Venereal and vertical transmission of deformed wing virus in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.).
Deformed wing virus (DWV) infected semen was used for artificial insemination of DWV-free virgin queens. High titres of DWV could subsequently be detected not only in the spermatheca, but also in the ovaries, demonstrating venereal transmission of DWV in honey bees. Subsequent vertical transmission of the virus to the progeny of DWV infected queens was also demonstrated. Neither transmission route is 100% effective. Whether venereal transmission of DWV occurs during natural mating remains to be determined. The implications for the use, sale and transport of semen samples for artificial insemination are discussed.
de Miranda
J R
JR
Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 750-07, Sweden. joachimdemiranda@yahoo.com
Fries
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D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000821:virology*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary*; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D008297:Male; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000472:pathogenicity; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000821:virology
D012367:RNA, Viral