> One would think that if mites were capable of DWV infection, there would be a reduction in their fitness do the energetic cost of viral replication.

Hi Bill
I am certainly not going to venture an opinion on virus replication, but I will say that viruses can exist in their hosts and do little or no damage. As Bailey and Ball pointed out decades ago, healthy bees carry pathogens. It is not the pathogens per se that make the disease, it's the lack of sufficient response to keep the numbers down.

PLB

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html