Risk factors associated with the presence of Varroa destructor in honey bee colonies from east-central Argentina

GIACOBINO, A.; BULACIO CAGNOLO, N.; MERKE, J.; ORELLANO, E.; BERTOZZI, E.; MASCIANGELO, G.; PIETRONAVE, H.; SALTO, C.; SIGNORINI, M.L.

PREVENTIVE VETERINARY MEDICINE

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 115 p. 280 - 287

0167-5877

Varroa destructor is considered one of the major threats for worldwide apiculture. Damage caused by varroa mite includes body weight loss, malformation and weakening of the bees. It was also suggested as the main cause associated with colony winter mortality and as an important vector for several honey bee viruses. Little is known about multiple factors and their interaction affecting V. destructor prevalence in apiaries from South America. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with V. destructor prevalence in east-central Argentina. Parasitic mite infestation level and colony strength measures were evaluated in 63 apiaries distributed in 4 different regions in east-central Argentina in a cross sectional study. Data regarding management practices in each apiary were collected by means of a questionnaire. A multivariate logistic model was constructed to associate management variables with the risk of achieving mite infestation higher than 3 %. Colonies owned by beekeepers who indicated that they did not monitor colonies after mite treatment (OR= 2.863; 95% CI: 1.501-5.462) nor disinfect hives woodenware material (OR= 3.552; 95% CI: 1.930-6.535) were associated with an increased risk of presenting high intensity infestation with V. destructor (>3 %). On the other hand, replacing queens (in more than 50%) (OR= 0.327; 95% CI: 0.121-0.882), colonies fed protein with natural pollen (OR= 0.336; 95% CI: 0.125-0.905) and fed carbohydrates with High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) (OR= 0.092; 95% CI: 0.028-0.300), were associated with a reduced risk of presenting high intensity infestation with V. destructor (>3 %). Further research should be conducted considering that certain management practices were associated to mite infestation level in order to improve the sanitary condition in the colonies. Epidemiological studies provide key information to design surveillance programs against one the major threat to worldwide beekeeping.