Molecular detection and phylogenetic assessment of six honeybee viruses in Apis mellifera L. colonies in Bulgaria
Rositsa Shumkova,
Boyko Neov,
Daniela Sirakova,
Ani Georgieva,
Dimitar Gadjev,
Denitsa Teofanova,
Georgi Radoslavov,
Maria Bouga,
Peter Hristov
Affiliations
Rositsa Shumkova
Agricultural and Stockbreeding Experimental Station, Agricultural Academy, Smolyan, Bulgaria
Boyko Neov
Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Daniela Sirakova
Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Ani Georgieva
Department of Pathology, Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Dimitar Gadjev
Agricultural and Stockbreeding Experimental Station, Agricultural Academy, Smolyan, Bulgaria
Denitsa Teofanova
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria
Georgi Radoslavov
Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Maria Bouga
Laboratory of Agricultural Zoology and Entomology, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece
Peter Hristov
Department of Animal Diversity and Resources, Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Honey bee colonies suffer from various pathogens, including honey bee viruses. About 24 viruses have been reported so far. However, six of them are considered to cause severe infection which inflicts heavy losses on beekeeping. The aim of this study was to investigate incidence of six honey bee viruses: deformed wing virus (DWV), acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV), sacbrood virus (SBV), kashmir bee virus (KBV), and black queen cell virus (BQCV) by a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A total of 250 adult honey bee samples were obtained from 50 colonies from eight apiaries situated in three different parts of the country (South, North and West Bulgaria). The results showed the highest prevalence of DWV followed by SBV and ABPV, and one case of BQCV. A comparison with homology sequences available in GenBank was performed by phylogenetic analysis, and phylogenetic relationships were discussed in the context of newly described genotypes in the uninvestigated South Eastern region of Europe. In conclusion, the present study has been the first to provide sequencing data and phylogenetics analyses of some honey bee viruses in Bulgaria.
