Distribution and variability of deformed wing virus of honeybees (Apis mellifera) in the Middle East and North Africa

Abstract

Three hundred and eleven honeybee samples from 12 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen, Palestine, and Sudan) were analyzed for the presence of deformed wing virus (DWV). The prevalence of DWV throughout the MENA region was pervasive, but variable. The highest prevalence was found in Lebanon and Syria, with prevalence dropping in Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt before increasing slightly moving westwards to Algeria and Morocco Phylogenetic analysis of a 194 nucleotide section of the DWV Lp gene did not identify any significant phylogenetic resolution among the samples, although the sequences did show consistent regional clustering, including an interesting geographic gradient from Morocco through North Africa to Jordan and Syria. The sequences revealed several clear variability hotspots in the deduced amino acid sequence, which furthermore showed some patterns of regional identity. Furthermore, the sequence variants from the Middle East and North Africa appear more numerous and diverse than those from Europe.

The honeybee (Apis mellifera) developmental state shapes the genetic composition of the deformed wing virus-A quasispecies during serial transmission

“…Statistical support for the branches in the consensus topology was provided by 1,000 replicate bootstraps of the data, using the programme 'Seqboot' . The phylogenetic analysis describing the relationship between the DWV samples from the current experiment and other biogeographic isolates from Sweden and Gotland 14,36,93 relative to a selection of DWV-A 44,94 isolates representing Europe and the Middle East 14,20,32,43,58,94,95 , North and South America 33,94,96 and East Asia 14,97-100 was inferred using the Maximum Likelihood method and the Tamura-Nei model of evolution 101 , as implemented by MEGA-X 85 , using the DWV-B 44,48 and DWV-C 44 reference strains as outgroup sequences. The statistical confidence of each of the nodes was determined by bootstrap analysis involving 500 replicates.…”

“…S2), casting a degree of uncertainty over the provenance of the original T0 inoculum. The absence of reliable biogeographic clustering throughout the tree (and in DWV phylogenies in general 28,42,43 ) makes it furthermore impossible to either confirm or deny a possible Leksand origin for the T0 inoculum, and thus its primordial status. The question of whether a naïve, primordial DWV quasispecies would adapt genetically to varroa-mediated transmission therefore remains unanswered.…”

Diversity and Global Distribution of Viruses of the Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera

“…detect DWV, such as in the Ukraine [118], Sudan [119] and Kenya [61]. If these countries are truly free Our survey shows that DWV is the most investigated virus of A. mellifera (based upon the number of records in Web of Science), and is distributed almost globally.…”

“…If these countries are truly free Our survey shows that DWV is the most investigated virus of A. mellifera (based upon the number of records in Web of Science), and is distributed almost globally. Only a few studies did not detect DWV, such as in the Ukraine [118], Sudan [119] and Kenya [61]. If these countries are truly free from this virus, keeping the DWV-free status will be nearly impossible as neighboring countries have reported its presence.…”

Scientific note: molecular detection of pathogens in unhealthy colonies of Apis mellifera jemenitica

“…Regionally, beekeepers report abnormally high rates of honeybee mortality and disappearance of colonies here (Haddad 2011), yet scant data addresses bee pathogens and disease. Nearly all bee disease research in MENA involves the subspecies Apis mellifera intermissa (Adjlane et al 2012a, b;Belaid and Et Doumandji 2010;El-Niweiri and El-Sarrag 2006;El-Niweiri et al 2008;Haddad 2014;Haddad et al 2015; Ellis and Munn 2005). However, Apis mellifera jemenitica is another important subspecies, with a native range that extends from Senegal to the Arabian Peninsula.…”