Thesis
Distribution of microsporidia, Nosema spp., and co-infection with acarine parasites in Pacific Northwest honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies
Washington State University
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2010
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/100492
Abstract
Two species of Nosema, Nosema apis Zander and Nosema ceranae Fries are known to infect the western honey bee, Apis mellifera. Spores of both species are ingested and infect and reproduce in the epithelial cells lining the midgut, decreasing bee longevity and colony strength, particularly over the winter. One species, N. ceranae, was first identified in 1996 infecting the eastern honey bee, Apis cerana F. Since 2006, N. ceranae has been detected in populations of A. mellifera around much of the world including North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. This initial appearance of N. ceranae in A. mellifera coincided with the sudden disappearance of honey bees in the U.S. and Europe characterized by the absence of the majority of the worker bees and the presence of the queen and healthy brood. Due to its high virulence and persistence throughout the year, N. ceranae was initially implicated as a potential cause of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Since that time the list of factors potentially contributing to CCD has continued to grow to include exposure to chemicals in and outside the hive, poor nutrition, Varroa destructor mites, viruses, and low genetic variability, with no one factor solely predicting the occurrence of CCD. The focuses of this research were to (1) determine the distribution of Nosema in Washington and the PNW by sampling stationary and migratory beekeeping operations and quantifying infection levels and Nosema species identity in the apiaries, (2) determine the infection levels and proportion of N. ceranae-infected individuals in samples as cohorts of A. mellifera aged, and (3) study whether colony level inoculation with N. ceranae and co-infection with V. destructor mites affects honey bee colony health through the summer and the following spring.
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Details
- Title
- Distribution of microsporidia, Nosema spp., and co-infection with acarine parasites in Pacific Northwest honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies
- Creators
- Matthew Dixon Smart
- Contributors
- Walter S. Sheppard (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Entomology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525129901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis