Rates of single and multiple virus infection in the honey bee, Apis mellifera

Authors

  • Roger Beelen Universidade Federal de Alagoas - UFAL
  • Brian Johnson University of California, Davis

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21708/avb.2017.11.1.6479

Abstract

Colony collapse disorder has increased interest in the role of viruses in honey bee health. In this study, we determine if management practices affect the rates of infection for six common viruses by comparing the rates of infection between migratory, queen breeder, and hobbyist beekeepers. The study found that migratory beekeepers had higher rates of infection for Israeli acute paralysis virus and Kashmir bee virus. Migratory beekeepers also had higher rates of infection by more than one virus within a single colony. These results highlight the importance of management practices, perhaps including housing bees at high density, for the prevention of viral infection.

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Author Biographies

Roger Beelen, Universidade Federal de Alagoas - UFAL

Centro de Ciências Agrárias Departamento de Zootecnia Laboratório de Abelhas

Brian Johnson, University of California, Davis

Department of Entomology Harry Laidlaw Bee Biology Lab

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Published

2017-04-18

Issue

Section

Short Communications / Comunicações curtas