A molecular epidemiological study of black queen cell virus in honeybees (Apis mellifera) of Turkey: the first genetic characterization and phylogenetic analysis of field viruses

Black queen cell virus (BQCV) is one of the most common honeybee pathogens causing queen brood deaths. The 63 apiaries were sampled between 2007 and 2013 from four different ecogeographic regions in Turkey to estimate BQCV molecular structural characteristics. The BQCV positivity was 47.6%. The 25 local Black queen cell viruses (TrBQCVs) were molecularly characterized and investigated for their genetic relationship with previous records. The identity of the helicase gene among the TrBQCVs was 92-98%, whereas the similarity ranged from 37 to 85% in comparison with the intercontinental records. The identity of the partial capsid gene among the TrBQCVs was 91-100%, and the similarity rate varied from 86 to 97, 88-96, 90-97 and 89-99% in comparison with the Asian, African, American and European counterparts, respectively. The four nonsynonymous substitutions on the partial capsid protein suggest a predicted genotype that is specific among TrBQCVs

Neonicotinoid Analysis in Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Honey Samples Collected around Tekirdag in Turkey

In recent years, the widespread use of neonicotinoids in agricultural areas has caused environmental pollution due to its lower toxicity to mammals. Honey bees, which are considered as biological indicators of environmental pollution, can carry these pollutants to the hives. Forager bees returning from sunflower crops that have been treated with neonicotinoids treated sunflower fields cause residue accumulation in the hives, which reason colony-level adverse effects. This study analyses neonicotinoid residues in sunflower (Helianthus annuus) honey sampled by beekeepers from Tekirdag province. Honey samples have been subjected to liquid-liquid extraction methods before liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method validation was carried out to fulfill all the necessary requirements of procedures SANCO/12571/2013. Accuracy was in the range of 93.63-108.56%, for recovery in the range of 63.04-103.19%, and for precision in the range 6.03-12.77%. Detection and quantification limits were determined according to the maximum residue limits of each analyte. No neonicotinoid residues were found above the maximum residue limit in the sunflower honey samples analysed.Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit of Tekirdag Namik Kemal University [NKUBAP.00.23, AR.14.05]AcknowledgmentsThis work was supported by the Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit of Tekirdag Namik Kemal University, Tekirdag (project number: NKUBAP.00.23.AR.14.05)

Investigation of some pathogens "Colony Loss Syndrome" resembled losses apiaries in Tekirdağ

Dünya’da on yıldan fazla süredir dikkat çeken koloni kayıpları, farklı etken ve faktörlerin etkileşimi ile ortaya çıkan arı sağlığı sorunu olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bal arısı koloni sağlığını tehdit eden hastalık etkenleri arasında viruslar, Nosema ceranae ve Varroa destructor ciddi öneme sahiptir. Bu çalışmada 2015 ve 2016 yıllarında Tekirdağ ilindeki farklı arılıklardan gönderilen balarısı numuneleri incelenmiştir. Örnekler “koloni populasyonundaki beklenmeyen azalma veya ani koloni kaybı” şikâyetleriyle gönderilmiştir. Buna göre 17 arılıktan gönderilen 510 bal arısı örneği, Deforme kanat virusu (Deformed Wing Virus – DWV), Nosema cerenae ve Varroa destructor yönünden kontrol edilmiştir. Bu arılıkların tamamında varroosis tespit edilirken, DWV 15 arılıkta, N. ceranae ise 5 arılıkta tespit edilmiştir. DWV tespit edilemeyen iki arılıkta N. ceranae da tespit edilememiştir. Bu araştırmada, ani koloni kaybı sendromuna benzer şekilde görülen koloni kayıplarında DWV, Nosema cerena ve Varroa destructor’a rastlanma oranlarının araştırılarak bu konuda güncel veri sağlanması hedeflenmiştir.Colony losses, which are remarkable in the world for more than ten years, are regarded as bee health problems arising from the interaction of different factors and agents. The viruses, Nosema ceranae and Varroa destructor among the disease agents threaten the colony health, have significant importance. In this study, the honeybee samples delivered to our laboratory from different apiaries in Tekirdağ province between 2015 and 2016, were examined. Samples were sent by complaints with "unexpected decrease in colony populations or sudden colony loss". A total of 510 honey bee samples from 17 apiaries were tested for Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), Nosema cerenae and Varroa destructor. DWV and N.cerena were detected in 15 and 5 apiaries, respectively while varroosis was detected in all apiaries. N. ceranae was not be detected in the DWV negative two apiaries. In this study, it was concluded that considering the presence of DWV, Nosema cerena and Varroa destructor in sudden colony losses resemble case, and it would be advantageous the precaution and treatment strategies for bees against these pathogens

