Ostroverkhova N.V.
Prevalence of Nosema ceranae (Microsporidia) in the Apis mellifera mellifera bee colonies from long time isolated apiaries of Siberia
Number: 407, Pages: 8 - 20
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of the microsporidian species, Nosema apis and/or N. ceranae, in Apis mellifera mellifera honeybee colonies from a long time isolated Yenisei population of Krasnoyarsk krai (Siberia). N. ceranae was found in all investigated apiaries, including the apiary in very cold climates (near Turukhansk, 65°47′35″N, 87°57′44″E). We showed that 64.7% of bee colonies (22 out of 34 studied) in most apiaries were infected with both Nosema species (mixed infection). Only in the Yaksha apiary, either only N. ceranae infected or uninfected bee colonies were found. Infection with N. apis alone was not detected in any bee colonies. We also examined the proportions of Nosema infected individuals in 22 bee colonies with mixed infection. Colonies generally had the highest percentage of co-infected bees. However, if only N. ceranae infection was found in bees from all colonies, then most of the N. apis infections is a co-infection with N. ceranae. This is the first report for molecular detection of N. ceranae in very cold climates. We discuss the causes of the prevalence of N. ceranae, including host genetic variability, in the long time isolated apiaries and in very cold climates.