Ascosphaera apis is a dangerous entomopathogenic fungus, afflicting both honeybees and bumblebees. This molecular analysis, simultaneously identified the presence of spores of nosema spp. Pdf the fungus ascosphaera apis is a worldwide fungal pathogen of honey bees. Here we explore the incidence and abundance of currently known. Therefore, guaranteeing pathogen free bumble bees is fundamental. Oise and four viruses cbpv, dwv, iapv and sbv in 17 pollen batches from two major european pollen source regions spain and romania. Abstract we report factors that are limiting for ascosphaera apis growth. Ascosphaera apis is an important fungal pathogen of honey bees. Nuclei were released by crushing spores and hyphae with. Water activity of the bee fungal pathogen ascosphaera apis.
We investigated fungicide activity of cyclic synthetic. The reproductive ascospores of the fungus are produced within a unique structure, the spore cyst, or sporocyst. Spiltoir2 the fungus under study, a common parasite of bee larvae in europe, has gained recognition during the past thirty years as a transitional form between the phycomycetes and ascomycetes. Inhibition of ascosphaera apis by citral and geraniol. Chalkbrood disease of the honey bee is caused by ascosphaera apis maassen ex claussen, a filamentous fungus that exclusively infects bee larvae. We identified seven parasites apicystis bombi, ascosphaera apis, crithidia mellificae, nosema ceranae, paenibacillus larvae and two parasites. It has been placed in the hemiascomycetes by different authors. Size of ascosphaera apis colonies mm on days 1, 3 and 9 of the experiment on mediums containing beevital kalkbrut concentration of beevital kalkbrut in medium 3. This pathogen affects honey bee larvae, which become infected upon ingestion of a. In vitro control of ascosphaera apis fungus by some plant. Pdf honey beecollected pollen is a potential source of. Molecules free fulltext cyclic synthetic peroxides inhibit growth.
This brood disease, known as chalkbrood, was later observed in a solitary bee in london. Understanding the molecular bases underlying immune response to chalkbrood disease would facilitate the genetic breeding of bees by selecting races with superior chalkbrood resistance. Pdf enzymatic activity of strains of ascosphaera apis. In total, 394,910,604 sequencing reads were produced and 12,989 unigenes were. Spores of this fungus germinate within the digestive tract of bees, then begin mycelial growth during the last instar of larval development. Enzymatic activity of strains of ascosphaera apis, an. Ascosphaera, could also be used to identify coinfections.
These fungi generate a natural defense shield for protection against potential microbial diseases, such as chalkbrood ascosphaera apis, and play a role in the manufacture of bee bread, which is a fungal fermentation product of pollen gilliam, 1979. Ascosphaera was first discovered in the early 20 th century in europe after a. Spores of ascosphaera apis contained in wax foundation can. Nowadays, its rearing and transport have received public attention, since managed bees can transfer pathogens to wild bee populations.
Pcr diagnostic methods for ascosphaera infections in bees. The heterothallic fungus, ascosphaera apis maassen ex claussen. Ascosphaera is a genus of fungi in the family ascosphaeraceae. A reference free functional annotation was achieved for a. Honey beecollected pollen is a potential source of ascosphaera apis infection in managed bumble bees skip to main content thank you for visiting. Twentytwo ascosphaera apis isolates collected from apiaries throughout hungary were involved in this study. Sexual spores ascospores that are the primary infective agent of chalkbrood disease. In vitro inhibitory activity of essential oil vapors. Pdf microsatellite loci for the fungus ascosphaera apis.
After ingestion, fungal spores germinate in the larval gut, mycelia cross the gut lining and proliferate through the body. The address for the corresponding author was captured as affiliation for all authors. Ascosphaera apis causes chalkbrood disease mainly in honey bees, a condition that may not necessarily be serious depending upon the hygienic behavior of the insects. Product description mycoreal kit ascosphaera apis is a realtime pcr kit for detection of ascosphaera apis dna. Two different mating types mat1 and mat2 exist in a. We present a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of the fungus ascosphaera apis, an economically important pathogen of the western honey bee apis mellifera that causes chalkbrood disease. Mar 12, 2019 honey beecollected pollen is a potential source of ascosphaera apis infection in managed bumble bees skip to main content thank you for visiting. Dec 18, 2018 chalkbrood, which results from ascosphaera apis infection, is one of the bee diseases that causes serious damage to the bee colony. The samples of pollen were diluted in 45 ml of sterile distilled water.
Spore morphology and ultrastructure of an ascosphaera apis. Note enzymatic activity of strains ascosphaera apis, an entomopathogenic fungus of the honey bee, apis mellifera m gilliam, bj lorenz us department of agriculture, agricultural research service, carl hayden bee research center, 2000 e. Transcriptional profiling reveals the molecular bases of. Ascosphaera apis is an intestinally infective, sporeforming, filamentous fungus that infects honeybees and causes deadly chalkbrood disease. Several species have similar life histories and pathologies that are comparable to a. We report here on pcr diagnostic methods to identify the ascosphaera species that occur in association with megachile bees, and for a. The presence of ascosphaera apis, a fungus that is the causative agent of chalkbrood disease, was surveyed in japan using a diagnostic polymerase chain reaction pcr. Pdf nowadays several invertebrate pollinators of crops and wild plants are in decline as. In vitro control of ascosphaera apis fungus by some plant extracts prepared by ashraf a. All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so dont worry about it. Pathogenfree bumble bee management is essential in order to limit spillover dynamics or. Uncovering the immune responses of apis mellifera ligustica. The causative agent of chalkbrood disease in honey bees, ascosphaera apis, was detected in all hives obtained from one supplier source, although none of the hives showed symptoms of infection. Ascosphaera apis is a fungal pathogen of honey bee larvae genus apis and is responsible for chalkbrood disease.
