Bob writes: > In fact nosema cerane is similar to nosema vespula (wasp nosema ) than 
nosema apis.

This refers to work done by Judy Chen and all, that uses DNA analysis to study the 
genetics of the various species. They place nosema ceranae close to nosema vespula and 
another species that attacks the gypsy moth. Nosema apis is more closely related to a 
species that infests bumble bees.

However, one must not be misled into thinking that the DNA relationships directly reflect 
the symptoms or characteristics of these slightly different organisms, especially as they 
affect hosts other than their "original host".

All of these nosema and nosema-like parasites may have origins that can't be discovered 
since they occurred long ago. So, truthfully, it matters little what the original host or 
alternate host symptoms are.

What matters is how it affects our bees, and what can be done about it. By the way, in 
the samples taken at Beltsville showed 100 percent Nosema ceranae, no N. apis.

* * *

> The disease signs such as dysentery or crawling behavior or milky white coloration of 
gut, that are usually associated with N. apis infection, have never been described in N. 
ceranae-infected bees. It is not clear why N. ceranae has different pathological effects on 
the host A. mellifera compared with N. apis. As with many other new and emerging 
pathogens, we are just beginning to scratch the surface of understanding how N. ceranae 
adopt and establish infection in the new host. -- Judy Chen, (2009)

Morphological, Molecular, and Phylogenetic Characterization of Nosema ceranae, a 
Microsporidian Parasite Isolated from the European Honey Bee, Apis mellifera by 
YANPING P. CHEN, et al, in J. Eukaryot. Microbiol., 56(2), 2009 pp. 142–147 

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