title: Detection of viral sequences in semen of honeybees (Apis mellifera): evidence for vertical transmission of viruses through drones.
abstract: Honeybees (Apis mellifera) can be attacked by many eukaryotic parasites, and bacterial as well as viral pathogens. Especially in combination with the ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor, viral honeybee diseases are becoming a major problem in apiculture, causing economic losses worldwide. Several horizontal transmission routes are described for some honeybee viruses. Here, we report for the first time the detection of viral sequences in semen of honeybee drones suggesting mating as another horizontal and/or vertical route of virus transmission. Since artificial insemination and controlled mating is widely used in honeybee breeding, the impact of our findings for disease transmission is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Bee Research, Friedrich-Engels-Str. 32, D-16540 Hohen Neuendorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Constanze
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: Kaspar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bienefeld
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Genersch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000821:virology*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral