Vertical transmission of American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae) in honey bees (Apis mellifera)

The mode of transmission between hosts (horizontal versus vertical) of disease agents is important for determination of the evolution of virulence in pathogens. For disease management, it is imperative that the epidemiology of the disease is understood and pathogen transmission rates between hosts is a key factor for this understanding. Surprisingly little is known about transmission rates in honey bee pathology. We have studied the rate of vertical transmission of Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB) in honey bee colonies, as colonies reproduce by colony fission (swarming), by culturing for the spores from repetitive samples of adult bees. The results demonstrate vertical pathogen transmission to daughter swarms. The spore density declines over time in both mother colonies and daughter swarms if mother colonies do not exhibit clinical disease symptoms. Occasional positive samples more than a year post swarming, also in daughter swarms, indicate production of infectious spores from diseased larvae, without clinical disease observable by beekeepers, and/or maintenance of infective spores in the hive environment, allowing both horizontal and vertical transmission to be maintained. The results suggest that the virulence of AFB, being lethal at colony level in contrast to other bee diseases shaped by evolution, could be dependent on apicultural practices and that the pathogen probably would be maintained without causing frequent colony mortality in a natural system.     

东方蜜蜂微孢子虫孢子冷冻保存后对意蜂工蜂的侵染性

东方蜜蜂微孢子虫是成年蜜蜂的重要传染性病原真菌。试验对10%的甘油、乙二醇、二甲亚砜及水在-80℃低温下冷冻保存东方蜜蜂微孢子虫孢子5个月后,孢子对意蜂工蜂的侵染性进行了考查。每只初出房工蜂接种3×104个孢子,结果发现,接种后15天,各组的孢子量无显著差异(P>0.05),产孢量为3.05⁴.13×107个/只。10%甘油和10%二甲亚砜2种保存孢子感染工蜂的22 d累计死亡率分别高达74%和68%,而水保存的累计死亡率仅12.5%。所以得出结论,10%甘油和10%二甲亚砜是比水更好的孢子冷冻保护剂。     

同生境下两种蜜蜂微孢子虫对东、西方蜜蜂蜂群的感染状况调查

蜜蜂微孢子虫已被确认为是导致世界性蜜蜂损失的重要病原之一。因商业目的导致不同地区蜂种栖息地扩张与重叠,使两种原寄主分别为东、西方蜜蜂的微孢子虫(东方蜜蜂微孢子虫和西方蜜蜂微孢子虫)得以在不同蜂种间传播。新病原的入侵在对当地蜜蜂资源造成威胁的同时,外来蜂种成为地区性病害传播的媒介。而迁徙性的蜜蜂饲养模式进一步将这种不利影响放大,进而威胁整个养蜂业的持续发展。研究数据显示,东方蜜蜂微孢子虫在人工饲养蜂群中已取代西方蜜蜂微孢子虫成为优势寄种群,但在自然条件下这两种蜜蜂微孢子虫如何作用饲养蜂群的相关数据缺乏。对东、西方蜜蜂混合饲养蜂场和山区东方蜜蜂隔离蜂场的蜜蜂样本进行两种蜜蜂微孢子虫PCR特异性检测,仅检出东方蜜蜂微孢子虫,且西方蜜蜂蜂群微孢子虫感染率高于东方蜜蜂,混合饲养蜂场东方蜜蜂蜂群微孢子虫感染率高于山区东方蜜蜂隔离蜂场感染率。     

A veterinary approach to the European honey bee (Apis mellifera)

The European honey bee (Apis mellifera) has the unusual status of being an inherently wild species from which a natural foodstuff (honey) is derived by manipulating its behaviour to deposit this in man-made wooden frames. Bees also produce propolis and Royal Jelly which can be harvested but their most important effect is one not immediately obvious as an economic product: that of pollination. Bee diseases are predominantly infectious and parasitic conditions accentuated by the close confinement in which they congregate, either in man-made hives or in colonies in a natural cavity. Treatment or at least control of some of these conditions can be attempted. In some cases natural bee behavioural traits limit the effect of the disease while in others, such as the notifiable disease American foulbrood, destruction of the colony is the only method of control. The mite Varroa jacobsoni can be controlled by the synthetic pyrethroids flumethrin and tau-fluvalinate. The introduction of these products has heightened veterinary interest in this important invertebrate species.     

