Publications

TitleAbstractYear(sorted ascending)
Filter
PMID
Filter
nosema ceranae, a new microsporidian parasite in honeybees in europe.twelve samples of adult honey bees from different regions of spain from colonies with clear signs of population depletion, positive to microsporidian spores using light microscopy (1% of total positive samples analysed), were selected for molecular diagnosis. pcr specific primers for a region of the 16s rrna gene of microsporidia were developed and the pcr products were sequenced and compared to genbank entries. the sequenced products of 11 out of the 12 samples were identical to the correspondi ...200616574143
specific and sensitive detection of nosema bombi (microsporidia: nosematidae) in bumble bees (bombus spp.; hymenoptera: apidae) by pcr of partial rrna gene sequences.a polymerase chain reaction (pcr) based method was developed for the specific and sensitive diagnosis of the microsporidian parasite nosema bombi in bumble bees (bombus spp.). four primer pairs, amplifying ribosomal rna (rrna) gene fragments, were tested on n. bombi and the related microsporidia nosema apis and nosema ceranae, both of which infect honey bees. only primer pair nbombi-ssu-jf1/jr1 could distinguish n. bombi (323bp amplicon) from these other bee parasites. primer pairs nbombi-ssu-jf ...200616376373
experimental infection of apis mellifera honeybees with nosema ceranae (microsporidia).in this report, an experimental infection of apis mellifera by nosema ceranae, a newly reported microsporidian in this host is described. nosema free honeybees were inoculated with 125,000 n. ceranae spores, isolated from heavily infected bees. the parasite species was identified by amplification and sequencing the ssurrna gene of the administered spores. three replicate cages of 20 honeybees each were prepared, along with one control cage (n=20) supplied with sugar syrup only. the infection rat ...200717217954
outcome of colonization of apis mellifera by nosema ceranae.a multiplex pcr-based method, in which two small-subunit rrna regions are simultaneously amplified in a single reaction, was designed for parallel detection of honeybee microsporidians (nosema apis and nosema ceranae). each of two pairs of primers exclusively amplified the 16s rrna targeted gene of a specific microsporidian. the multiplex pcr assay was useful for specific detection of the two species of microsporidians related to bee nosemosis, not only in purified spores but also in honeybee ho ...200717675417
widespread dispersal of the microsporidian nosema ceranae, an emergent pathogen of the western honey bee, apis mellifera.the economically most important honey bee species, apis mellifera, was formerly considered to be parasitized by one microsporidian, nosema apis. recently, [higes, m., martín, r., meana, a., 2006. nosema ceranae, a new microsporidian parasite in honeybees in europe, j. invertebr. pathol. 92, 93-95] and [huang, w.-f., jiang, j.-h., chen, y.-w., wang, c.-h., 2007. a nosema ceranae isolate from the honeybee apis mellifera. apidologie 38, 30-37] used 16s (ssu) rrna gene sequences to demonstrate the p ...200717428493
[nosema ceranae (eukaryota: fungi: microsporea)--a new parasite of western honey bee apis mellifera l].nosema ceranae was discovered in apis cerana, eastern honeybee first. until recently a. cerana has been considered the only host to this parasite. a few years ago n. ceranae was recorded in honey bee apis mellifera. it appeared that n. ceranae is more pathogenic for a. mellifera than nosema apis. this parasite can cause significant losses in bee colonies. bees die without symptoms observed in nosemosis caused by n. apis such as diarrhea.200718441873
how natural infection by nosema ceranae causes honeybee colony collapse.in recent years, honeybees (apis mellifera) have been strangely disappearing from their hives, and strong colonies have suddenly become weak and died. the precise aetiology underlying the disappearance of the bees remains a mystery. however, during the same period, nosema ceranae, a microsporidium of the asian bee apis cerana, seems to have colonized a. mellifera, and it's now frequently detected all over the world in both healthy and weak honeybee colonies. for first time, we show that natural ...200818647336
does fumagillin control the recently detected invasive parasite nosema ceranae in western honey bees (apis mellifera)?western honey bee (apis mellifera) colonies in nova scotia, canada were sampled in spring and late summer 2007 to evaluate efficacy of fumagillin dicyclohexylammonium (hereafter, fumagillin) against nosema ceranae. colonies treated with fumagillin in september 2006 (n=94) had significantly lower nosema intensity in spring 2007 than did colonies that received no treatment (n=51), but by late summer 2007 no difference existed between groups. molecular sequencing of 15 infected colonies identified ...200818550078
trace analysis of fumagillin in honey by liquid chromatography-diode array-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.in this work a new liquid chromatography with diode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (lc-dad-esi-ms) method has been developed for the determination of fumagillin residues in honey. this procedure involves a solid-phase extraction on polymeric cartridges for the isolation of fumagillin from diluted honey. chromatographic separation of fumagillin was performed in isocratic mode, on a c(18) column (150 mm x 4.60mm i.d., 5 microm), the mobile phase consisted of a mixtur ...200818371976
first detection of nosema ceranae, a microsporidian parasite of european honey bees (apis mellifera), in canada and central usa.nosema ceranae is an emerging microsporidian parasite of european honey bees, apis mellifera, but its distribution is not well known. six nosema-positive samples (determined from light microscopy of spores) of adult worker bees from canada (two each from nova scotia, new brunswick, and prince edward island) and two from usa (minnesota) were tested to determine nosema species using previously-developed pcr primers of the 16s rrna gene. we detected for the first time n. ceranae in canada and centr ...200817897670
nosema ceranae is a long-present and wide-spread microsporidian infection of the european honey bee (apis mellifera) in the united states.honey bee samples collected between 1995 and 2007 from 12 states were examined for the presence of nosema infections. our results showed that nosema ceranae is a wide-spread infection of the european honey bee, apis mellifera in the united states. the discovery of n. ceranae in bees collected a decade ago indicates that n. ceranae was transferred from its original host, apis cerana to a. mellifera earlier than previously recognized. the spread of n. ceranae infection in a. mellifera warrants fur ...200817880997
the comparison of rdna spacer regions of nosema ceranae isolates from different hosts and locations.nosema ceranae is a common microsporidian pathogen, one of two nosema species that cause "nosema disease" in honeybees, apis cerana and apis mellifera. samples of n. ceranae rdna from isolates collected in different locations were sequenced and one 5s rrna was found to be upstream of ssurrna. the rdna arrangement, 5'-5s rrna-igs-ssurrna-its-lsurrna-3', was found in all isolates. in order to better understand the distribution relationship between n. ceranae isolates from a. cerana and a. mellifer ...200817709115
