Honey bee colony losses and associated viruses

Honeybee health in Africa—a review

“…At present, there are at least 23 viruses associated with honeybee health (McMenamin and Genersch 2015), of which the presence of nine have been reported in many African countries. These viruses include Deformed wing virus (DWV), Black queen cell virus (BQCV), Varroa destructor virus 1 (VDV-1), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV), Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), Apis mellifera filamentous virus (AmFV), Lake Sinai virus (LSV) and Sacbrood virus (SBV) (Allen and Ball 1996; Davison et al 1999;Hussein 2001a;Kajobe et al 2010;Loucif-Ayad et al 2013;Strauss et al 2013;Muli et al 2014;Mumoki et al 2014;Amakpe et al 2015).…”

“…A combination of factors have been identified as possible drivers of these colony losses (Neumann and Carreck 2010;Potts et al 2010;vanEngelsdorp and Meixner 2010;Smith et al 2013;Pirk et al 2014;McMenamin and Genersch 2015). One key driver is the international trade in honeybees and bee products, which serves as an active means for the introduction of non-native species and the consequential spread of pathogens, parasites and pests (e.g.…”

Risk indicators affecting honeybee colony survival in Europe: one year of surveillance

“…In Europe, the decrease in honeybee colonies was estimated at 16 % between 1985 and 2005 and the reduction of beekeepers at 31 % (Potts et al 2010). However, these figures on the decline in the number of managed honeybee colonies in Europe are mainly i n f l u e n c e d b y s o c i o e c o n o m i c f a c t o r s (Vanengelsdorp and Meixner 2010;Aizen and Harder 2009) and must not be confused with colony losses (meaning the death of honeybee colonies) over winter or during the season (McMenamin and Genersch 2015). At the European level, the COLOSS initiative (= Prevention of honeybee COlony LOSSes) had already allowed to document colony losses in Europe on a broad population (19 countries returning data from 15,850 beekeepers with 279,523 colonies in Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13592-016-0440-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.…”

Israeli acute paralysis virus associated paralysis symptoms, viral tissue distribution and Dicer-2 induction in bumblebee workers (Bombus terrestris)

“…However, under certain conditions, for example the presence of the ectoparasitic honeybee mite Varroa destructor, the covert infections of some viruses turn into overt ones with observable symptoms (Martin et al, 2012;McMahon et al, 2015;Singh et al, 2010). The symptoms of overt infections vary from virus to virus, including deformed wings, discoloration, hair losses, bloated abdomen, paralysis, decreased locomotion, impaired cognition and both brood and adult mortality (Lanzi et al, 2006;McMenamin & Genersch, 2015;Singh et al, 2010). Some symptoms can be easily recognized by the behaviour and appearance of the infected bees, while others can only be confirmed through meticulous and continuous observations or by molecular techniques.…”

“…They host many viruses. When looking at the honeybee, there have been around 23 viruses reported and many of these viruses only persist as covert and asymptomatic infections which show no detectable impact at both the individual and colony level (McMenamin & Genersch, 2015). However, under certain conditions, for example the presence of the ectoparasitic honeybee mite Varroa destructor, the covert infections of some viruses turn into overt ones with observable symptoms (Martin et al, 2012;McMahon et al, 2015;Singh et al, 2010).…”