熊蜂和蜜蜂为日光温室草莓授粉效果的比较

通过熊蜂和蜜蜂在日光温室中为草莓授粉的比较试验得出,熊蜂授粉比蜜蜂授粉的草莓畸形果率(分别为11.52%和17.74%)更低,差异显著(P<0.05);平均单果重(分别为33.9171g和33.1156g)较重,差异不显著(P>0.05);VC平均含量(分别为0.6660mg/g和0.5970mg/g)较高,差异显著(P<0.05);可溶性糖平均值(分别为4.93%和6.03%)较低,差异不显著(P>0.05);可滴定酸平均含量(分别为0.1235mmol/g和0.1265mmol/g)较低,差异不显著(P>0.05)。实验结果进一步说明了熊蜂比蜜蜂更适合为日光温室草莓授粉。     

A comparison of the effectiveness of the microscopic method and the multiplex PCR method in identifying and discriminating the species of Nosema spp. spores in worker bees (Apis mellifera) from winter hive debris

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the multiplex PCR method and traditional light microscopy in identifying and discriminating the species of Nosema spp. spores in worker bees from winter hive debris in the Province of Warmia and Mazury (NE Poland). A total of 1000 beesdead after from the bottom of the hive from bee colonies were analyzed. Spores were identified with the use of a light microscope (400-600x magnification). Spores were assigned to species by the multiplex PCR method. The microscopic evaluation revealed the presence of Nosema spp. spores in 803 samples (80.3%). Nosema ceranae spores were observed in 353 positive samples (43.96%), Nosema apis spores were found in 300 samples (37.35%), while 150 samples (19.67%) showed signs of a mixed infection. A multiplex PCR analysis revealed that 806 samples were infested with Nosema spp., of which 206 were affected only by Nosema ceranae, 600 showed signs of mixed invasion, while no samples were infected solely by Nosema apis parasites. In two cases, the presence of spores detected under a light microscope was not confirmed by the PCR analysis. The results of the study indicate that Nosema ceranae is the predominant parasitic species found in post-winter worker bees from the bottom of the hive in the region of Warmia and Mazury.     

不同日龄工蜂学习记忆能力的比较分析

蜜蜂有较强的学习能力,很早以前就开始被用于学习记忆方面的各种研究。不同日龄的蜜蜂在蜂群中有着不同的分工,随着它们日龄的增长,身体机能的发育而完成由巢内任务向巢外任务的转变,其学习记忆能力也会有所不同。实验通过正己醛气味和糖水奖励配对,利用PER方法来测定比较西方蜜蜂工蜂不同日龄的学习能力,结束后再用实验气味测试其记忆能力。结果表明:随着日龄增长,工蜂学习能力记忆能力逐渐增强,并且在15日龄之后基本趋于稳定;巢外活动能够在一定程度上增强工蜂的记忆能力。     

Emerging and re-emerging viruses of the honey bee (Apis mellifera L.)

Until the late 1980s, specific viral infections of the honey bee were generally considered harmless in all countries. Then, with the worldwide introduction of the ectoparasite mite Varroa destructor, beekeepers encountered increasing difficulties in maintaining their colonies. Epidemiological surveys and laboratory experiments have demonstrated that the newly acquired virulence of several viruses belonging to the family Dicistroviridae (acute bee paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus and Israeli acute paralysis virus) in Europe and the USA had been observed in relation with V. destructor acting as a disseminator of these viruses between and within bee colonies and as an activator of virus multiplication in the infected individuals: bee larvae and adults. Equal emphasis is given to deformed wing virus (DWV) belonging to the Iflaviridae. Overt outbreaks of DWV infections have been shown to be linked to the ability of V. destructor to act not only as a mechanical vector of DWV but also as a biological vector. Its replication in mites prior to its vectoring into pupae seemed to be necessary and sufficient for the induction of a overt infection in pupae developing in non-viable bees with deformed wings. DWV in V. destructor infested colonies is now considered as one of the key players of the final collapse. Various approaches for combating bee viral diseases are described: they include selection of tolerant bees, RNA interference and prevention of new pathogen introduction. None of these approaches are expected to lead to enhanced bee-health in the short term.     

熊蜂和蜜蜂为塑料大棚西瓜授粉对比试验

熊蜂和蜜蜂为塑料大棚西瓜授粉试验得出,熊蜂授粉比蜜蜂授粉的平均单瓜重较重,差异不显著(P>0.05);单位面积产量较多,差异不显著(P>0.05);瓜型更周正,差异显著(P<0.05);VC含量较高,增加0.14%;总糖较高,增加2.22%;糖酸比较高,增加2.23%;可溶性固形物较低,降低2.04%;硝酸盐相同;说明熊蜂授粉比蜜蜂授粉产量略高,瓜较重,外观较好,VC含量较高,糖含量较高,口感相差不大,均可达到有机食品标准。证实了熊蜂授粉技术可以代替蜜蜂授粉技术。     

