Cold Ambient Temperature Promotes Nosema spp. Intensity in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera).

ABSTRACT: Interactions between parasites and environmental factors have been implicated in the loss of managed Western honey bee (=HB, Apis mellifera) colonies. Although laboratory data suggest that cold temperature may limit the spread of Nosema ceranae, an invasive species and now ubiquitous endoparasite of Western HBs, the impact of weather conditions on the distribution of this microsporidian in the field is poorly understood. Here, we conducted a survey for Nosema spp. using 18 Swiss apiaries (four colonies per apiary) over a period of up to 18 months. Samples consisting of 60 workers were collected monthly from each colony to estimate Nosema spp. intensity, i.e., the number of spores in positive samples using microscopy. Ambient apiary temperature was measured daily to estimate the proportion

SUBMITTER: Retschnig G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5371948 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature