Evidently, the infested hives had more drifted bees than the uninfested ones. They state: "Varroa-infested colonies show an enhanced attraction of drifting workers."

Why does that seem a little odd to me?   Why would  high mite loads cause drifters to head towards those hives???  What in a "sick hive"  would be more attractive than the bees original hive?  
My first thought is that the mite hive was more accepting of drifters,  but we know that a drifter with a load of nectar or pollen is usually accepted anyway.

Seems  a bit peculiar to my thinking??  Any suggestions on why that would be?

Charles

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