不同性状蜂群群势增殖和蜂蜜产量比较研究

为了弄清不同性状蜂群群势的增殖效果和蜂蜜产量。从2014年2月14日到5月21日用测子框对美意为父本与蜜浆高产为母本F1代蜂群和蜜粉高产F1代蜂群、东北黑蜂F1代蜂群测定群势,比较蜂蜜产量。结果表明:3个不同性状蜂群在卵虫、蛹和成蜂脾数上增殖明显,但三者之间增殖情况差异不显著(p0.05)。东北黑蜂F1代蜂群产量较高,显著高于蜜粉高产F1代蜂群(P=0.039),但美意为父本与蜜浆高产为母本F1代蜂群和蜜粉高产F1代蜂群之间差异不显著(P=0.460)。由此可知3种不同性状的蜂群增殖较明显,但东北黑蜂在生产蜂蜜时有着不对称优势,结果可为蜜蜂育种提供理论依据。     

Genetic and phylogenetic analysis of South Korean sacbrood virus isolates from infected honey bees (Apis cerana)

Sacbrood virus (SBV) is one of the most destructive honey bee viruses. The virus causes failure to pupate and death in both larvae and adult bees. Genetic analysis of SBV infected honey bees (Apis cerana) from five different provinces was carried out based on three nucleotide sequences; one partial structural protein coding sequence and two non-structural protein coding sequences. Sequences amplified by three specific primer pairs were aligned and compared with reference sequences deposited in the GenBank database. Sequence alignments revealed a low level of sequence variation among Korean isolates (≥ 98.6% nucleotide identity), regardless of the genome regions studied or the geographic origins of the strains. Multiple sequence comparisons indicated that Korean SBV isolates are genetically closely related to Chinese and other Asian strains. Interestingly, the Korean SBV isolates showed a number of unique nucleotides and amino acids that had not been observed in other published strains. Korean and other Asian isolates from the host A. cerana and the UK, European and Japanese strains from the host Apis mellifera showed differences in nucleotide and deduced amino acid identities. This suggests that host-specificity exists among SBV strains isolated from different species. Phylogenetic relatedness between compared sequences was analyzed by MEGA 4.1 software using the neighbor-joining (NJ) method with a boot-strap value of 1000 replicates. Obtained topologies were in agreement with previous studies, in which a distinct group of SBV was formed by UK and European genotypes and another group was comprised of Asian genotypes including strains that originated from China, Japan (japonica), India and Nepal. However, phylogeny based on a partial protein structural coding sequence grouped all Korean SBV isolates identified in A. cerana as a separate cluster. Our findings suggest that further study, including Korean SBV isolated from A. mellifera, is needed.     

西方蜜蜂(Apis mellifera)幼虫信息素研究进展

蜜蜂是一种典型的社会性昆虫,生活在黑暗的蜂巢中,个体之间的信息交流主要通过信息素.主要介绍了国外有关西方蜜蜂幼虫信息素最新研究进展,同时对中华蜜蜂幼虫信息素研究提出了一些建议.     

蜜蜂（Apjs mellifera）美洲幼虫腐臭病研究进展

美洲幼虫腐臭病是目前危害蜜蜂幼虫生长的主要细菌病，不合理地使用抗生素防治该病是导致蜂产品抗生素残留的重要因素。本文介绍了它的病原（Paenibacillus larvae subspecies Larvae）和流行病学特征，并就目前检测美洲幼虫腐臭病病原和防治该病的研究进展做一综述。     

Occurrence of acute paralysis virus of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) in a Hungarian apiary infested with the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni.

Viruses of the honey bee have been known for a long time; however, recently the attention of scientists and apiculturalists has turned towards the relationship between these viruses and the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni. Although clinical symptoms indicated the presence of some of the viruses of bees in Hungary, none have previously been isolated or identified. During July unusual adult bee and brood mortality was observed in some colonies of an apiary in Budapest known to be infested with Varroa jacobsoni. Large amounts of acute paralysis virus (APV) were detected serologically in healthy honey bee pupae killed by the injection of a bacteria-free extract of diseased adult bees. Crystalline arrays of 30 nm particles were seen in ultrathin sections of the tissues of injected pupae and naturally infected adult bees. In spite of the application of acaricide treatments the bee population in several colonies had collapsed by the end of summer and the apiary suffered severe wintering losses.     

东、西方蜜蜂混合蜂群的温度调节行为与社会行为的“平行进化”

对巢内温湿度的调节是穴居蜜蜂的一个重要的适应性进化,东方蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂的群内温湿度的调节行为不同,在混合饲养的条件下,二者却通过不同的分工方式避免了矛盾,使混合蜂群能够达到温度调节的和谐。以这一矛盾的合理解决为代表,本文讨论了东方蜜蜂和西方蜜蜂在解决群内诸多矛盾方面采取的策略的相似性,因此认为二者在社会行为的进化过程中具有"平行进化"的关系。     

熊蜂（Bombus spp.）的授粉特性及其人工饲养

本文通过对Bombus lucorum和Bombus terrestris两个熊蜂种的室内饲养及温室蔬菜授粉试验,分析了熊蜂的授粉特性、人工饲养技巧和应用前景.