Mites and DWV in low and highly infested colonies.

Abstract

<p>(<b>A</b>) Number of mites per 1,000 bees. (<b>B</b>) Seasonal prevalence of Deformed wing virus (DWV) in low and highly infested colonies. (<b>C</b>) Number of DWV genome copies in infected honeybees, collected in September and October from low and highly infested colonies. The error bars indicate the standard deviation; mean values significantly different are denoted with asterisks (*<i>P</i>≤0.05; **<i>P</i>≤0.01). Mite population steadily increased along the season in untreated colonies; DWV prevalence approached 100% at the end of the season both in low and highly infested colonies, but the number of genome copies was much higher in highly infested colonies.</p