Bob Harrison wrote:

>The researchers I have spoken with have always came back to what we call
>nosema ceranae being a variant of nosema vespula and was contracted from
>wasps.

Would you mind telling us who thinks that?

* * *

> [Researchers] discovered a novel species of the Genus Nosema, Family
Nosematidae, Order Microsporida, Class Microsporea, Phylum Protozoa which is
pathogenic to susceptible host insects. This new species has been designated
Nosema vespula.

> Nosema vespula was isolated in a nest of Vespula germanica which was
collected at Lysterfield Park in Victoria, Australia. A total of four nests
were collected from that area and only one was found to be infected with N.
vespula. Strains of Kashmir Bee virus in V. germanica were being studied
when it was realised that the larvae and pupae from this particular nest
were infected with another pathogen. Larvae and pupae were squashed onto
slides and observation under light microscopy showed that these hosts were
severely infected with Nosema. The spores were isolated from the wasp.

* * *

> Phylogenetic analysis of the rRNA gene sequence data placed N. apis as a
close relative of the microsporidian Viarimorpha lymenantra and N. vespula.
The species of the genus Viarimorpha often parasitise butterfly and moth
species, while N. vespula was isolated from the European wasp Vespula
germanica. Initially, N. vespula was chosen as a model organism to test the
biological activity of thymol. This organism was chosen because it is easily
maintained in the laboratory.

> Statistical analysis of the data demonstrated that thymol was biologically
active against N. vespula. A diet containing 0.15mM thymol was found to
prevent N. vespula infections in more than 50% of caterpillars inoculated.
Feeding of diet containing thymol prior to infection was not found to be of
significant value in preventing infection

-- 
Peter L Borst
Danby, NY USA
42.35, -76.50
http://picasaweb.google.com/peterlborst

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