Monitoring of Nosema Infections Levels During Hygienic Honey Bee Breeding Programs in Turkey

Abstract

The objective of this study was to follow Nosema infection levels and species under hygienic bee breeding program for resistance to American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae). The incidence of Nosema parasite infection levels and detection of the species of Nosema were evaluated in 5 periods during 2012-2014 for Mugla honey bees known as an ecotype of Apis mellifera anatoliaca in the hygienic bee breeding program. During the hygienic breeding program, no organic or synthetic chemical treatments were applied against nosemosis in the colonies. The incidences of Nosema spores were followed in 123 colonies at five time periods. Although the correlations were negative for between spores-temperature ( r = - 0.115; P> 0.01) and positive for spores-humidity ( r = 0.013; P> 0.01) but not significant statistically. Molecular diagnosis showed that only N. ceranae spores were detected from samples during 5 seasons. In conclusion, nosema infection levels decreased under hygienic bee breeding programme but further monitoring studies should be performed in order to decide whether the nosema spores decrease due to hygienic behavior. To our knowledge, this is the first long-term and unique study for observation of Nosema during breeding program in Turkey so far.