A nine year survey of honey bee viruses in argentina. 2009-2017

REYNALDI FJ.; GENCHI GARCIA M.L.; BRAVI ME.; PECORARO M.I.R.; GALOSI CM; TIZZANO M.A.; SGUAZZA GH

Montreal

Congreso; 46th International Apicultural Congress; 2019

APIMONDIA

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) is one of the most important insect pollinators that ensure crop pollination. However in the last years, bees havebeen experiencing considerable losses worldwide. Several factors have been proposed to explain this losses, such us beekeeping practice,environmental conditions, use of agrochemical and relationship with pathogens, viruses among them. The aim of this study was to analyzethe prevalence of bee viruses during a nine year survey (2009-2017) in Argentina. The sampling was designed according to a division ofbeekeeping regions of our country proposed by CFI-INTA (Consejo Federal de Inversiones ? Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria).The percentage of samples from each region was calculated according to the numbers of hives distributed in each one and their relationwith the total number hive through Argentina. Every year we take 80 samples from the five regions of country as show: Central region (n=53), North East (n= 11), Patagonia (n=7), New Cuyo (n= 5) and North West (n=4). One colony per apiary was sampled. In total we study720 samples. We use a multiplex PCR that can detect IAPV, DWB, SBV, ABPV, BQCV, CBPV and KBV. KBV was the only virus that was notfound in the survey. DWV (28%), IAPV (23%) and SBV (21%) were the most prevalent viruses. Most positive hives was detected in 2010with 96.3% of them at least with one virus. Eighty nine samples (12.4%) harbored more than one virus. Among then 66 samples whereco-infected with 2 viruses, 12 samples with three virus and 11 samples with four viruses. As it happened almost all around the world, DWVwas most prevalent virus in hives of Argentina (62 samples). However IAPV was the second most prevalent virus (32 samples). This lastresult is not so common and only exist one report in Spain in 2006-2007 with similar results that our study. The high prevalence of IAPVall around Argentina and the new reported cases by Colony Collapse Disorder turn on an alert and push us to develop different alternativesto the control of these viruses in Argentine apiaries.