title: PCR-specific detection of recently described Lotmaria passim (Trypanosomatidae) in Chilean apiaries.
abstract: The recently described trypanosome Lotmaria passim is currently considered the most predominant trypanosomatid in honey bees worldwide and could be a factor in honey bee declines. For a specific and quick detection of this pathogen, we developed primers based on the SSU rRNA and gGAPDH genes for the detection of L. passim in Chilean honey beehives. PCR products amplified and sequenced for these primers shared 99-100% identity with other sequences of L. passim. The designed primers were specific and we were able to detect a high prevalence (40-90%) of L. passim in bee hives distributed throughout Chile. Our described PCR-based method offers a feasible and specific detection of L. passim in any honey bee samples.
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Virology and Bee Pathology, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile.
authors.forename: Nolberto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Arismendi
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Virology and Bee Pathology, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bruna
authors.affiliation: Departament of Plant Production, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zapata
authors.affiliation: Laboratories of Virology and Bee Pathology, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile. Electronic address: marisolvargas@udec.cl.
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vargas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001516:Bees / Q000469:parasitology*; D002677:Chile; D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000737:chemistry; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014351:Trypanosomatina / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D016054:DNA, Protozoan
keywords: Honey bee; Lotmaria passim; PCR detection; Specific primers; Trypanosomatidae