title: External and internal detection of Nosema ceranae on honey bees using real-time PCR.
abstract: Numerous methods exist for molecular-based detection of Nosema ceranae. Here we determine location of parasite loads, the optimal tissue for pathogen detection, and the likely sources of variability among assays. Bee washes and head/thorax samples revealed substantial N. ceranae loads (2.67×10(4)±1.12×10(4) and 1.83×10(4)±4.14×10(3)). Midgut samples carried the highest parasite loads (3.42×10(6)±1.84×10(6)), followed by the hindgut (5.50×10(5)±3.24×10(5)). We recommend using midgut samples for molecular-based detection and quantification of N. ceranae because of the low variability among samples.
authors.affiliation: USDA-ARS Honey Bee Breeding, Genetics, and Physiology Laboratory, 1157 Ben Hur Rd. Baton Rouge, LA 70820, United States. lanie.bourgeois@ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: Lelania
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bourgeois
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Beaman
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Rinderer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000469:parasitology*; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000469:parasitology; D016881:Microsporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000662:veterinary*; D016818:Nosema / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal