First molecular detection of co-infection of honey bee viruses in asymptomatic Bombus atratus in South America

Pollination is critical for food production and has the particularity of linking natural ecosystems with agricultural production systems. Recently, losses of bumblebee species have been reported worldwide. In this study, samples from a commercial exploitation of bumblebees of Argentina with a recent history of deaths were studied using a multiplex PCR for the detection of the honey bee viruses most frequently detected in South America. All samples analysed were positive for co-infections with Deformed wing virus, Black queen cell virus and Sacbrood virus. This is the first report of infection of Bombus atratus with honey bee viruses. A better understanding of viral infections in bumblebees and of the epidemiology of viruses could be of great importance as bumblebees can serve as possible viral reservoirs, resulting in pathogen spillover towards honey bees and native bumblebees

First molecular detection of co-infection of honey bee viruses in asymptomatic Bombus atratus in South America

Pollination is critical for food production and has the particularity of linking natural ecosystems with agricultural production systems. Recently, losses of bumblebee species have been reported worldwide. In this study, samples from a commercial exploitation of bumblebees of Argentina with a recent history of deaths were studied using a multiplex PCR for the detection of the honey bee viruses most frequently detected in South America. All samples analysed were positive for co-infections with Deformed wing virus, Black queen cell virus and Sacbrood virus. This is the first report of infection of Bombus atratus with honey bee viruses. A better understanding of viral infections in bumblebees and of the epidemiology of viruses could be of great importance as bumblebees can serve as possible viral reservoirs, resulting in pathogen spillover towards honey bees and native bumblebees

Eficacia de la observación microscópica directa y el cultivo en el diagnóstco de las dermatofitosis en caninos

Dermatophytosis (ringworm) are superficial mycosis produced by molds with strong keratinophilic activity, affecting skin of humans and animals. Pets have a special role, because they are one of the most common sources of infection for men, particularly children because of their close relationship with them. The confirmation of these diseases is through mycology laboratory diagnosis, where the performance (positivity) of laboratory parameters in human samples is much higher compare to samples of animal origin. Diagnostic confirmation in ringworm of children exceeds 90%; while in animals with compatible clinical forms of this mycosis, only a minor percentage is confirm by the laboratory. The maximum isolation values of fungi that cause dermatophytosis in dogs are 36.9 - 40%. Our objective is to determine the laboratory performance in samples of skin and hair of canines with clinical suspicion of superficial mycoses from the City of La Plata, between March 2005 and March 2013, using the classic techniques of direct microscopic observation and culture.\nFil: Reinoso, EH. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Micología Médica e Industrial "Prof. Dr. Pablo Negroni". La Plata, ArgentinaFil: Reynaldi, FJ. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Micología Médica e Industrial "Prof. Dr. Pablo Negroni". La Plata, ArgentinaFil: Reynaldi, FJ. CONICET. Centro Científico Tecnológico (CCT). La Plata, ArgentinaFil: Rosa, DE. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Micología Médica e Industrial "Prof. Dr. Pablo Negroni". La Plata, ArgentinaFil: Della Vedova, R. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Micología Médica e Industrial "Prof. Dr. Pablo Negroni". La Plata, ArgentinaFil: Romero, MC. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Micología Médica e Industrial "Prof. Dr. Pablo Negroni". La Plata, ArgentinaFil: Romero, MC. CONICET. Centro Científico Tecnológico (CCT). La Plata, ArgentinaLas Dermatofitosis (tiñas), son micosis superficiales producidas por eumycetos con fuerte actividad queratinofílica, que afectan piel y faneras del hombre y animales. Las mascotas poseen un rol especial, dado que son una de las fuentes más comunes de contagio para el hombre, en particular los niños por su relación estrecha con las mismas. La forma de confirmar estas enfermedades es a través del diagnóstico micológico, donde el rendimiento (positividad) de los parámetros de laboratorio en las muestras de humanos es mucho mayor en comparación con muestras de origen animal. La confirmación diagnóstica en tiñas del cuero cabelludo de los niños, supera el 90%; mientras en los animales con formas clínicas compatibles con esta micosis, solo un porcentaje menor es confirmada por el laboratorio. Se ha demostrado que los valores máximos de aislamiento de hongos causantes de dermatofitosis en perros son del 36,9 - 40 %. Nuestro objetivo es determinar el rendimiento de laboratorio en muestras de piel y pelos de caninos con sospecha clínica de micosis superficiales provenientes de la ciudad de La Plata, entre Marzo 2005 y Marzo 2013, usando las técnicas clásicas de observación microscópica directa en fresco y cultivo

Detection of honey bee viruses in Argentinian stingless bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

The Meliponini is a eusocial group of bees tropically distributed. In Argentina, 37 species have been recorded, mostly in Misiones province. They use a great variety of sites to build their nests including tree hollows, cavities formed in rocks, human constructions or underground spaces. Numerous natural enemies are associated with stingless bees, including viruses. Until now, some viruses present in honey bees and related to the colony collapse disorder (CCD), have been found in several wild bees around the world. Here, we have studied the presence of honey bee viruses in stingless bees from different locations of Misiones province, Argentina. On this research, 73 samples of ten workers belonging to 12 species of stingless bees and feral honey bees, have been analyzed. Our results confirm the presence of three viruses: ABPV, IAPV and DWV Type A in four species of stingless bees and feral honey bees. More studies are required to establish if ABPV, IAPV and DWV are natural pathogens of stingless bees that have been spilled over to honey bees, or were transmitted by Apis mellifera to stingless bees.Fil: Alvarez, Leopoldo Jesús. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Reynaldi, Francisco José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Ramello, Pablo José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, M. L. G.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; ArgentinaFil: Sguazza, Guillermo Hernán. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Abrahamovich, Alberto Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; ArgentinaFil: Lucia, Mariano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Entomología; Argentin

Metagenomic Detection of Viral Pathogens in Spanish Honeybees: Co- Infection by Aphid Lethal Paralysis, Israel Acute Paralysis and Lake Sinai Viruses

The situation in Europe concerning honeybees has in recent years become increasingly aggravated with steady decline in populations and/or catastrophic winter losses. This has largely been attributed to the occurrence of a variety of known and "unknown", emerging novel diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that colonies often can harbour more than one pathogen, making identification of etiological agents with classical methods difficult. By employing an unbiased metagenomic approach, which allows the detection of both unexpected and previously unknown infectious agents, the detection of three viruses, Aphid Lethal Paralysis Virus (ALPV), Israel Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), and Lake Sinai Virus (LSV), in honeybees from Spain is reported in this article. The existence of a subgroup of ALPV with the ability to infect bees was only recently reported and this is the first identification of such a strain in Europe. Similarly, LSV appear to be a still unclassified group of viruses with unclear impact on colony health and these viruses have not previously been identified outside of the United States. Furthermore, our study also reveals that these bees carried a plant virus, Turnip Ringspot Virus (TuRSV), potentially serving as important vector organisms. Taken together, these results demonstrate the new possibilities opened up by high-throughput sequencing and metagenomic analysis to study emerging new diseases in domestic and wild animal populations, including honeybees

Detection and Identification of a Novel Lactic Acid Bacterial Flora Within the Honey Stomach of the Honeybee Apis mellifera.

This investigation concerned the question of whether honeybees collect bacteria that are beneficial for humans from the flowers that contribute to formation of their honey. Bacteria originating from the types of flowers involved, and found in different anatomic parts of the bees, in larvae, and in honey of different types, were sampled during a 2-year period. 16S rRNA sequencing of isolates and clones was employed. A novel bacterial flora composed of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of the genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which originated in the honey stomach of the honeybee, was discovered. It varied with the sources of nectar and the presence of other bacterial genera within the honeybee and ended up eventually in the honey. It appeared that honeybees and the novel LAB flora may have evolved in mutual dependence on one another. It was suggested that honey be considered a fermented food product because of the LAB involved in honey production. The findings are seen as having clear implications for future research in the area, as providing a better understanding the health of honeybees and of their production and storage of honey, and as having clear relevance for future honeybee and human probiotics