations: migratory beekeepers, queen breeders, and hobbyists. It was predicted that the strongest levels of viral infection would be found among migratory beekeepers, as their bees are under the most stress and are exposed to the highest concentrations of bees coming from all over the country for almond pollination
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