Occurrence and distribution of seven bee viruses in Apis melliferaand Apis cerana in Anhui Province, China
Author of the article:WANG Tian-Shu1** SHI Teng-Fei2 LIU Fang2 YU Lin-Sheng2*** QI Lei2 MENG Xiang-Jin3
Author's Workplace：1. College of Plant protection, Anhui Agriculture University, Hefei 230036, China; 2.Apiculture Research Institute, Anhui Agriculture University, Hefei 230036, China; 3.Animal Husbandry and Technology Extending Stations of Anhui, Hefei 230001, China
Key Words：Apis mellifera, Apis cerana, honey bee virus, RT-PCR
Abstract：
[Objectives] To conduct the first detailed survey of seven bee viruses; deformed wing virus (DWV), sacbrood virus (SBV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), black queen cell virus (BQCV), Kashmir bee virus (KBV), and Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), in Apis mellifera and A. cerana in Anhui. We hope this work will help bee researchers and related institutions monitor honey bee health in Anhui, and warn them of the potential threat from bee viruses to the sustainable development of apiculture in that province. [Methods] We used reverse transcriptase PCR and sequence analysis to survey the above seven honey bee viruses in most of Anhui. Samples of worker bees were collected from apiaries in 21 towns, including 28 samples of A. mellifera and 10 of A. cerana. [Results] Virus frequencies in A. mellifera samples were as follows; 64% of apiaries were infected with DWV, 43% with IAPV, 32% with CBPV, 14% with ABPV, 11% with BQCV, and none with SBV or KBV. Only four viruses were detected in A. cerana samples; DWV (80% of apiaries), IAPV (40%), CBPV (30%), and ABPV (10%). Simultaneous multiple viral infections were common in both species. [Conclusion] The DWV, IAPV, CBPV, ABPV and BQCV viruses are now widespread in apiaries in Anhui.