regurgitated pellets of merops apiaster as fomites of infective nosema ceranae (microsporidia) spores.the importance of transmission factor identification is of great epidemiological significance. the bee-eater (merops apiaster) is a widely distributed insectivorous bird, locally abundant mainly in arid and semi-arid areas of southern europe, northern africa and western asia but recently has been seen breeding in central europe and great britain. bee-eaters predominantly eat insects, especially bees, wasps and hornets. on the other hand, nosema ceranae is a microsporidia recently described as a ...200818218034
detection of infective nosema ceranae (microsporidia) spores in corbicular pollen of forager honeybees.nosema ceranae is a microsporidia recently described as a parasite in apis mellifera honeybees in europe. due to the short time since its description, no epidemiological data are available. in this study, spore detection in both pollen baskets and pollen collected from commercial traps is described (pcm, tem and pcr methods). spore infectivity is shown after artificial infection of nosema-free adult bees. the epidemiological consequences of the presence of nosema spores in corbicular pollen requ ...200817651750
cophylogeny of nosema (microsporidia: nosematidae) and bees (hymenoptera: apidae) suggests both cospeciation and a host-switch.some microsporidian parasites belonging to the genus nosema infect bees. previous phylogenies of these parasites have produced alternative, conflicting relationships. we analyzed separately, and in combination, large and small subunit ribosomal dna sequences of nosema species infecting bees under neighbor-joining, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and bayesian frameworks. we observed a sister relationship between nosema ceranae and nosema bombi, with nosema apis as a basal member to this gr ...200918684016
morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic characterization of nosema ceranae, a microsporidian parasite isolated from the european honey bee, apis mellifera.nosema ceranae, a microsporidian parasite originally described from apis cerana, has been found to infect apis melllifera and is highly pathogenic to its new host. in the present study, data on the ultrastructure of n. ceranae, presence of n. ceranae-specific nucleic acid in host tissues, and phylogenetic relationships with other microsporidia species are described. the ultrastructural features indicate that n. ceranae possesses all of the characteristics of the genus nosema. spores of n. cerana ...200919457054
first detection and dominance of nosema ceranae in hungarian honeybee colonies.microsporidiosis (nosema disease) of the european honeybee ( apis mellifera l.) is present in bee colonies worldwide. until recently, nosema apis had been regarded as the causative agent of the disease, which may have many negative effects on the colony and cause heavy economic losses in apicultures. another microsporidium species, nosema ceranae , was reported to infest the asian honeybee ( apis ceranae ), but both honeybee species are susceptible to both microsporidia. in the european honeybee ...200919635710
immune suppression in the honey bee (apis mellifera) following infection by nosema ceranae (microsporidia).two microsporidia species have been shown to infect apis mellifera, nosema apis and nosema ceranae. this work presents evidence that n. ceranae infection significantly suppresses the honey bee immune response, although this effect was not observed following infection with n. apis. immune suppression would also increase susceptibility to other bee pathogens and senescence. despite the importance of both nosema species in honey bee health, there is no information about their effect on the bees' im ...200919737304
identification of transcriptional signals in encephalitozoon cuniculi widespread among microsporidia phylum: support for accurate structural genome annotation.microsporidia are obligate intracellular eukaryotic parasites with genomes ranging in size from 2.3 mbp to more than 20 mbp. the extremely small (2.9 mbp) and highly compact (approximately 1 gene/kb) genome of the human parasite encephalitozoon cuniculi has been fully sequenced. the aim of this study was to characterize noncoding motifs that could be involved in regulation of gene expression in e. cuniculi and to show whether these motifs are conserved among the phylum microsporidia.200920003517
high-level resistance of nosema ceranae, a parasite of the honeybee, to temperature and desiccation.resistance of nosema ceranae to different exposure conditions has been evaluated by using sytox green and dapi (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) to test spore viability. high thermotolerance at 60 and 35 degrees c and resistance to desiccation were observed. however, a significant decrease in viability after freezing and a rapid degeneration of spores maintained at 4 degrees c were also detected.200919734329
genomic analyses of the microsporidian nosema ceranae, an emergent pathogen of honey bees.recent steep declines in honey bee health have severely impacted the beekeeping industry, presenting new risks for agricultural commodities that depend on insect pollination. honey bee declines could reflect increased pressures from parasites and pathogens. the incidence of the microsporidian pathogen nosema ceranae has increased significantly in the past decade. here we present a draft assembly (7.86 mb) of the n. ceranae genome derived from pyrosequence data, including initial gene models and ...200919503607
asymmetrical coexistence of nosema ceranae and nosema apis in honey bees.globalization has provided opportunities for parasites/pathogens to cross geographic boundaries and expand to new hosts. recent studies showed that nosema ceranae, originally considered a microsporidian parasite of eastern honey bees, apis cerana, is a disease agent of nosemosis in european honey bees, apis mellifera, along with the resident species, nosema apis. further studies indicated that disease caused by n. ceranae in european honey bees is far more prevalent than that caused by n. apis. ...200919467238
indoor winter fumigation with formic acid for control of acarapis woodi (acari: tarsonemidae) and nosema disease, nosema sp.indoor fumigation of honey bees, apis mellifera l., with formic acid to control varroa mites, varroa destructor anderson & trueman, allows simultaneous fumigation of multiple colonies with little labor input and good efficacy. several experiments were designed to test the efficacy of formic acid as a treatment for honey bee mites, acarapis woodi (rennie) (acari: tarsonemidae), and nosema disease, nosema sp., indoors in winter. the objectives of this study were (1) to determine the efficacy of fo ...200919886435
presence of nosema ceranae in honeybees (apis mellifera) in uruguay.the microsporidium nosema ceranae is an emergent pathogen of european honeybees apis mellifera. using a pcr-rflp diagnosis, 29 samples of infected honeybees obtained in 2007-2008 (n=26), 2004 (n=2) and before 1990 (n=1) were analyzed for the presence of nosema apis and n. ceranae. only n. ceranae was found in all samples, indicating that this species dispersed to uruguay (and likely the region) at some time before 1990. the presence of n. ceranae in uruguay is not associated with an increase of ...200919358851
energetic stress in the honeybee apis mellifera from nosema ceranae infection.parasites are dependent on their hosts for energy to reproduce and can exert a significant nutritional stress on them. energetic demand placed on the host is especially high in cases where the parasite-host complex is less co-evolved. the higher virulence of the newly discovered honeybee pathogen, nosema ceranae, which causes a higher mortality in its new host apis mellifera, might be based on a similar mechanism. using proboscis extension response and feeding experiments, we show that bees infe ...200919135448
