Genetic variation and widespread dispersal of Nosema ceranae in Apis mellifera colonies of Argentina

MEDICI, S. K.; SARLO, E. G.; MARTÍN P. PORRINI; BRAUNSTEIN, M.; EGUARAS M, J.

PARASITOLOGY RESEARCH

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2012 vol. 110 p. 859 - 864

0932-0113

Abstract Using molecular techniques, we documented thepresence of Nosema ceranae in honeybees (Apis mellífera)from Argentina. Samples were collected from A. melliferacolonies in 38 districts of Buenos Aires province, Argentina.Molecular characterization was achieved with a multiplexPCR-based method, which allows parallel diagnosis of N.ceranae and N. osema apis. N. ceranae was identified in allthe samples analyzed. Moreover, coinfections with N. apiswere detected in Balcarce and Maipú districts. We identifiedthree rRNA sequence variants of N. ceranae, which mayrepresent diverse sources of bee importation. The resultssuggest that N. ceranae is widely distributed in Argentinaand that the genetic variation observed between the differentisolates could be related with the difference in the symptomatologyfound previously by our work group. Our resultshighlight the need to re-assess the health protocols currentlyin force so that they recognize N. ceranae as the main causalagent of Nosemosis in this country.