Kızıl Şahin (Buteo rufinus)'de yeni bir bit türü: Aegypoecus guralpi sp. n. (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera)]

A total of ten louse samples were collected from a long-legged buzzard (Buteo rufinus) in Hatay province in Mediterranean Region of Turkey. All of the louse samples were identified as a new species morphologically and named as Aegypoecus guralpi

Türkiye'deki Vahşi Kuşlarda Neospora caninum DNA'sının Varlığı

OBJECTIVE: Neospora caninum is a protozoon parasite that has a worldwide distribution and mainly causes abortion in cattle and current serological evidence shows that the disease may be also zoonotic. Wild birds play a role as a reservoir of the disease in nature. The study aimed to determine the prensence of N. caninum in wild birds. METHODS: In this study, the presence of neosporosis in wild birds (n=55) including 22 different species found in the western side of Turkey, was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In addition, PCR positive samples were confirmed by sequencing, BLAST, and phylogenetic analysis using MEGA7. RESULTS: Obtained results showed that the presence of N. caninum DNA was 5.45% (3/55) in brain-heart homogenates wild birds. The bird species which were found positive for N. caninum were little owl (Athene noctua), common buzzard (Buteo buteo), and little tern (Sternula albifrons). According to phylogenetic analysis and BLAST, all samples were compatible with reference N. caninum isolates. CONCLUSION: To the best of authors' knowledge, this is the first study detecting N. caninum in little tern. In future studies, it may be interesting to investigate the prevalence of N. caninum in other wild animals to elucidate the transmission properties.Amaç: Neospora caninum, dünya çapında dağılım gösteren ve esas olarak sığırlarda düşüklere neden olan protozoon bir parazittir ve güncel serolojik kanıtlar hastalığın zoonotik olabileceğini göstermektedir. Yabani kuşlar, doğada hastalığın rezervuarı olarak rol oynamaktadır. Çalışma, yabani kuşlarda N. caninum varlığının belirlenmesini amaçladı. Yöntemler: Bu çalışmada, Türkiye’nin batısındaki 22 farklı yabani kuşta (n=55) neosporosis varlığı polimeraz zincir reaksiyon (PZR) ile araştırılmıştır. Ek olarak, PZR pozitif örnekler sekanslanarak MEGA7 kullanılarak BLAST ve filogenetik analiz ile doğrulanmıştır. Bulgular: Elde edilen sonuçlara göre, yabani kuşların beyin-kalp homojenatlarının %5,45’inde (3/55) N. caninum DNA’sı saptanmıştır. Kukumav (Athene noctua), bayağı şahin (Buteo buteo) ve küçük sumru (Sternula albifrons) N. caninum pozitif bulunan kuş türleridir. Filogenetik analiz ve BLAST sonuçlarına göre, tüm örnekler referans N. caninum izolatları ile uyumlu olarak tespit edilmiştir. Sonuç: Yazarların bildiği kadarıyla bu çalışma, küçük sumruda N. caninum tespit eden ilk çalışmadır. Gelecekteki çalışmalarda N. caninum bulaşma özelliklerini aydınlatmak amacıyla diğer vahşi hayvanlarda prevalansın araştırılması faydalı olabilir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Küçük sumru, Neospora caninum, PZR, Türkiye, vahşi kuşlar

