Pathogen status of Apis cerana cerana in Zhejiang Province
Author of the article:ZHOU Zhen-Zhen1, 2** DONG Jie1 WANG De-Qian1 TAN Xiao-Dong1 HUANG Min-Jie1***
Author's Workplace:1. Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou 310021, China; 2. College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China
Key Words: Apis cerana cerana; polymerase chain reaction; investigation of pathogens; current situation
Abstract:
[Aim] To explore the prevalence of
common diseases in Apis cerana cerana in Zhejiang Province, and thereby
provide important information for honey bee health management. [Methods] Samples were collected from
74 A. cerana cerana worker bee colonies from 11 apiary sites in Zhejiang
from July to December 2023 and PCR and RT-PCR used to determine the prevalence
of 10 honeybee pathogens. These included seven viral pathogens: Acute bee
paralysis virus (ABPV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), Chronic bee paralysis
virus (CBPV), Deformed wing virus (DWV), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV),
Kashmir bee virus (KBV), Chinese Sacbrood virus (CSBV). We also screened for
two bacterial pathogens: Melissococcus plutonius, which causes European
foulbrood (EFB) and Paenibacillus larvae, which causes American
foulbrood (AFB), plus one parasite Nosema spp. (NOS). [Results] DWV, IAPV, KBV, CSBV, NOS
and EFB were detected, of which EFB, NOS, CSBV and DWV were particularly
prevalent. EFB was detected in all 11 cities and counties, eight of which had more
than 50% infection rates, including three with 100% positive samples. Nosema spp. was detected in 8 counties, 6 of which had more than 50% prevalence.
CSBV was identified in three counties, two with more than 60% infection rates.
DWV positivity was observed in three counties, one of which had a 100%
infection rate. IAPV and KBV were sporadically detected, while ABPV, CBPV, BQCV
and AFB were absent. Mixed infections were prevalent (52.71%), with EFB-NOS
co-infection being most common (35.14%), followed by CSBV-EFB (5.41%). Triple
infections accounted for 5.41% of cases. [Conclusion] The high prevalence of EFB and NOS infections
in A. cerana cerana colonies from Zhejiang Province indicates a
significant pathogen load on local bee populations. The co-existence of dual or
triple pathogen infections further underscores this finding. These results
provide essential information for formulating region-specific disease
management strategies.