The fungus ascosphaera apis plectomycetes, ascosphaeraceae maassen ex claussen, is the causative agent of chalkbrood disease in honey bees apis mellifera l. This test was developed for the applied biosystems 7500 fast instrument thermo fisher scientific, lightcycler 480 roche and for. A possible reason for this is the toxic effects of agrochemicals reducing the immunity of insects that leads to their increased susceptibility to pathogens. Molecules free fulltext cyclic synthetic peroxides. We are exploring noninvasive treatment methods that both reduces mortality and preserves the edibility of the honey. Water activity of the bee fungal pathogen ascosphaera apis in. Pdf ascosphaera apis, the entomopathogenic fungus affecting. The process of infecting honeybee colonies is variable.
In vitro control of ascosphaera apis fungus by some plant extracts. Ascosphaera apis, the entomopathogenic fungus affecting larvae of native bees xylocopa augusti. Jun 18, 2015 although chalk brood has a global distribution, little is known about australian strains of a. Domesticated honey bees face numerous pests and pathogens, tempting hypotheses that colony collapses arise from exposure to new or resurgent pathogens.
Genome sequences of the honey bee pathogens paenibacillus. Examination of sensitivity of ascosphaera apis strains. Ascosphaera apis was detected in queens of all three bumble bee species examined. The larvae victims of this disease have a chalky white appearance. Ascosphaera apis is the fungus that causes chalkbrood disease in honey bees. None of these characteristics changed from cycling or. Honey beecollected pollen is a potential source of. First detection of the larval chalkbrood disease pathogen.
Adult honey bees are not susceptible to infection but can disperse spores, particularly via food sharing. Ascosphaera apis genome size was estimated using the flow cytometry method bennett et al. Although chalk brood has a global distribution, little is known about australian strains of a. Honey beecollected pollen is a potential source of ascosphaera. Download spores of ascosphaera apis contained in wax foundation can. Margetts entomology section, ottawa research station, research branch, agriculture canada, ottatra kia oc6, canada received october 11, 1978 in vitro tests showed that citral and geraniol inhibited the fungus ascosphaera apis which causes chalkbrood. Genome sequences of the honey bee pathogens paenibacillus larvae and ascosphaera apis. Ascosphaera exhibits remarkable habitat specificity.
Read online spores of ascosphaera apis contained in wax foundation can. A total of 336 individual european honeybees apis mellifera were taken from 25 different apiaries in various regions of japan. It primarily infects alfalfa leafcutting bees, megachile rotundata. Four aliquots 20 ml of honey, 10 g of pollen and 5 g of royal jelly were. Ascosphaera callicarpa, a new species of beeloving fungus. Based in the detection limits of the multiplex pcr guimaraescestaro et al. Ascosphaera apis maassen ex claussen olive et spiltoir.
The development of chalkbrood disease is connected with the prevalence of the fungus in honeybee colonies, in the hive environment, in populations of solitary bees and other wild insects, as well as with factors that decrease colony immunity harbo 1995, spivak and downey 1998. Allen road, tucson, az 85719, usa received 11 may 1992. Ascosphaera apis was capable of infecting bumble bees. Stonebrood, which affects both brood and adults, is also caused by a fungus, aspergillus flavus, which can usually be isolated from bees that have stonebrood. Chalkbrood, which results from ascosphaera apis infection, is one of the bee diseases that causes serious damage to the bee colony. In this study, the fine morphology and ultrastructure of an isolate, a. Chalkbrood, caused by ascosphaera apis, is a common and widespread disease that can result in severe reduction of emerging worker bees and thus overall colony productivity. Ascosphaera apis can be isolated from fresh mummies or dry mummies collected directly from brood frames or mummies from the bottom board or hive entrance. Recent losses in honey bee colonies are unusual in their severity, geographical distribution, and, in some cases, failure to present recognized characteristics of known disease.
Transcriptome profiling reveals insertional mutagenesis. The trade of bumble bees started in the early nineties for pollinatordependent greenhouse plants. Transcriptome analysis of the honey bee fungal pathogen. Fungicide contamination reduces beneficial fungi in bee. Journal of invertebrate pathology 34, 5761 1979 inhibition of ascosphaera apis by citral and geraniol t. Life cycle of ascosphaera apis pericystis apis 1 charles f. Ascosphaera apis maassen ex claussen olive and spiltoir, is the causative agent of chalkbrood disease in honey bees apis mellifera l. In recent years, the number of pollinators in the world has significantly decreased. Examination of sensitivity of ascosphaera apis strains, the causative agent of chalkbrood disease of honey bee apis mellifera l. Media in category ascosphaera the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Chalkbrood and stonebrood are two fungal diseases associated with honey bee brood. The major protein source used in rearing facilities is honey beecollected pollen. Ascosphaera apis is the fungal cause of the honey bee apis mellifera larval disease chalkbrood. Examination of sensitivity of ascosphaera apis strains, the.
753 908 993 800 1070 104 1340 937 1154 532 408 1221 355 64 370 348 603 325 682 237 1287 890 465 875 899 229 1181 1347 17 601