Department of Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Córdoba, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Veterinary, University of Córdoba, Campus of Rabanales, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
Res Vet Sci. 2021 Mar;135:85-95. doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.01.001. Epub 2021 Jan 6.
Varroa mite is the major threat to the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, and the cause of significant economic losses in the apiculture industry. Varroa destructor feeds on brood and adult bees being responsible for vectoring virus infections and other diseases. This study analyses the role of Varroa and other associated pathogens, such as viruses or the fungus Nosema ceranae, and their relationships regarding the viability of the bee colony. It has been carried out during one beekeeping season, with the subspecies A. m. iberiensis, commonly used in the apiculture industry of Spain. Our study shows a significant relationship between the presence of Varroa destructor and viral infection by deformed wing virus and acute bee paralysis virus. Nosema ceranae behaved as an opportunistic pathogen. In addition, this study explored a potential naturally occurring subset of peptides, responsible for the humoral immunity of the bees. The expression of the antimicrobial peptides abaecin and melittin showed a significant relationship with the levels of Varroa mite and the deformed wing virus.
瓦螨是西方蜜蜂（Apis mellifera）的主要威胁，也是养蜂业重大经济损失的原因。瓦螨以幼虫和成年蜜蜂为食，是病毒感染和其他疾病的传播媒介。本研究分析了瓦螨和其他相关病原体（如病毒或真菌 Nosema ceranae）的作用及其与蜂群生存能力的关系。该研究在一个养蜂季节进行，所用亚种为 A. m. iberiensis，常用于西班牙的养蜂业。我们的研究表明，瓦螨的存在与变形翅膀病毒和急性蜜蜂麻痹病毒的病毒感染之间存在显著关系。Nosema ceranae 表现为机会性病原体。此外，本研究还探索了一种可能自然存在的肽亚群，这些肽亚群负责蜜蜂的体液免疫。抗菌肽 abaecin 和 melittin 的表达与瓦螨和变形翅膀病毒的水平呈显著关系。