horizontal transmission of nosema ceranae (microsporidia) from worker honeybees to queens (apis mellifera).horizontal transmission from worker honeybees to queens is confirmed in a laboratory essay as a possible route of nosema ceranae infection in field colonies and pathological repercussions on honeybee queens are described. lesions are only detected in the epithelial ventricular layer of the infected queens and death occurs within 3 weeks when the nurse workers are experimentally and collectively infected with approximately 5000 viable spores per bee. these data suggest that the higher number of i ...200923765927
south american native bumblebees (hymenoptera: apidae) infected by nosema ceranae (microsporidia), an emerging pathogen of honeybees (apis mellifera).as pollination is a critical process in both human-managed and natural terrestrial ecosystems, pollinators provide essential services to both nature and humans. pollination is mainly due to the action of different insects, such as the bumblebee and the honeybee. these important ecological and economic roles have led to widespread concern over the recent decline in pollinator populations that has been detected in many regions of the world. while this decline has been attributed in some cases to c ...200923765744
honeybee colony collapse due to nosema ceranae in professional apiaries.honeybee colony collapse is a sanitary and ecological worldwide problem. the features of this syndrome are an unexplained disappearance of adult bees, a lack of brood attention, reduced colony strength, and heavy winter mortality without any previous evident pathological disturbances. to date there has not been a consensus about its origins. this report describes the clinical features of two professional bee-keepers affecting by this syndrome. anamnesis, clinical examination and analyses support ...200923765741
a preliminary study of the epidemiological factors related to honey bee colony loss in spain.in recent years, a worldwide decline in the apis mellifera populations has been detected in many regions, including spain. this decline is thought to be related to the effects of pathogens or pesticides, although to what extent these factors are implicated is still not clear. in this study, we estimated the prevalence of honey bee colony depopulation symptoms in a random selected sample (n = 61) and we explored the implication of different pathogens, pesticides and the flora visited in the area ...201023766075
genetic detection and quantification of nosema apis and n. ceranae in the honey bee.the incidence of nosemosis has increased in recent years due to an emerging infestation of nosema ceranae in managed honey bee populations in much of the world. a real-time pcr assay was developed to facilitate detection and quantification of both nosema apis and n. ceranae in both single bee and pooled samples. the assay is a multiplexed reaction in which both species are detected and quantified in a single reaction. the assay is highly sensitive and can detect single copies of the target seque ...201019850047
five-year cohort study of nosema spp. in germany: does climate shape virulence and assertiveness of nosema ceranae?nosema ceranae and nosema apis are two fungal pathogens belonging to the phylum microsporidia and infecting the european honeybee, apis mellifera. recent studies have suggested that n. ceranae is more virulent than n. apis both at the individual insect level and at the colony level. severe colony losses could be attributed to n. ceranae infections, and an unusual form of nosemosis is caused by this pathogen. in the present study, data from a 5-year cohort study of the prevalence of nosema spp. i ...201020228103
comparative virulence of nosema ceranae and nosema apis in individual european honey bees.nosema apis and nosema ceranae are intracellular microsporidian parasites infecting the midgut epithelial cells of adult honey bees. n. ceranae was considered to be restricted to the asian honey bee, apis cerana, but is nowadays a parasite found also in the european honey bee (apis mellifera) across most of the world. recent surveys and experimental work suggest that n. ceranae is a serious threat to the global beekeeping industry. it has been suggested that n. ceranae induces significantly high ...201020299152
effect of bacterial metabolites on microsporidian nosema ceranae and on its host apis mellifera.nosemosis, a disease caused by a microsporidian infection, is one of the most frequently observed parasitic pathologies affecting adult honeybees. presently, nosema ceranae seems to be the main microsporidian infection in apis mellifera. the antibiotic fumagillin is the only compound available to treat nosema diseases; however, it is no longer licensed in most eu member states; therefore, the need to identify new molecules/substances prevails. the intent of this paper is to test bacterial metabo ...201020467753
behavioural fever in infected honeybees: parasitic manipulation or coincidental benefit?infection by a parasite often induces behavioural changes in the host and these changes may benefit either the host or the parasite. however, whether these changes are active host defence mechanisms or parasitic manipulations or simply incidental byproducts of the infection is not always clear. it has been suggested that understanding the proximate mechanisms of these changes as well as comparative studies could help distinguish these alternatives better. behavioural fever is a common response t ...201020500914
infections of nosema ceranae in four different honeybee species.the microsporidium nosema ceranae is detected in honeybees in thailand for the first time. this endoparasite has recently been reported to infect most apis mellifera honeybee colonies in europe, the us, and parts of asia, and is suspected to have displaced the endemic endoparasite species, nosema apis, from the western a. mellifera. we collected and identified species of microsporidia from the european honeybee (a. mellifera), the cavity nesting asian honeybee (apis cerana), the dwarf asian hone ...201020600087
effective gene silencing in a microsporidian parasite associated with honeybee (apis mellifera) colony declines.honeybee colonies are vulnerable to parasites and pathogens ranging from viruses to vertebrates. an increasingly prevalent disease of managed honeybees is caused by the microsporidian nosema ceranae. microsporidia are basal fungi and obligate parasites with much-reduced genomic and cellular components. a recent genome-sequencing effort for n. ceranae indicated the presence of machinery for rna silencing in this species, suggesting that rna interference (rnai) might be exploited to regulate nosem ...201020622131
a multiplex pcr assay to diagnose and quantify nosema infections in honey bees (apis mellifera).correct identification of the microsporidia, nosema apis and nosema ceranae, is key to the study and control of nosema disease of honey bees (apis mellifera). a rapid dna extraction method combined with multiplex pcr to amplify the 16s rrna gene with species-specific primers was compared with a previously published assay requiring spore-germination buffer and a dna extraction kit. when the spore germination-extraction kit method was used, 10 or more bees were required to detect the pathogens, wh ...201020570679
