We report the presence of the species N. apis and N. ceranae in 
Africanized A. mellifera drones that were collected in 1979 in southern Brazil.

N. apis and N. ceranae have infected A. mellifera in Brazil for at least
34 years, the oldest finding of N. ceranae globally.

These facts, along with the chronic nature of N. ceranae infection 
have led to the suggestion that this species is not a new pathogen
in a new host

Previous studies in Brazil, based only on light microscopic
analyses, reported a high prevalence of N. apis
in Brazilian apiaries, but without clinical signs or a need to 
implement chemical therapy. The greater disease tolerance found in 
Africanized compared to European A. mellifera could have
been a factor in this lack of Nosema-infection symptomatology. 

Currently, even with high prevalence of N. ceranae in Brazilian apiaries,
the official policy is not to use chemical products or drugs, due to
uncertainties about whether this pathogen actually impacts colony
health. 

Journal of Invertebrate Pathology xxx (2013) xxx–xxx

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