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Date: | Tue, 13 Apr 2021 09:35:16 -0400 |
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Adaptation to vector-based transmission in a honey bee virus
MS AMANDA M NORTON
Published: 12 April 2021 by Wiley in Journal of Animal Ecology
ABSTRACT
1. The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is considered to be the most significant threat to honey bees due to
its role in vectoring RNA viruses, particularly Deformed wing virus (DWV). Vector
transmission of DWV has resulted in the accumulation of high viral loads in honey bees
and is often associated with colony death. DWV has two main genotypes, A and B. DWV-A
was more prevalent during the initial phase of V. destructor establishment. In recent
years, the global prevalence of DWV-B has increased, suggesting that DWV-B is better
adapted to vector transmission than DWV-A.
2. We aimed to determine the role vector transmission plays in DWV genotype prevalence at
a colony level.
3. We experimentally increased or decreased the number of V. destructor mites in honey bee
colonies, and tracked DWV-A and DWV-B loads over a period of ten months.
4. Our results show that the two DWV genotypes differ in their response to mite numbers.
DWV-A accumulation in honey bees was positively correlated with mite numbers yet
DWV-A was largely undetected in the absence of the mite. In contrast, colonies had high
loads of DWV-B even when mite numbers were low. DWV-B loads persisted in miticide
treated colonies, indicating that this genotype has a competitive advantage over DWV-A
irrespective of mite numbers.
5. Our findings suggest that the global increase in DWV-B prevalence is not driven by
selective pressure by the vector. Rather, DWV-B is able to persist in colonies at higher
viral loads relative to DWV-A in the presence and absence of V. destructor. The interplay
between V. destructor and DWV genotypes within honey bee colonies may have broad
consequences upon viral diversity in sympatric taxa as a result of spill-over.
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