The aim of the current study was to investigate the potential of gamma irradiation to inactivate multiple honey bee pathogens that can be found in hive products. Since much of the previous work regarding honey bees have focused on bacterial pathogens, here we examined the infectivity of Chalkbrood, N. ceranae, the two most prevalent bee viruses—Deformed wing virus (DWV) and Black queen cell virus (BQCV), and a potential emerging viral threat—Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV)

Previous work on the effectiveness of gamma irradiation against honey bee pathogens has focused mainly on the bacterial brood pathogen American foulbrood. Our results also showed that gamma irradiation effectively rendered the fungus Ascosphaera apis (CB), the microsporidian gut parasite Nosema ceranae, and Deformed wing virus (DWV) inactive and reduced infectivity of Black queen cell virus (BQCV). We found less of an effect of irradiation on Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV). 

Subsequent studies aim to determine the potential long-term benefits that using gamma-irradiated comb in standard beekeeping practices can have on colony health and productivity. Since it has been suggested that placing colonies on irradiated comb may be beneficial and the work here has demonstrated clear, immediate effects against a suite of honey bee pathogens, the logical next step is to fully test the effects on actual honey bee colonies. 

Simone-Finstrom, M., Aronstein, K., Goblirsch, M., Rinkevich, F., & de Guzman, L. (2018). Gamma irradiation inactivates honey bee fungal, microsporidian, and viral pathogens and parasites. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology.

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