Chris asks:
> Which virus?
CCD:
Since Jerry B. is on the list today perhaps he could answer better but my
understanding KBV was found in 100% of samples and IAPV (which we now
realize and didn't at first could have been one of the three now found IAPV
variations and all three could be simply a variation of KBV) was found in
around 80 pus percent of samples tested.
Only KBV and nosema ceranae was published as being found 100% of the
samples.
My early and kept quiet Florida involvement before CCD and looking back
seems a different issue although some have said privately was CCD but in my
opinion many things back then did not fit the pattern.
The Florida research I was involved with several years earlier than the
naming of CCD .
Turned up three virus . However KBV was not one of the virus found then.
The same virus was found in both the hives crashing and the healthy (or at
least seemingly healthy ) hives.
KBV was turned up in Florida by the USDA-ARS a couple years later. I do not
believe the U.K. researchers would have missed KBV in the Florida earlier
samples but it is what it is.
What we were observing mostly back then was bee mortality in developing
pupae. Because virus was detected in samples virus was suspected as the
cause. Loss of adult populations was common.
Temik was a prime suspect but time of year was suspect. Nosema ceranae no
doubt was a factor back then but were not told was not in the U.S. yet and
although I personally found high nosema spore counts we thought the nosema
were nosema apis.
I wish some of those samples were still around but they are not!
We actually asked Beltsville if they were checking to see if nosema ceranae
was in the U.S. They said yes they were checking as in parts of Europe
hives crashing were being blamed on the new nosema strain.
Not in U.S. yet. Then with CCD the new nosema was turned up. Only the new
nosema now is traced back into the 80's.
bob
****************************************************
* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm *
****************************************************
