title: Widespread occurrence of honey bee pathogens in solitary bees.
abstract: Solitary bees and honey bees from a neighbouring apiary were screened for a broad set of putative pathogens including protists, fungi, spiroplasmas and viruses. Most sampled bees appeared to be infected with multiple parasites. Interestingly, viruses exclusively known from honey bees such as Apis mellifera Filamentous Virus and Varroa destructor Macula-like Virus were also discovered in solitary bees. A microsporidium found in Andrena vaga showed most resemblance to Nosema thomsoni. Our results suggest that bee hives represent a putative source of pathogens for other pollinators. Similarly, solitary bees may act as a reservoir of honey bee pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Zoophysiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium. Electronic address: Jorgen.Ravoet@UGent.be.
authors.forename: Jorgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravoet
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Zoophysiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agrozoology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Meeus
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Agrozoology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smagghe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Socioecology and Social Evolution, K.U. Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wenseleers
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Zoophysiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dirk C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: de Graaf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: Apis mellifera Filamentous Virus; Crithidia mellificae; Honey bees; Lake Sinai Virus; Pathogens