Molecular diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in brain tissues of some wild birds

Çiftlik hayvanlarının ekonomik öneme sahip protozoonlarından Toxoplasma gondii ve Neospora caninum un ara konak yabani kuşlardaki moleküler tanısı hakkında az sayıda araştırma bulunmaktadır. Türkiyede bu parazitlerin yabani kuşların beyin dokularındaki moleküler prevalansı bilinmemektedir. Bu çalışmada, Türkiyenin iki farklı ekocoğrafyasında bulunan 20 yabani kuş türüne ait 101 adet beyin dokusunda T. gondii ve N. caninum un varlığı polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu (PZR) metodu ile araştırılmıştır. Araştırma sonucunda yabani kuşların beyin dokularında T. gondii %9, N. caninum %14, her iki türe aynı anda rastlanma oranı ise %4 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Elde edilen verilere Ki kare testi uygulanmıştır. Sonuç olarak bu çalışmada T. gondiinin Corvus corone (Gri leş kargası), Melanitta fusca (Kadife ördek), Aquila heliaca (Şah kartal), Aquila pomarina (Küçük orman kartalı), Buteo rufinus (Kızıl şahin), Accipiter nisus (Bayağı atmaca), Strix aluco (Alaca baykuş)un beyin dokularında ve N. caninumun Larus genei (İnce gagalı martı), Corvus corone, Melanitta fusca, Anas clypeata (Bayağı kaşık gaga), Perdix perdix (Çil keklik), Aquila heliaca ve Buteo rufinus un beyin dokularında PZR metoduyla dünyada ilk tespiti yapılmıştır. Araştırma Türkiyedeki yaban kuşlarında T. gondii ve N. caninum un moleküler tanısı amacıyla yapılan ilk çalışmadır.There are limited molecular studies about Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum which are economically important livestock protozoons in wild birds investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Molecular prevalance of both parasites in brain tissues of wild birds in Turkey is unknown. Prevalance of T. gondii was 7%, N. caninum was 14% and mix infection was found 4% in brain tissues of 101 wild birds under 20 species from two diferent regions of Turkey. The chi-square test has been applied to the acquired data. This is the first molecular biologic investigation for the aim of PCR diagnosis of T. gondii in brain tissues of Corvus corone, Melanitta fusca, Aquila heliaca, Aquila pomarina, Buteo rufinus, Accipiter nisus, Strix aluco and N. caninum in brain tissues of Larus genei, Corvus corone, Melanitta fusca, Anas clypeata, Perdix perdix, Aquila heliaca, Buteo rufinus in the world. This also is the first molecular diagnostic investigation of T. gondii and N. caninum in brain tissues of wild birds in Turkey

MEDIBEES: Monitoring the Mediterranean honey bee subspecies and their resilience to climate change for the improvement of sustainable agro-ecosystems

Beekeeping provides livelihood for hundreds of thousands of beekeepers in the Mediterranean area. This activity relies on a number of different indigenous Apis mellifera subspecies, adapted to the very diverse and harsh conditions of the region. Climate change is expected to increase the stress factors affecting bees, especially in this region, reducing both pollination efficiency and production potential. Unfortunately, our ability to address this problem is limited by the incomplete knowledge of the natural adaptation mechanisms developed by the different subspecies. In order to increase the knowledge base for future selection programs to improve bee populations for environmental changes, the MEDIBEES project is being developed. It includes 9 partners from 8 Mediterranean countries on all three shores of the Mediterranean, covering 10 local A. mellifera subspecies, which represents a remarkable though understudied proportion of the species genetic diversity. The project aims to: a) unravel the differential genetic background of Mediterranean subspecies, b) understand their adaptation to local conditions, and c) characterize their resistance to climate change. To achieve the objectives, colonies belonging to the local subspecies will be studied phenotypically to determine their behavior under environmental conditions, covering survival, sensitivity to pests/pathogens, behavior, physiology and reproduction which will be completed by gene expression and transcriptomic assays. In addition, complete genomes of field and laboratory samples will be sequenced to find genes putatively involved in adaptation and to develop new genetic tools to characterize honey bee populations according to their resistance to environmental stress factors. This effort will encourage the use of local subspecies, to make them more attractive and avoid importing foreign breeds, and will lay the foundation for future selection programs. Besides, the valorization of honey by both promoting its use and developing quality labels, and the evaluation of beekeeping by-products as modifiers of soil fertility and biota are also approached to help the beekeepers improve the sustainability of their farms in an economical and environmental sound manner.Medibees part of the PRIMA programme supported by the European Unioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Beekeeping in the Mediterranean: a medibees survey on practices, trends and challenges

