First molecular detection of the presence of honey bee viruses in insects, mites, and pollinated plants in an isolated region of Armenia.

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Recently, viral diseases of honey bees () have presented an increasing threat to beekeeping. This study aimed to examine the presence of honey bee viruses in and non- bee species, the mite , and pollinated plants in Armenia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sampling was performed in Tavush Province, in the northeast of the Republic of Armenia, from August to November 2019. Overall, 200 bees, 50 mites, and 20 wasps were collected (corresponding to three bees, five mites, and 2-11 wasps in each investigated sample) and homogenized for RNA isolation and detection of viruses. Ten pollinated plants were taken from each plant, and 2 g of each sample was used for homogenization. In each investigated case and plants received percentages of the virus presence.

RESULTS

Six important honey bee viruses (acute bee paralysis virus [ABPV], deformed wing virus [DWV], norovirus [ANV], Lake Sinai virus-2 [LSV-2], Big Sioux River virus [BSRV], and filamentous virus [AmFV]) were detected in samples by polymerase chain reaction. Our results showed that DWV, ANV, and ABPV were the most common viruses in honey bees. All viruses were detected in wasps, but LSV-2 and ANV were present in almost all samples.

CONCLUSION

Our results showed that almost all viruses were present in . Although ANV is very common in honey bees, it did not appear in any mite samples. Our study indicates that viruses typically associated with honey bees were also actively infecting wasps. Our data suggest that the survival of viruses in plants can be an important source of seasonal transmission of viruses to bees. In addition, pollinated plants can potentially serve as reservoirs for honey bee viruses.