winter losses of honeybee colonies (hymenoptera: apidae): the role of infestations with aethina tumida (coleoptera: nitidulidae) and varroa destructor (parasitiformes: varroidae).multiple infections of managed honeybee, apis mellifera, colonies are inevitable due to the ubiquitous ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor and might be an underlying cause of winter losses. here we investigated the role of adult small hive beetles, aethina tumida, alone and in combination with v. destructor for winter losses and for infections with the microsporidian endoparasite nosema ceranae. we found no significant influence of a. tumida and v. destructor alone or in combination on the numb ...201020214362
effects at nearctic north-temperate latitudes of indoor versus outdoor overwintering on the microsporidium nosema ceranae and western honey bees (apis mellifera).in northern temperate climates, western honey bee (apis mellifera) colonies can be wintered outdoors exposed to ambient conditions, or indoors in a controlled setting. because very little is known about how this affects the recently-detected microsporidium nosema ceranae, we investigated effects of indoor versus outdoor overwintering on spring n. ceranae intensity (spores per bee), and on winter and spring colony mortality. for colonies medicated with fumagilin-b(r) to control n. ceranae, overwi ...201020123103
nosema ceranae in european honey bees (apis mellifera).nosema ceranae is a microsporidian parasite described from the asian honey bee, apis cerana. the parasite is cross-infective with the european honey bee, apis mellifera. it is not known when or where n. ceranae first infected european bees, but n. ceranae has probably been infecting european bees for at least two decades. n. ceranae appears to be replacing nosema apis, at least in some populations of european honey bees. this replacement is an enigma because the spores of the new parasite are le ...201019909977
parasitic infection leads to decline in hemolymph sugar levels in honeybee foragers.parasites by drawing nutrition from their hosts can exert an energetic stress on them. honeybee foragers with their high metabolic demand due to flight are especially prone to such a stress when they are infected. we hypothesized that infection by the microsporidian gut parasite nosema ceranae can lower the hemolymph sugar level of an individual forager and uncouple its energetic state from its normally tight correlation with the colony energetic state. we support our hypothesis by showing that ...201020685210
sudden deaths and colony population decline in greek honey bee colonies.during june and july of 2009, sudden deaths, tremulous movements and population declines of adult honey bees were reported by the beekeepers in the region of peloponnesus (mt. mainalo), greece. a preliminary study was carried out to investigate these unexplained phenomena in this region. in total, 37 bee samples, two brood frames containing honey bee brood of various ages, eight sugar samples and four sugar patties were collected from the affected colonies. the samples were tested for a range of ...201020804765
a cell culture model for nosema ceranae and nosema apis allows new insights into the life cycle of these important honey bee-pathogenic microsporidia.the population of managed honey bees has been dramatically declining in the recent past in many regions of the world. consensus now seems to be that pathogens and parasites (e.g. the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor, the microsporidium nosema ceranae and viruses) play a major role in this demise. however, little is known about host-pathogen interactions for bee pathogens and attempts to develop novel strategies to combat bee diseases have been hampered by this gap in our knowledge. one reaso ...201020880328
iridovirus and microsporidian linked to honey bee colony decline.in 2010 colony collapse disorder (ccd), again devastated honey bee colonies in the usa, indicating that the problem is neither diminishing nor has it been resolved. many ccd investigations, using sensitive genome-based methods, have found small rna bee viruses and the microsporidia, nosema apis and n. ceranae in healthy and collapsing colonies alike with no single pathogen firmly linked to honey bee losses.201020949138
nosema ceranae, a new parasite in thai honeybees.adult workers of apis cerana, apis florea and apis mellifera from colonies heavily infected with nosema ceranae were selected for molecular analyses of the parasite. pcr-specific 16s rrna primers were designed, cloned, sequenced and compared to genbank entries. the sequenced products corresponded to n. ceranae. we then infected a. cerana with n. ceranae spores isolated from a. florea workers. newly emerged bees from healthy colonies were fed 10,000, 20,000 and 40,000 spores/bee. there were signi ...201020965196
distribution of nosema ceranae in the european honeybee, apis mellifera in japan.the microsporidian species, nosema apis and nosema ceranae are both known to infect the european honeybee, apis mellifera. nosema disease has a global distribution and is responsible for considerable economic losses among apiculturists. in this study, 336 honeybee samples from 18 different prefectures in japan were examined for the presence of n. apis and n. ceranae using a pcr technique. although n. ceranae was not detected in most of the apiaries surveyed, the parasite was detected at three of ...201021056042
pathological effects of the microsporidium nosema ceranae on honey bee queen physiology (apis mellifera).nosema ceranae, a microsporidian parasite originally described in the asian honey bee apis cerana, has recently been found to be cross-infective and to also parasitize the european honey bee apis mellifera. since this discovery, many studies have attempted to characterize the impact of this parasite in a. mellifera honey bees. nosema species can infect all colony members, workers, drones and queens, but the pathological effects of this microsporidium has been mainly investigated in workers, desp ...201021156180
the differential development of microsporidia infecting worker honey bee (apis mellifera) at increasing incubation temperature.in the last century, nosemosis caused by nosema apis is traditionally considered as a low-prevalence disease of apis mellifera, even though it occurs worldwide. colonies affected by n. apis display low levels of infection during summer, a small peak in autumn and usually a slow rise during winter. however, nosemosis due to nosema ceranae is considered as an emergent illness that is posing a major threat to the health of individual honey bees and whole bee colonies. the symptoms of infection by t ...201023766279
polymorphism and recombination for rdna in the putatively asexual microsporidian nosema ceranae, a pathogen of honeybees.nosema ceranae is currently one of the major pathogens of honeybees, related to the worldwide colony losses phenomenon. the genotyping of strains based on ribosomal dna (rdna) can be misleading if the repeated units are not identical. the analysis of cloned rdna fragments containing the intergenic spacer (igs) and part of the rdna small-subunit (ssu) gene, from n. ceranae isolates from different european and central asia populations, revealed a high diversity of sequences. the variability involv ...201121199250
prevalence and infection intensity of nosema in honey bee (apis mellifera l.) colonies in virginia.nosema ceranae is a recently described pathogen of apis mellifera and apis cerana. relatively little is known about the distribution or prevalence of n. ceranae in the united states. to determine the prevalence and potential impact of this new pathogen on honey bee colonies in virginia, over 300 hives were sampled across the state. the samples were analyzed microscopically for nosema spores and for the presence of the pathogen using real-time pcr. our studies indicate that n. ceranae is the domi ...201121345338
