Nosemosis in Türkiye: Increasing prevalence and distribution on two decades, and phylogenetic network analysis based on SSU rRNA gene

Abstract

Nosemosis, one of the most important honeybee diseases, causes colony losses and low productivity worldwide. A national study were carried out to presence of nosemosis throughout Türkiye, determine the prevalence of Nosema cereane and Nosema apis, and perform the network analyses of the parasites. Specimens were collected from hives with no clinical signs. A total of 1194 European honey bee colonies in 400 apiaries from 40 provinces of Türkiye were examined by microscopic and molecular techniques. Nosemosis were found in all of 40 provinces. The prevalence ratio were 64.3 ± 3,0, 95%CI in apiaries and 40.5 ± 2,9, 95%CI in hives. N. ceranae DNA were detected all of positive hives, while N. ceranae and N. apis co-infection in only four colonies. In the last two decades, it has been observed that nozemosis has spread to all provinces and its prevalence has increased in all regions of Türkiye. All of the N. ceranae or N. apis samples examined were 100% identical within themselves. Network analysis showed that they were within largest haplotype reported worldwide.