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

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.