phylogenetic analysis of nosema ceranae isolated from european and asian honeybees in northern thailand.nosema ceranae was found to infect four different host species including the european honeybee (a. mellifera) and the asian honeybees (apis florea, a. cerana and apis dorsata) collected from apiaries and forests in northern thailand. significant sequence variation in the polar tube protein (ptp1) gene of n. ceranae was observed with n. ceranae isolates from a. mellifera and a. cerana, they clustered into the same phylogenetic lineage. n. ceranae isolates from a. dorsata and a. florea were groupe ...201121600213
nosema ceranae in drone honey bees (apis mellifera).nosema ceranae is a microsporidian intracellular parasite of honey bees, apis mellifera. previously nosema apis was thought to be the only cause of nosemosis, but it has recently been proposed that n. ceranae is displacing n. apis. the rapid spread of n. ceranae could be due to additional transmission mechanisms, as well as higher infectivity. we analyzed drones for n. ceranae infections using duplex qpcr with species specific primers and probes. we found that both immature and mature drones are ...201121621543
genetic variation and widespread dispersal of nosema ceranae in apis mellifera apiaries from argentina.using molecular techniques, we documented the presence of nosema ceranae in honeybees (apis mellífera) from argentina. samples were collected from a. mellifera colonies in 38 districts of buenos aires province, argentina. molecular characterization was achieved with a multiplex pcr-based method, which allows parallel diagnosis of n. ceranae and n. osema apis. n. ceranae was identified in all the samples analyzed. moreover, coinfections with n. apis were detected in balcarce and maipú districts. ...201121808980
polar tube protein gene diversity among nosema ceranae strains derived from a greek honey bee health study.honey bee samples from 54 apiaries originating from 37 geographic locations of greece were screened for nosema apis and nosema ceranae. furthermore 15 samples coming from 12 geographic locations were screened also for paenibacilluslarvae and melissococcus plutonius and seven honey bee virus species, for the first time on a nation-wide level. there was a tendency in finding proportionally higher spore counts in samples from apiaries that suffered important colony losses. p. larvae bacteria were i ...201121802424
exposure to sublethal doses of fipronil and thiacloprid highly increases mortality of honeybees previously infected by nosema ceranae.background: the honeybee, apis mellifera, is undergoing a worldwide decline whose origin is still in debate. studies performed for twenty years suggest that this decline may involve both infectious diseases and exposure to pesticides. joint action of pathogens and chemicals are known to threaten several organisms but the combined effects of these stressors were poorly investigated in honeybees. our study was designed to explore the effect of nosema ceranae infection on honeybee sensitivity to su ...201121738706
negative correlation between nosema ceranae spore loads and deformed wing virus infection levels in adult honey bee workers.interactions between pathogens might contribute to honey bee colony losses. here we investigated if there is an association between the microsporidian nosema ceranae and the deformed wing virus (dwv) in different body sections of individual honey bee workers (apis mellifera ligustica) under exclusion of the vector varroa destructor. our data provide correlational evidence for antagonistic interactions between the two pathogens in the midgut of the bees.201121939664
evidence for emerging parasites and pathogens influencing outbreaks of stress-related diseases like chalkbrood.in agriculture, honey bees play a critical role as commercial pollinators of crop monocultures which depend on insect pollination. hence, the demise of honey bee colonies in europe, usa, and asia caused much concern and initiated many studies and research programmes aiming at elucidating the factors negatively affecting honey bee health and survival. most of these studies look at individual factors related to colony losses. in contrast, we here present our data on the interaction of pathogens an ...201121906600
A comparison of the effectiveness of the microscopic method and the multiplex PCR method in identifying and discriminating the species of Nosema spp. spores in worker bees (Apis mellifera) from winter hive debris.The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the multiplex PCR method and traditional light microscopy in identifying and discriminating the species of Nosema spp. spores in worker bees from winter hive debris in the Province of Warmia and Mazury (NE Poland). A total of 1000 beesdead after from the bottom of the hive from bee colonies were analyzed. Spores were identified with the use of a light microscope (400-600x magnification). Spores were assigned to species by the multip ...201121957732
microsporidia infecting apis mellifera: coexistence or competition. is nosema ceranae replacing nosema apis?nosema ceranae has been suggested to be replacing nosema apis in some populations of apis mellifera honeybees. however, this replacement from one to the other is not supported when studying the distribution and prevalence of both microsporidia in professional apiaries in spanish territories (transverse study), their seasonal pattern in experimental hives with co-infection or their prevalence at individual level (either in worker bees or drones). nevertheless, n. ceranae has shown to present a hi ...201122176602
The effect of induced queen replacement on Nosema spp. infection in honey bee (Apis mellifera iberiensis) colonies.Microsporidiosis of adult honeybees caused by Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae is a common worldwide disease with negative impacts on colony strength and productivity. Few options are available to control the disease at present. The role of the queen in bee population renewal and the replacement of bee losses due to Nosema infection is vital to maintain colony homeostasis. Younger queens have a greater egg laying potential and they produce a greater proportion of uninfected newly eclosed bees to c ...201122118366
comparison of within hive sampling and seasonal activity of nosema ceranae in honey bee colonies.nosema ceranae is a microsporidian parasite of the european honey bee, apis mellifera, that is found worldwide and in multiple apis spp.; however, little is known about the effects of n. ceranae on a. mellifera. previous studies using spore counts suggest that there is no longer a seasonal cycle for n. ceranae and that it is found year round with little variation in infection intensity among months. our goal was to determine whether infection levels differ in bees collected from different areas ...201122085836
the growing prevalence of nosema ceranae in honey bees in spain, an emerging problem for the last decade.microsporidiosis caused by infection with nosema apis or nosema ceranae has become one of the most widespread diseases of honey bees and can cause important economic losses for beekeepers. honey can be contaminated by spores of both species and it has been reported as a suitable matrix to study the field prevalence of other honey bee sporulated pathogens. historical honey sample collections from the car laboratory (centro apícola regional) were analyzed by pcr to identify the earliest instance o ...201121906767
first detection of nosema ceranae, a microsporidian protozoa of european honeybees (apis mellifera) in iran.nosemosis of european honey bee (apis mellifera) is present in bee colonies worldwide. until recently, nosema apis had been regarded as the causative agent of the disease, that causes heavy economic losses in apicultures. nosema ceranae is an emerging microsporidian parasite of european honeybees, a. mellifera, but its distribution is not well known. previously, nosemosis in honeybees in iran was attributed exclusively to n. apis.201122347302
comparative analysis of detection limits and specificity of molecular diagnostic markers for three pathogens (microsporidia, nosema spp.) in the key pollinators apis mellifera and bombus terrestris.global pollinator decline has recently been discussed in the context of honey and bumble bee infections from various pathogens including viruses, bacteria, microsporidia and mites. the microsporidian pathogens nosema apis, nosema ceranae and nosema bombi may in fact be major candidates contributing to this decline. different molecular and non-molecular detection methods have been developed; however, a comparison, especially of the highly sensitive pcr based methods, is currently lacking. here, w ...201121927870
evaluation of large-scale dissemination of nosema ceranae spores by european bee-eaters merops apiaster.identification of transmission routes and of factors affecting the spatial positions of pathogens, hosts and vectors is basic to an adequate disease management. nosema ceranae is a microsporidian recently described as a parasite of apis mellifera honeybees and is currently considered the aetiological agent of an emergent illness named nosemosis type c. in this article we evaluate the role of a bird species, the european bee-eater, merops apiaster, as a large-scale dispersive agent of n. ceranae. ...201123761230
comparison of the energetic stress associated with experimental nosema ceranae and nosema apis infection of honeybees (apis mellifera).nosema ceranae is a relatively new and widespread parasite of the western honeybee apis mellifera that provokes a new form of nosemosis. in comparison to nosema apis, which has been infecting the honeybee for much longer, n. ceranae seems to have co-evolved less with this host, causing a more virulent disease. given that n. apis and n. ceranae are obligate intracellular microsporidian parasites, needing host energy to reproduce, energetic stress may be an important factor contributing to the inc ...201121360094
an exposure study to assess the potential impact of fipronil in treated sunflower seeds on honey bee colony losses in spain.background: there is great concern about the high losses and strong depopulation of honey bee colonies in some areas of spain. some beekeepers have suggested that sunflower seeds treated with the insecticide fipronil could be an important factor in causing those losses. therefore, an in-depth field study has been carried out in two regions of spain where sunflower production is intense (cuenca and andalucía) and where, for some crops and varieties, fipronil has been used as seed insecticide. res ...201121548002
Dead or alive: Deformed Wing Virus and Varroa destructor reduce the life span of winter honeybees.Elevated winter losses of managed honey bee colonies are a major concern, but the underlying mechanisms remain controversial. Among the suspects are the parasitic mite Varroa destructor, the microsporidian Nosema ceranae and associated viruses. Here, we hypothesize that pathogens reduce the life expectancy of winter bees, thereby constituting a proximate mechanism for colony losses. A monitoring of colonies was performed over six months in Switzerland from summer 2007 to winter 2007/2008. Indivi ...201122179240
critical aspects of the nosema spp. diagnostic sampling in honey bee (apis mellifera l.) colonies.nosemosis is one of the most widespread of the adult honey bee diseases and causes major economic losses to beekeepers. two microsporidia have been described infecting honey bees worldwide, nosema apis and nosema ceranae, whose seasonality and pathology differ markedly. an increasing prevalence of microsporidian infections in honey bees has been observed worldwide during the last years. because nosemosis has detrimental effects on both strength and productivity of the infected colonies, an accur ...201122193523
susceptibility of four different honey bee species to nosema ceranae.in this study, we investigated the infectivity of nosema ceranae and the immune response of the european honey bee, apis mellifera and the asian honey bee species, apis cerana, apis dorsata and apis florea when inoculated with two isolates of n. ceranae isolated from different climates (canada and thailand), using cage experiments. the results indicated that the local isolate of n. ceranae (thailand) had high infectivity in a. mellifera, a. cerana and a. dorsata but only a few spores were observ ...201223290277
Diversity of Nosema associated with bumblebees (Bombus spp.) from China.Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are important pollinators of many economically important crops and microsporidia are among the most important infections of these hosts. Using molecular markers, we screened a large sample (n=1,009 bees) of workers of 27 different Bombus spp. from China (Sichuan, Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, and Gansu provinces). The results showed that 62 individuals representing 12 Bombus spp. were infected by microsporidia with an overall prevalence of 6.1%. Based on the haplotypes (ssrRN ...201222138016
a new threat to honey bees, the parasitic phorid fly apocephalus borealis.honey bee colonies are subject to numerous pathogens and parasites. interaction among multiple pathogens and parasites is the proposed cause for colony collapse disorder (ccd), a syndrome characterized by worker bees abandoning their hive. here we provide the first documentation that the phorid fly apocephalus borealis, previously known to parasitize bumble bees, also infects and eventually kills honey bees and may pose an emerging threat to north american apiculture. parasitized honey bees show ...201222235317
honeybee glands as possible infection reservoirs of nosema ceranae and nosema apis in naturally infected forager bees.to determine whether nosema ceranae and nosema apis are present in different gland tissues of honeybee, apis mellifera l. and to monitor spore presence and quantity in these glands in naturally infected hives from july 2009 to july 2010 in quebec, canada.201222053729
Nosema ceranae in age cohorts of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera).Nosemaceranae intensity (mean spores per bee) and prevalence (proportion of bees infected in a sample) were analyzed in honey bees of known ages. Sealed brood combs from five colonies were removed, emerging bees were marked with paint, released back into their colonies of origin, and collected as recently emerged (0-3days old), as house bees (8-11days old), and as foragers (22-25days old). Fifty bees from each of the five colonies were processed individually at each collection date for the inten ...201222001631
nosema ceranae infection intensity highly correlates with temperature.nosema ceranae, a microsporidian entomopathogen, was first reported from honey bees, apis mellifera, in 2005 in taiwan (huang et al., 2007) and has become a major concern in apiculture worldwide. in taiwan, we found one infection peak for n. ceranae during the winter months, compared to two peaks in spring and fall reported in 1980 for nosema apis. n. ceranae infection intensity in apiaries reached a high level earlier than n. apis, a possible factor in replacement. we found a significant negati ...201222982233
