title: The effect of induced queen replacement on Nosema spp. infection in honey bee (Apis mellifera iberiensis) colonies.
abstract: Microsporidiosis of adult honeybees caused by Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae is a common worldwide disease with negative impacts on colony strength and productivity. Few options are available to control the disease at present. The role of the queen in bee population renewal and the replacement of bee losses due to Nosema infection is vital to maintain colony homeostasis. Younger queens have a greater egg laying potential and they produce a greater proportion of uninfected newly eclosed bees to compensate for adult bee losses; hence, a field study was performed to determine the effect of induced queen replacement on Nosema infection in honey bee colonies, focusing on colony strength and honey production. In addition, the impact of long-term Nosema infection of a colony on the ovaries and ventriculus of the queen was evaluated. Queen replacement resulted in a remarkable decrease in the rates of Nosema infection, comparable with that induced by fumagillin treatment. However, detrimental effects on the overall colony state were observed due to the combined effects of stressors such as the queenless condition, lack of brood and high infection rates. The ovaries and ventriculi of queens in infected colonies revealed no signs of Nosema infection and there were no lesions in ovarioles or epithelial ventricular cells.
authors: Laboratorio de Patología Apícola, Centro Apícola Regional, JCCM, 19180 Marchamalo, Spain.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Botías
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Martín-Hernández
authors: Joyce
authors: J
authors: Días
authors: Pilar
authors: P
authors: García-Palencia
authors: María
authors: M
authors: Matabuena
authors: Angeles
authors: A
authors: Juarranz
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Barrios
authors: Aránzazu
authors: A
authors: Meana
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Nanetti
authors: Mariano
authors: M
authors: Higes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001516:Bees / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology; D003510:Cyclohexanes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006722:Honey; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016818:Nosema / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D010053:Ovary / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003510:Cyclohexanes; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; C026211:fumagillin