>So what are the differences between the three in terms of symptoms, if we
accept that all 3 sets of conditions proved fatal to large numbers of hives?
Why would there need to be differences?  Any number of preexisting viruses
could well have added to the physiological stresses and behavioral changes
to the bees due to them needing to deal with a novel strain of nosema (N.
ceranae rapidly mutates).  This is especially possible due to nosema
suppressing the antiviral apoptosis of the bees' gut villi, thus allowing
for per os transmission of the viruses.  This could have led to rapid
colony depopulation, no matter which virus was involved.
Once the bee population had "adjusted" to the invasion of N. ceranae,
things could have gone back to "normal."
Until someone offers a better explanatory hypothesis, that's the best that
I've come up with.
Randy Oliver
Grass Valley, CA
530 277 4450
ScientificBeekeeping.com


>

             ***********************************************
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