Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Beaverlodge Research Farm, Beaverlodge, AB, Canada.
J Econ Entomol. 2020 Oct 16;113(5):2069-2078. doi: 10.1093/jee/toaa170.
Nosema disease is a prominent malady among adult honey bees [Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)], caused by the microsporidian parasites, Nosema apis Zander (Microspora: Nosematidae) and N. ceranae Fries et al. 1996. The biology of N. apis is well understood, as this parasite was first described over a century ago. As N. ceranae is an emerging parasite of the honey bee, we do not yet understand how long spores of this parasite survive in honey bee colonies, or all the potential modes of transmission among bees. We investigated the viability and infectivity of N. ceranae spores in honey and on beeswax over time after exposure to 33, 20, -12, and -20°C. Spores in honey maintained viability at freezing temperatures for up to 1 yr and remained viable considerably longer than those on beeswax. Based on this evidence, honey may act as an important reservoir for infective spores to initiate or perpetuate N. ceranae infections in honey bee colonies. This work provides information that may help enhance current management recommendations for apiculturalists.
美洲幼虫腐臭病是成年蜜蜂（膜翅目：蜜蜂科）的一种主要疾病，由微孢子虫寄生虫，蜂房蜜蜂微孢子虫（微孢子门：微孢子科）和中华蜜蜂微孢子虫 Fries et al. 1996 引起。蜂房蜜蜂微孢子虫的生物学特性已经得到很好的理解，因为这种寄生虫早在一个多世纪前就已经被描述过了。由于中华蜜蜂微孢子虫是一种新兴的蜜蜂寄生虫，我们还不知道这种寄生虫的孢子在蜜蜂群体中能存活多久，也不知道所有潜在的蜜蜂传播方式。我们研究了在暴露于 33、20、-12 和-20°C 后，蜂蜜和蜂蜡中中华蜜蜂微孢子虫孢子随时间推移的生存能力和感染力。在冷冻温度下，蜂蜜中的孢子可保持活力长达 1 年，并且比蜂蜡中的孢子更具活力。根据这些证据，蜂蜜可能是一种重要的储存库，可将传染性孢子用于启动或维持蜜蜂群体中的中华蜜蜂微孢子虫感染。这项工作提供的信息可能有助于增强养蜂人当前的管理建议。
