TEKTRAN
United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
Updated: 1998-12-18
 
SEROLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR EVIDENCE FOR KASHMIR BEE VIRUS TRANSMISSION BY THE PARASITIC
MITE, 'VARROA' JACOBSONI
 
Author(s):
HUNG AKEY C
PENG CHRISTINE Y
SHIMANUKI HACHIRO
 
Interpretive Summary:
Serological and molecular methods were used to detect the presence of
Kashmir bee virus (KBV) in a transmission experiment. Although KBV was
found only in one of the 36 'Varroa'-infested bees tested, this virus
was found in 'Varroa' mites and the healthy bees after being inoculated
with 'Varroa'. Molecular analysis showed that in the nucleotide
sequences of the KBV from the mite-infested bee, 'Varroa' and the
inoculated bees were almost identical. This study provides a more
definitive evidence that 'Varroa' mites transmit Kashmir bee virus from
diseased bees to healthy bees. This information will greatly facilitate
our research in developing strategies for beekeepers to control viral
diseases in honey bees.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
MOLECULAR STUDIES IN THREE STAINS OF KASHMIR BEE VIRUS
 
Author(s):
HUNG AKEY C
SHIMANUKI HACHIRO
 
Interpretive Summary:
At least 16 viruses have been isolated from honey bees. Due to their
association with the parasitic mite 'Varroa' jacobsoni, honey bee
viruses (acute paralysis virus and Kashmir bee virus in particular) are
increasingly of interest to both bee researchers and beekeepers. Most
honey bee viruses are morphologically indistinguishable by electron
microscope. We used molecular methods to study strains of Kashmir bee
virus from Australia, Canada, and the U.S. There was a 97.4% nucleotide
sequence similarity between Canadian and U.S. strains and a 81.2%
similarity between the Australian strain and the two North American
strains. These three KBV strains could be further differentiated by
differences in the cleavage sites of two restriction enzymes. This
information will greatly facilitate our research in the detection of
honey bee viruses and in developing strategies for beekeepers to control
viral diseases in honey bees and to determine their economic impact on
U.S. beekeeping industry.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
THE ROLE OF VIRUSES IN BEE PARASITIC MITE SYNDROME
 
Author(s):
HUNG AKEY C
SHIMANUKI HACHIRO
KNOX DAVID A
 
Interpretive Summary:
Bee parasitic mite syndrome (BPMS)is the term proposed for the condition
that results in high mortality in U. S. honey bee colonies infested by
parasitic mites. The possible causes of BPMS have not been identified.
Honey bee colony losses due to the infestation of the parasitic mite, '
Varroa' jacobsoni in Europe has been associated with acute paralysis
virus (APV) and other honey bee viruses. With the spread of 'Varroa' to
the U. S. and the report of APV and Kashmir bee virus (KBV) in this
country, it is possible that APV and KBV may be involved in BPMS.
However, our study showed that the majority (62%) of dead adult bees
collected from two colonies with BPMS did not contain virus. Therefore,
viral infection is not the sole contributing factor in BPMS. This
information is important in understanding the etiology of honey bee
diseases and will help scientists to design strategies for the U. S.
beekeepers to control honey bee diseases.
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEKTRAN
United States Department of Agriculture
National Agricultural Library
Technology Transfer Information Center
URL of this page: http://www.nalusda.gov/ttic/cgi-bin/tektran-absV3.pl
For comments and questions, contact [log in to unmask]