Distribution and variability of deformed wing virus of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in the Middle East and North Africa

Three hundred and eleven honeybee samples from 12 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen, Palestine, and Sudan) were analyzed for the presence of deformed wing virus (DWV). The prevalence of DWV throughout the MENA region was pervasive, but variable. The highest prevalence was found in Lebanon and Syria, with prevalence dropping in Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt before increasing slightly moving westwards to Algeria and Morocco Phylogenetic analysis of a 194 nucleotide section of the DWV Lp gene did not identify any significant phylogenetic resolution among the samples, although the sequences did show consistent regional clustering, including an interesting geographic gradient from Morocco through North Africa to Jordan and Syria. The sequences revealed several clear variability hotspots in the deduced amino acid sequence, which furthermore showed some patterns of regional identity. Furthermore, the sequence variants from the Middle East and North Africa appear more numerous and diverse than those from Europe

Presence and infestation rate of Senotainia tricuspis (Meigen) (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) on honey bees in the Mediterranean Region

Flies are well known to be endoparasitoids of bees, such Conopidae to bumble bees and leaf-cutter bees, Antrax antrax to several Osmia and other Megachilide species and Senotainia tricuspis (Meigen) to honey bees (Felicioli, Franceschini, & Pinzauti, 2000 Felicioli, A., Franceschini, S., & Pinzauti, M. (2000, 20–26 August). The agony of a honey bee colony parasitized by the Sarcophagid fly Senotainia tricuspis: Temperature and humidity variations. In Proceedings of the XXI International Congress of Entomology, Foz de Iguassù, Brasil. vol. 1, p. 244. ; Morse & Flottum, 1997 Morse, R. A., & Flottum, K. (1997). Honey bee pests, predators and diseases (3rd ed.). Medina, OH: The A.I. Root Compan S. tricuspis with a length of 5–8 mm and gray-black color is similar to a domestic fly. Morphologically, it is characterized by a light strip between the reddish compound eyes (Bedini, Pinzauti, & Felicioli, 2006 Bedini, G., Pinzauti, M., & Felicioli, A. (2006, 25–27th April). Interaction between Apis mellifera and its parasites Senotainia tricuspis and Varroa destructor: A teoric model. International Apicultural Scientific Conference, Pulawy, Poland. ). Females of S. tricuspis are larviparous and attack forager honey bees flying in front of the hive. When S. tricuspis reaches its host, it deposits a first instar larva on the thorax of the honey bee. Then the larva enters the body of the honey bee and develops, feeding on hemolymph and wing muscles, until it kills its host in 2–4 days (Bedini, Pinzauti, & Felicioli, 2006 Bedini, G., Pinzauti, M., & Felicioli, A. (2006, 25–27th April). Interaction between Apis mellifera and its parasites Senotainia tricuspis and Varroa destructor: A teoric model. International Apicultural Scientific Conference, Pulawy, Poland. ). At the third instar, the last larval stadium, the larva exits from the body of the dead host. Sometimes, it can also feed on the body of the dead host as a scavenger. Then the larva enters the soil for pupation, with different depths according the structure of the soil: deeper in clay and shallower in sandy soil. During the late spring or summer, the adult fly emerges 7–12 days after pupation and the new generation can go forward with its own parasitic behavior. Those larvae that pupate in late summer or autumn will undergo diapause until next spring when the adults emerge (Bailey & Ball, 1991 Bailey, L., & Ball, B. V. (1991). Honey bee pathology (2nd ed.). London: Academic Press. [CrossRef] ). Attacks can be repeated every 10 s during the sunniest hours of the day. Each female has 600–700 larvae in its uterus and thus has the potential to kill hundreds of honey bee (Bedini, Pinzauti, & Felicioli, 2006 Bedini, G., Pinzauti, M., & Felicioli, A. (2006, 25–27th April). Interaction between Apis mellifera and its parasites Senotainia tricuspis and Varroa destructor: A teoric model. International Apicultural Scientific Conference, Pulawy, Poland. ). The aim of this work was to confirm the existence of S. tricuspis and to estimate its infestation rate and potential danger in apiaries in Arab countries of North Africa and the Middle East. Samples from Italy were used as a reference indicator for the level of infestation. For the monitoring of S. tricuspis, 124 samples were collected from seven countries: Algeria (33), Egypt (12), Italy (4), Iraq (18), Jordan (27), Palestine (9), and Lebanon (21). A pooled sample was collected from each apiary from three randomly chosen hives. Each sample represented one apiary and contained at least 50 forager bees. Hives were selected according to the beekeepers complaints of unexplained colony depopulation. Each apiary was been geolocalized using GPS, and its coordinates were used to produce a synoptic map of the pest distribution (Figure 1). The bees were kept in a closed glass jar of 390 ml volume. The jar was closed with a net to allow air exchange for the breathing of the bees. Then, the collected honey bees were observed for 72 h and eventual specimens of S. tricuspis larvae were counted and removed. Removal of S. tricuspis larvae is necessary to avoid the behavior of cannibalism, which is known with S. tricuspis larvae (Pinzauti & Santini, 1995 Pinzauti, M., & Santini, L. (1995). On the “apymiasis” caused by Senotainia tricuspis (Meigen) (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) in central Italy. In Proceedings of XXXIVth International Apicultural Congress, Lousanne, Switzerland. (Reprinted from L’Apicoltore Moderno, 86, 179–183). ). The % infestation of each bee sample was then calculated according to the formula: (number of S. tricuspis larvae emerged/number of collected bees) × 100. (Pinzauti & Santini, 1995 Pinzauti, M., & Santini, L. (1995). On the “apymiasis” caused by Senotainia tricuspis (Meigen) (Diptera, Sarcophagidae) in central Italy. In Proceedings of XXXIVth International Apicultural Congress, Lousanne, Switzerland. (Reprinted from L’Apicoltore Moderno, 86, 179–183). ), while the infestation rate among samples was calculated according to the formula: (number positive samples × 100)/total number of samples