MEDIBEES is a PRIMA funded project that aims to identify honeybee colonies and subspecies that are most resilient to climate change and common pathogens throughout the Mediterranean region. Honeybees are critical to sustainable agricultural systems and the project aims to contribute to sustainability in the context of the increased desertification of the region due to climate change. As part of this project an intensive investigation of beekeeping was carried out within the consortium, with the objectives of 1) understanding the main practices in place, 2) identifying trends and challenges faced by beekeepers. This would help guide the consortium in framing research questions that are rooted in the requirements of the stakeholders. A questionnaire was therefore developed and circulated among beekeepers from Algeria, Egypt, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Turkey in late June 2021. To date, over 1300 detailed responses have been collected. This study has yielded an important first profile of the nature of the apicultural industry for many of these participating countries. In this presentation, a description of the socio-demographics and the diverse management practice in place among beekeepers across the Mediterranean will be presented. In addition, important first-time data on the distribution of hives, the main sources of losses including current biotic and abiotic threats, the characteristics and ecological trends of both native and introduced honey bee subspecies in the different geographical regions will be described as experienced by the major stakeholders ie beekeepers. Finally, notably and overwhelmingly, beekeepers from the Mediterranean region list changes in weather patterns as the major factor affecting colony losses and profitability. This was followed closely by indiscriminant use of agricultural insecticides and urbanisation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Main practices, challenges and expected solution identified in the Mediterranean beekeeping industry

Globally honeybees are threatened by a plethora of biotic and abiotic stressors. One factor of great concern is climate change due to its direct impact on wild and agricultural ecosystems. Indeed beekeeping, with its symbiotic interdependence with vegetation, is an industry that will be strongly affected by climate change. Although the Mediterranean is a region that is highly vulnerable to climate change, no study has comprehensively analysed the possible effects on honeybees. The MEDIBEES project aims to remedy this situation by studying the honeybee subspecies native to the Mediterranean region and their resilience to climate change, in an attempt to safeguard the beekeeping sector. In this framework, the following approaches were adopted to determine the common Practices, Challenges and Problems in the region and to identify scientific gaps and solutions expected by beekeepers: • Review of the effects of biotic and abiotic stressors on honeybee colonies as well as legislation in the MEDIBEES consortium to identify common threats. • Study of current challenges, priority areas considered by beekeepers as important to survive as an industry, beekeeping practices and existing resources in each country to determine common trends and challenges across the Mediterranean. • Analysis of the responses to a questionnaire distributed among 1160 beekeepers to obtain information on stakeholder practices, challenges faced and the main problems encountered. In this way, a profile of beekeeping activity and beekeepers in the region was obtained. The main challenges and problems identified were: a) changes in weather patterns that could be affect colony dynamics, production losses and increasing mortality; b) of incidence of pathogens in the area (Varroa destructor, Nosema ceranae, SBV and DWV) and the lack of training programmes to control them; c) agricultural insecticides and acaricide residues. As main areas of interest, beekeepers pointed out the possible existence of adapted ecotypes, the need for training to distinguish between hybrids and purebreds, and the study of the effect that climate change will have on phenology and plant availability and on changes in the distribution areas of pathogens in the area. This project is part of the PRIMA programme supported by the European Union.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio