Neonicotinoid-Coated Zea mays Seeds Indirectly Affect Honeybee Performance
and Pathogen Susceptibility in Field Trials.
http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0125790


Abstract:

Thirty-two honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies were studied in order to
detect and measure potential in vivo effects of neonicotinoid pesticides
used in cornfields (Zea mays spp) on honeybee health. Honeybee colonies were
randomly split on four different agricultural cornfield areas located near
Quebec City, Canada. Two locations contained cornfields treated with a
seed-coated systemic neonicotinoid insecticide while the two others were
organic cornfields used as control treatments. Hives were extensively
monitored for their performance and health traits over a period of two
years. Honeybee viruses (brood queen cell
virus BQCV, deformed wing virus DWV, and Israeli acute paralysis virus IAPV)
and the brain specific expression of a biomarker of host physiological
stress, the Acetylcholinesterase gene AChE, were investigated using RT-qPCR.
Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was performed to detect
pesticide residues in adult bees, honey, pollen, and corn flowers collected
from the studied hives in each location. In addition, general hive
conditions were assessed by monitoring colony weight and brood development.
Neonicotinoids were only identified in corn flowers at low concentrations.
However, honeybee colonies located in neonicotinoid treated cornfields
expressed significantly higher pathogen infection than those located in
untreated cornfields. AChE levels showed elevated levels among honeybees
that collected corn pollen from treated fields. Positive correlations were
recorded between pathogens and the treated locations. Our data suggests that
neonicotinoids
indirectly weaken honeybee health by inducing physiological stress and
increasing pathogen loads.

OPEN ACCESS
Citation: Alburaki M, Boutin S, Mercier P-L, Loublier Y, Chagnon M, Derome N
(2015) Neonicotinoid-Coated Zea mays Seeds Indirectly Affect Honeybee
Performance and Pathogen Susceptibility in Field Trials. 
PLoS ONE 10(5): e0125790. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125790
Academic Editor: Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Rutgers
Received: November 8, 2013 - Accepted: March 26, 2015 - Published: May 18,
2015
Funding: The funder is Conseil pour le Développement de l’Agricuture du
Québec (CDAQ).
The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis,
decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Kind regards,

Ghislain De Roeck,
Belgium.

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