Distribution and variability of deformed wing virus of honeybees (Apis mellifera) in the Middle East and North Africa.

Three hundred eleven honeybee samples from twelve countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen, Palestine and Sudan) were analyzed for the presence of deformed wing virus (DWV). The prevalence of DWV throughout the MENA region was pervasive, but variable. The highest prevalence was found in Lebanon and Syria, with prevalence dropping in Palestine, Jordan and Egypt before increasing slightly moving westwards to Algeria and Morocco Phylogenetic analysis of a 194 nucleotide section of the DWV Lp gene did not identify any significant phylogenetic resolution among the samples, although the sequences did show consistent regional clustering, including an interesting geographic gradient from Morocco through North Africa to Jordan and Syria. The sequences revealed several clear variability hotspots in the deduced amino acid sequence, that furthermore showed some patterns of regional identity. Furthermore, the sequence variants from the Middle East and North Africa appear more numerous and diverse than those from Europe. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Pancreatic surgery outcomes: multicentre prospective snapshot study in 67 countries

Background: Pancreatic surgery remains associated with high morbidity rates. Although postoperative mortality appears to have improved with specialization, the outcomes reported in the literature reflect the activity of highly specialized centres. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following pancreatic surgery worldwide.Methods: This was an international, prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional snapshot study of consecutive patients undergoing pancreatic operations worldwide in a 3-month interval in 2021. The primary outcome was postoperative mortality within 90 days of surgery. Multivariable logistic regression was used to explore relationships with Human Development Index (HDI) and other parameters.Results: A total of 4223 patients from 67 countries were analysed. A complication of any severity was detected in 68.7 percent of patients (2901 of 4223). Major complication rates (Clavien-Dindo grade at least IIIa) were 24, 18, and 27 percent, and mortality rates were 10, 5, and 5 per cent in low-to-middle-, high-, and very high-HDI countries respectively. The 90-day postoperative mortality rate was 5.4 per cent (229 of 4223) overall, but was significantly higher in the low-to-middle-HDI group (adjusted OR 2.88, 95 per cent c.i. 1.80 to 4.48). The overall failure-to-rescue rate was 21 percent; however, it was 41 per cent in low-to-middle-compared with 19 per cent in very high-HDI countries.Conclusion: Excess mortality in low-to-middle-HDI countries could be attributable to failure to rescue of patients from severe complications. The authors call for a collaborative response from international and regional associations of pancreatic surgeons to address management related to death from postoperative complications to tackle the global disparities in the outcomes of pancreatic surgery (NCT04652271; ISRCTN95140761)