asymptomatic presence of nosema spp. in spanish commercial apiaries.nosemosis is caused by intracellular parasites (nosema apis and nosema ceranae) that infect the midgut epithelial cells in adult honey bees. recent studies relate n. ceranae to colony collapse disorder and there is some suggestion that nosema spp., especially n. ceranae, induces high mortality in honey bees, a fact that is considered as a serious threat for colony survival. 604 samples of adult honey bees for nosema spp. analysis were collected from beekeeping colonies across spain and were anal ...201222820066
liquid chromatography coupled to ion trap-tandem mass spectrometry to evaluate juvenile hormone iii levels in bee hemolymph from nosema spp. infected colonies.it has been described a fast, simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (lc-ms/ms) method to measure juvenile hormone iii (jh iii), which was used to study of the effects of nosema spp. infection on jh iii levels in bee hemolymph. honey bee hemolymph was extracted by centrifugation and mixed with a solution of phenylthiourea in methanol. this mixture was then centrifuged and the supernatant removed and evaporated to dryness. the residue was reconstituted in methanol con ...201222664054
low natural levels of nosema ceranae in apis mellifera queens.queens are the primary female reproductive individuals in honey bee colonies and, while they are generally free from nosema ceranae infection, they are nevertheless susceptible. we sought to determine whether queens are naturally infected by n. ceranae, as these infections could be a factor in the rapid spread of this parasite. queens were analyzed using real-time pcr and included larval queens, newly emerged, and older mated queens. overall, we found that all tissues we examined were infected w ...201222546521
nosema ceranae an emergent pathogen of apis mellifera in chile.the microsporidian nosema apis and nosema ceranae have been associated with colony disorders of apis mellifera and apis cerana, respectively. n. apis is endemic in south america. recently, n. ceranae has been detected in brazil, uruguay and argentina. no report of its presence, distribution and prevalence in chile is available. here, we present a real-time pcr-based method that was able to discriminate between n. apis and n. ceranae. the dynamic range of this assay was 100 to 100,000 spores per ...201222453498
linking evolutionary lineage with parasite and pathogen prevalence in the iberian honey bee.the recent decline in honey bee colonies observed in both european countries and worldwide is of great interest and concern, although the underlying causes remain poorly understood. in recent years, growing evidence has implicated parasites and pathogens in this decline of both the vitality and number of honey bee colonies. the iberian peninsula provides an interesting environment in which to study the occurrence of pathogens and parasites in the host honey bee populations due to the presence of ...201222326801
individual variability of nosema ceranae infections in apis mellifera colonies.since 2006, beekeepers have reported increased losses of apis mellifera colonies, and one factor that has been potentially implicated in these losses is the microsporidian nosema ceranae. since n. ceranae is a fairly recently discovered parasite, there is little knowledge of the variation in infection levels among individual workers within a colony. in this study we examined the levels of infection in individual bees from five colonies over three seasons using both spore counting and quantitativ ...201226466731
parasite-insecticide interactions: a case study of nosema ceranae and fipronil synergy on honeybee.in ecosystems, a variety of biological, chemical and physical stressors may act in combination to induce illness in populations of living organisms. while recent surveys reported that parasite-insecticide interactions can synergistically and negatively affect honeybee survival, the importance of sequence in exposure to stressors has hardly received any attention. in this work, western honeybees (apis mellifera) were sequentially or simultaneously infected by the microsporidian parasite nosema ce ...201222442753
the prevalence of parasites and pathogens in asian honeybees apis cerana in china.pathogens and parasites represent significant threats to the health and well-being of honeybee species that are key pollinators of agricultural crops and flowers worldwide. we conducted a nationwide survey to determine the occurrence and prevalence of pathogens and parasites in asian honeybees, apis cerana, in china. our study provides evidence of infections of a. cerana by pathogenic deformed wing virus (dwv), black queen cell virus (bqcv), nosema ceranae, and c. bombi species that have been li ...201223144838
the honey bee parasite nosema ceranae: transmissible via food exchange?nosema ceranae, a newly introduced parasite of the honey bee, apis mellifera, is contributing to worldwide colony losses. other nosema species, such as n. apis, tend to be associated with increased defecation and spread via a fecal-oral pathway, but because n. ceranae does not induce defecation, it may instead be spread via an oral-oral pathway. cages that separated older infected bees from young uninfected bees were used to test whether n. ceranae can be spread during food exchange. when cages ...201222916241
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolite profiling of worker honey bee (apis mellifera l.) hemolymph for the study of nosema ceranae infection.here, we are presenting a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (gc/ms) approach for the study of infection of the worker honey bee (apis mellifera l.) by the newly emerged obligate intracellular parasite nosema ceranae based on metabolite profiling of hemolymph. because of the severity of the disease, early detection is crucial for its efficient control. results revealed that the parasite causes a general disturbance of the physiology of the honey bee affecting the mechanisms controlling the mob ...201222841888
gut pathology and responses to the microsporidium nosema ceranae in the honey bee apis mellifera.the microsporidium nosema ceranae is a newly prevalent parasite of the european honey bee (apis mellifera). although this parasite is presently spreading across the world into its novel host, the mechanisms by it which affects the bees and how bees respond are not well understood. we therefore performed an extensive characterization of the parasite effects at the molecular level by using genetic and biochemical tools. the transcriptome modifications at the midgut level were characterized seven d ...201222623972
differential expression of immune genes of adult honey bee (apis mellifera) after inoculated by nosema ceranae.nosema ceranae is a microsporidium parasite infecting adult honey bees (apis mellifera) and is known to affects at both the individual and colony level. in this study, the expression levels were measured for four antimicrobial peptide encoding genes that are associated with bee humoral immunity (defensin, abaecin, apidaecin, and hymenoptaecin), eater gene which is a transmembrane protein involved cellular immunity and gene encoding female-specific protein (vitellogenin) in honey bees when inocul ...201222609362
further evidence of an oriental origin for nosema ceranae (microsporidia: nosematidae).although nosema ceranae was first isolated from the asian honeybee (apis cerana) in asia and then subsequently recognized as a widespread gut parasite of the western honeybee (apis mellifera), its origins and primary host are yet to be accurately established. in this study we examined the possibility of an asian origin for the parasite by looking for evidence of its ongoing spread out of asia. to do this, we surveyed for the presence of n. ceranae in a. cerana and a. mellifera on isolated island ...201222425522
