Biotic stressors affecting key apiaries in Argentina

MATÍAS MAGGI; QUINTANA S.; REVAINERA P.; PORRINI L.; MEROI ARCERITO F.R.; FERNANDEZ DE LANDA G.; BRASESCO C.; DI GERÓNIMO V.; SERGIO RUFFINENGO; EGUARAS M.

Bee World

International Bee Research Association

Año: 2019 vol. 92 p. 45 - 52

0005-772X

Parasites are known to be one of the major contributors to colony losses. During 2018, we performed a survey of key commercial colonies belonging to bee breeders in different geographical areas of Argentine, in order to monitor the parasites that could be spreading among Argentinean apiaries. Sampling consisted of 10 worker bees per apiary from 21 commercial apiaries, all of them distributed across the main beekeeping provinces of Argentine (Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Santiago del Estero, La Pampa, Río Negro, Mendoza and Entre Ríos). For each sample, DNA and RNA extraction was performed by qPCR using commercial kits to detect parasites. The most prevalent pathogen affecting Argentinean honeybees were deformed wing virus DWV (100%), black queen cell virus (95%), Apis mellifera filamentous virus (52%), Lotmaria passim (38%), Nosema ceranae (29%) and acute paralysis virus (24%). To a lesser extent, the flagellates Chritidiabombi and Apicystis bombi (10 y 5%, respectively), and the bacterium Paenibacilus larvae (9.5%) were also detected. None of the analyzed samples presented ADN from Ascophaera apis, Nosema bombi, Nosema apis or Acarapis woodi. The mite Varroa destructor and the small beetle Aethina tumida were not detected after visual inspection of the colonies. These results allow us to expandthe knowledge of the current bee health status from the main beekeeping provinces in key ommercial apiaries in Argentina.