Host and environmental factors as determinants of equine piroplasmosis seroprevalence in Central Spain

Aim of study: To estimate equine piroplasmosis seroprevalence, identify associated risk factors and assess infection recentness.Area of study: Community of Madrid (Central Spain)Material and methods: Sera from 139 horses and 40 donkeys were examined by cELISA to evaluate Babesia caballi and Theileria equi seroprevalences and examine potential risk factors. They included species, gender, age, breed, colour coat, dedication, external parasite treatments, access to pasture, contact with other species, new introduction, tick infestation, farm altitude, land cover, soil type and climatic zone. A bivariate analysis was performed and significant variables were included in a logistic regression model to examine their independent contribution. In positive samples ELISA inhibition percentiles (EIPs) were used to assess whether infections were old or recent.Main results: True seroprevalence (95% CI), adjusted for test sensitivity and specificity was 19% (13-27) for T. equi and 1% (0-3) for B. caballi. In the bivariate analysis, T. equi seroprevalence varied significantly according to horse and farm-level explanatory variables; high seroprevalence groups generally had high EIPs suggesting recent infection. The multivariable analysis revealed that T. equi seroprevalence increased with age, it was higher in police horses compared to sporting, recreational and breeding animals and in those living in lower altitude where planosol soil type was predominant.Research highlights: T. equi seroprevalence in the area was significantly higher than B. caballi seroprevalence and depends on animal management and environmental factors that affect vector abundance and diversity. Identified risk factors must be considered to improve tick and tick-borne disease control and prevention

Prevalencia de los principales agentes patógenos de Apis Mellifera Iberiensis en la cabaña apícola española

Las abejas melíferas son susceptibles a una amplia variedad de enfermedades y amenazas medioambientales. El objetivo principal de este estudio fue detectar aquellos agentes patógenos relacionados con la pérdida de colonias de abejas melíferas en España utilizando para ello técnicas moleculares basadas en la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). Para ello se realizó un estudio nacional durante los años 2006 y 2007. Los resultados obtenidos muestran una alta detección de Varroa destructor (haplotipo Coreano) y Nosema ceranae, una relevante prevalencia Acarapis woodi y una baja detección de Nosema apis, Ascosphaera apis, Paenibacillus larvae y Melissococcus plutoniusHoney bees are subject to a wide variety of diseases and environmental threats. The main aim of this study was to detect those pathogens associated with honey bee losses in Spain, using the molecular techniques based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This national study was conducted during 2006 and 2007. The results show a high detection of Varroa destructor (Korean haplotype) y Nosema ceranae, a relevant prevalence of Acarapis woodi and low detection of Nosema apis, Ascosphaera apis, Paenibacillus larvae and Melissococcus plutonius

Diferencias morfométricas entre la abeja apis mellifera iberica y la abeja rusa de la región de primorsky

It has been proved that the Russian bees of the region of Primorsky have a great tolerance to Varroa. In the present work we have made a comparative study of these bees and Apis mellifera iberica, by means of a morphometric study, putting under the values obtained a descriptive statistical research, evaluating the normality of the distribution by means of the test of Kolmogorov-Smirnov and the differences between the two populations of bee by means of tests parametric (t´Student) or nonparametric (U of Mann-Whitney), according to the type of distribution

Survival of honey bees (Apis mellifera) infected with Crithidia mellificae spheroid forms (Langridge and McGhee: ATCC® 30254™) in the presence of Nosema ceranae

Crithidia mellificae, a trypanosomatid parasite of Apis mellifera, has been proposed to be one of the pathogens responsible for the serious honey bee colony losses produced worldwide in the last decade, either alone or in association with Nosema ceranae. Since this pathogenic effect contradicts the results of the experimental infections originally performed by Langridge and McGhee nearly 40 years ago, we investigated the potential linkage of this protozoan with colony decline under laboratory conditions. Nosema-free and trypanosomatid-free honey bees from three different colonies were experimentally infected with fresh C. mellificae spheroid forms (reference strain ATCC30254), with N. ceranae fresh spores and with both parasites at the same time. Replicate cages were kept at 27 °C and used to analyse survival. C. mellificae spheroid forms did not reduce significantly the survival of the worker bees (64.5% at 30 days post-infection vs. 77.8% for the uninfected bees used as controls; differences were non statistically significant) under these experimental conditions. In contrast, the cages infected with N. ceranae exhibited higher rates of mortality from the 20th day post-infection onwards, irrespective of the presence of C. mellificae, suggesting that the spheroid forms of the latter have no pathological effect on A. melliferaINIA-FEDER (RTA2013-00042-C10-06 and E-RTA2014-00003-C03)S

Residual tau-fluvalinate in honey bee colonies is coupled with evidence for selection for Varroa destructor resistance to pyrethroids

Producción CientíficaVarroa destructor is one of the most prevalent honey bee (Apis mellifera) pathogens worldwide. Nowadays, the main method to control this parasite involves the application of different acaricidal treatments, among which the pyrethroid tau-fluvalinate is one of the most widely used. However, the intensive and repetitive application of these chemicals generates a selective pressure that, when maintained over time, contributes to the emergence of resistant mites in the honey bee colonies. Here we analysed the presence of residual tau-fluvalinate and the patterns of genetic resistance to this acaricide in Varroa mites collected from tau-fluvalinate untreated honey bee colonies. Our results show the widespread and persistent pyrethroid contamination of beeswax and beebread in the hives, along with an excess of pyrethroid-resistant genotypes and an overall increase in the frequency of the pyrethroid-resistant allele in the mite population over time. Persistent contamination of the hives likely compromises the efficacy of tau-fluvalinate treatments and, therefore, may have serious long-term consequences for the control of varroosis.Varroa destructor is considered one of the most devastating parasites of the honey bee, Apis mellifera, and a major problem for the beekeeping industry. Currently, the main method to control Varroa mites is the application of drugs that contain different acaricides as active ingredients. The pyrethroid tau-fluvalinate is one of the acaricides most widely used in beekeeping due to its efficacy and low toxicity to bees. However, the intensive and repetitive application of this compound produces a selective pressure that, when maintained over time, contributes to the emergence of resistant mites in the honey bee colonies, compromising the acaricidal treatments efficacy. Here we studied the presence of tau-fluvalinate residues in hives and the evolution of genetic resistance to this acaricide in Varroa mites from honey bee colonies that received no pyrethroid treatment in the previous four years. Our data revealed the widespread and persistent tau-fluvalinate contamination of beeswax and beebread in hives, an overall increase of the pyrethroid resistance allele frequency and a generalized excess of resistant mites relative to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium expectations. These results suggest that tau-fluvalinate contamination in the hives may seriously compromise the efficacy of pyrethroid-based mite control methods.Plan Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas e Innovación 2013-2016, Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Alimentaria y Tecnología (INIA) y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) - (Projets RTA2017-00004-C02-01 and RTA2017-00004-CO2-02

Holistic screening of collapsing honey bee colonies in Spain: a case study

Background: Here we present a holistic screening of collapsing colonies from three professional apiaries in Spain. Colonies with typical honey bee depopulation symptoms were selected for multiple possible factors to reveal the causes of collapse. Results: Omnipresent were Nosema ceranae and Lake Sinai Virus. Moderate prevalences were found for Black Queen Cell Virus and trypanosomatids, whereas Deformed Wing Virus, Aphid Lethal Paralysis Virus strain Brookings and neogregarines were rarely detected. Other viruses, Nosema apis, Acarapis woodi and Varroa destructor were not detected. Palinologic study of pollen demonstrated that all colonies were foraging on wild vegetation. Consequently, the pesticide residue analysis was negative for neonicotinoids. The genetic analysis of trypanosomatids GAPDH gene, showed that there is a large genetic distance between Crithidia mellificae ATCC30254, an authenticated cell strain since 1974, and the rest of the presumed C. mellificae sequences obtained in our study or published. This means that the latter group corresponds to a highly differentiated taxon that should be renamed accordingly. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate that the drivers of colony collapse may differ between geographic regions with different environmental conditions, or with different beekeeping and agricultural practices. The role of other pathogens in colony collapse has to bee studied in future, especially trypanosomatids and neogregarines. Beside their pathological effect on honey bees, classification and taxonomy of these protozoan parasites should also be clarified

Permanent prevalence of Nosema ceranae in honey bees (Apis mellifera) in Hungary

Nosema ceranae is present in honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) colonies worldwide. Studies on the comparative virulence of N. ceranae and N. apis showed significant differences in individual mortality, and the prevalence of N. ceranae seems to be predominant in both the continental and the Mediterranean climate regions. This study attempted to monitor the geographical and seasonal distribution of these two Nosema species in Hungary, using a simple laboratory method. The distribution of N. ceranae and N. apis infection rates along all seasons was homogeneous (P = 0.57). In co-infected samples, the intensity of N. ceranae infection was always significantly higher than that of N. apis infection (P < 0.001). The infection rate of infected bees in exterior samples was higher than in interior samples in each season; however, the differences were not statistically significant. The species N. ceranae had been present in Hungary already in 2004. Statistical analysis of data shows that the infection level is best represented by sampling exterior bees to establish the proportion of infected bees rather than by determining the mean spore count

Ludificación de la Historia de Veterinaria

En este proyecto se han realizado ocho interpretaciones histórico-teatrales de personajes relevantes en la historia de la veterinaria, realizada por los propios alumnos matriculados y profesores, para facilitar el conocimiento de aspectos personales, profesionales y sociales de la Veterinaria en distintas épocas

Epidemiology of the Microsporidium Nosema ceranae in Four Mediterranean Countries

Nosema ceranae is a highly prevalent intracellular parasite of honey bees’ midgut worldwide. This Microsporidium was monitored during a long-term study to evaluate the infection at apiary and intra-colony levels in six apiaries in four Mediterranean countries (France, Israel, Portugal, and Spain). Parameters on colony strength, honey production, beekeeping management, and climate were also recorded. Except for São Miguel (Azores, Portugal), all apiaries were positive for N. ceranae, with the lowest prevalence in mainland France and the highest intra-colony infection in Israel. A negative correlation between intra-colony infection and colony strength was observed in Spain and mainland Portugal. In these two apiaries, the queen replacement also influenced the infection levels. The highest colony losses occurred in mainland France and Spain, although they did not correlate with the Nosema infection levels, as parasitism was low in France and high in Spain. These results suggest that both the effects and the level of N. ceranae infection depends on location and beekeeping conditions. Further studies on host-parasite coevolution, and perhaps the interactions with other pathogens and the role of honey bee genetics, could assist in understanding the difference between nosemosis disease and infection, to develop appropriate strategies for its control