predictive markers of honey bee colony collapse.across the northern hemisphere, managed honey bee colonies, apis mellifera, are currently affected by abrupt depopulation during winter and many factors are suspected to be involved, either alone or in combination. parasites and pathogens are considered as principal actors, in particular the ectoparasitic mite varroa destructor, associated viruses and the microsporidian nosema ceranae. here we used long term monitoring of colonies and screening for eleven disease agents and genes involved in bee ...201222384162
honey bees (apis mellifera) reared in brood combs containing high levels of pesticide residues exhibit increased susceptibility to nosema (microsporidia) infection.nosema ceranae and pesticide exposure can contribute to honey bee health decline. bees reared from brood comb containing high or low levels of pesticide residues were placed in two common colony environments. one colony was inoculated weekly with n. ceranae spores in sugar syrup and the other colony received sugar syrup only. worker honey bees were sampled weekly from the treatment and control colonies and analyzed for nosema spore levels. regardless of the colony environment (spores+syrup added ...201222285445
survival and immune response of drones of a nosemosis tolerant honey bee strain towards n. ceranae infections.honey bee colonies (apis mellifera) have been selected for low level of nosema in denmark over decades and nosema is now rarely found in bee colonies from these breeding lines. we compared the immune response of a selected and an unselected honey bee lineage, taking advantage of the haploid males to study its potential impact on the tolerance toward nosema ceranae, a novel introduced microsporidian pathogen. after artificial infections of the n. ceranae spores, the lineage selected for nosema to ...201222285444
external and internal detection of nosema ceranae on honey bees using real-time pcr.numerous methods exist for molecular-based detection of nosema ceranae. here we determine location of parasite loads, the optimal tissue for pathogen detection, and the likely sources of variability among assays. bee washes and head/thorax samples revealed substantial n. ceranae loads (2.67×10(4)±1.12×10(4) and 1.83×10(4)±4.14×10(3)). midgut samples carried the highest parasite loads (3.42×10(6)±1.84×10(6)), followed by the hindgut (5.50×10(5)±3.24×10(5)). we recommend using midgut samples for m ...201222266204
screening alternative therapies to control nosemosis type c in honey bee (apis mellifera iberiensis) colonies.nosemosis type c caused by the microsporidium nosema ceranae is one of the most widespread of the adult honey bee diseases, and due to its detrimental effects on both strength and productivity of honey bee colonies, an appropriate control of this disease is advisable. fumagillin is the only veterinary medicament recommended by the world organization for animal health (oie) to suppress infections by nosema, but the use of this antibiotic is prohibited in the european union and few alternatives ar ...201324148868
chronic bee paralysis virus and nosema ceranae experimental co-infection of winter honey bee workers (apis mellifera l.).chronic bee paralysis virus (cbpv) is an important viral disease of adult bees which induces significant losses in honey bee colonies. despite comprehensive research, only limited data is available from experimental infection for this virus. in the present study winter worker bees were experimentally infected in three different experiments. bees were first inoculated per os (p/o) or per cuticle (p/c) with cbpv field strain m92/2010 in order to evaluate the virus replication in individual bees. i ...201324056674
crop pollination exposes honey bees to pesticides which alters their susceptibility to the gut pathogen nosema ceranae.recent declines in honey bee populations and increasing demand for insect-pollinated crops raise concerns about pollinator shortages. pesticide exposure and pathogens may interact to have strong negative effects on managed honey bee colonies. such findings are of great concern given the large numbers and high levels of pesticides found in honey bee colonies. thus it is crucial to determine how field-relevant combinations and loads of pesticides affect bee health. we collected pollen from bee hiv ...201323894612
new insights on the genetic diversity of the honeybee parasite nosema ceranae based on multilocus sequence analysis.the microsporidian parasite nosema ceranae is a common pathogen of the western honeybee (apis mellifera) whose variable virulence could be related to its genetic polymorphism and/or its polyphenism responding to environmental cues. since the genotyping of n. ceranae based on unique marker sequences had been unsuccessful, we tested whether a multilocus approach, assessing the diversity of ten genetic markers – encoding nine proteins and the small ribosomal rna subunit – allowed the discrimination ...201323880415
multifaceted responses to two major parasites in the honey bee (apis mellifera).the recent declines in managed honey bee populations are of scientific, ecological and economic concern, and are partially attributed to honey bee parasites and related disease. mcdonnell et al. investigate behavioral, chemical and neurogenomic effects of parasitization by the ectoparasite varroa destructor and the endoparasite nosema ceranae. the study reveals important links between underlying mechanisms of immunity and parasitization in social insects by demonstrating that chemical signals an ...201323870063
ecto- and endoparasite induce similar chemical and brain neurogenomic responses in the honey bee (apis mellifera).exclusion from a social group is an effective way to avoid parasite transmission. this type of social removal has also been proposed as a form of collective defense, or social immunity, in eusocial insect groups. if parasitic modification of host behavior is widespread in social insects, the underlying physiological and neuronal mechanisms remain to be investigated. we studied this phenomenon in honey bees parasitized by the mite varroa destructor or microsporidia nosema ceranae, which make bees ...201323866001
apoptosis in the pathogenesis of nosema ceranae (microsporidia: nosematidae) in honey bees (apis mellifera).nosema ceranae is a parasite of the epithelial ventricular cells of the honey bee that belongs to the microsporidian phylum, a biological group of single-cell, spore-forming obligate intracellular parasites found in all major animal lineages. the ability of host cells to accommodate a large parasitic burden for several days suggests that these parasites subvert the normal host cells to ensure optimal environmental conditions for growth and development. once infected, cells can counteract the inv ...201323864567
emerging dangers: deadly effects of an emergent parasite in a new pollinator host.there is growing concern about the threats facing many pollinator populations. emergent diseases are one of the major threats to biodiversity and a microsporidian parasite, nosema ceranae, has recently jumped host from the asian to the western honeybee, spreading rapidly worldwide, and contributing to dramatic colony losses. bumblebees are ecologically and economically important pollinators of conservation concern, which are likely exposed to n. ceranae by sharing flowers with honeybees. whilst ...201323816821
Refresh
firstprev
123
nextlast
Displaying items 1 - 100 of 232