title: Molecular detection of Spiroplasma apis and Spiroplasma melliferum in bees.
abstract: Spiroplasma apis and Spiroplasma melliferum are known as honey bee pathogens and are detected by unspecific methodologies like culturing or dark field microscopy. We developed a multiplex PCR being able to differentiate between both species and detect the genus Spiroplasma. This PCR can directly be used on culture samples or on DNA extracted bees. By PCR on cultured samples we were able to identify S. apis in Bombus pratorum and S. melliferum in Bombus pascuorum.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Crop Protection, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. ivan.meeus@ugent.be
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meeus
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vercruysse
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smagghe
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000382:microbiology*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005060:Europe; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012703:Serotyping; D013149:Spiroplasma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial