Bees on the Run: Spp. (Microsporidia) in and Related Products, Italy

Overview

Journal Front Vet Sci

Date 2025 Jan 21

PMID 39834918

Authors

Giovanni Sgroi

Luigi Jacopo DAuria

Maria Gabriella Lucibelli

Andrea Mancusi

Yolande Theresa Rose Proroga

Mauro Esposito

Simona Rea

Daniel Signorelli

Federica Gargano

Nicola DAlessio

Ranju Ravindran Santhakumari Manoj

Peyman Khademi

Giuseppe Rofrano

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The decline of the European/western honeybee () population is on account of a plethora of microorganisms, such as and , two microsporidian fungi responsible of nosemosis that affects welfare and production of the bee industry. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the presence of both pathogens in bees, pollen and honey from apiaries in Southwestern Italy.

Methods: From March to July 2022 and 2023, apiaries ( = 10) were selected and classified as High Impact Areas (HIAs,  = 5) and Low Impact Areas (LIAs,  = 5) according to a 5-point environmental risk index based on factors affecting bee health sand related productions. Bee, pollen and honey samples, were collected and tested for spp. DNA by specific PCR protocols targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Signs/symptoms of nosemosis were monitored and collected by the cooperation of beekeepers.

Results: Out of 10 apiaries, 6 (i.e., 60%, 95% CI: 31.3-83.2) tested positive for at least one sample to spp. DNA, being 2 positives for , 2 for and 2 co-infected (i.e., 20%, 5.7-51.0). Based on the biological samples, honey was positive for in one apiary, pollen for in two apiaries, and bees for in 3 apiaries, in 1 apiary, and both species in 1 apiary. In all the apiaries positive to and , high mortality and low honey production were observed. A higher risk of infection was observed in apiaries from HIAs ( = 6.00). The sequences of and had 99.5-100% homology with those in the GenBank database. Whereas all sequences of were identical to each other, four sequences types of characterized by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. The computation of polymorphisms revealed high haplotype diversity (i.e.,  = 1.000) and low nucleotide diversity (i.e.,  = 0.00913) of sequence types.

Discussion: This study reveals a high circulation of and in Southwestern Italy, indicating the need for improved monitoring of these microsporidia to protect bee welfare and bee industry.

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