Virology Journal (Mar 2006)

Localization of deformed wing virus infection in queen and drone <it>Apis mellifera </it>L

  • Colin Marc,
  • Cousserans François,
  • de Miranda Joachim,
  • Gauthier Laurent,
  • Tentcheva Diana,
  • Fievet Julie,
  • Bergoin Max

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1743-422X-3-16
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 1
p. 16

Abstract

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Abstract The distribution of deformed wing virus infection within the honey bee reproductive castes (queens, drones) was investigated by in situ hybridization and immunohistology from paraffin embedded sections. Digoxygenin or CY5.5 fluorochrome end-labelled nucleotide probes hybridizing to the 3' portion of the DWV genome were used to identify DWV RNA, while a monospecific antibody to the DWV-VP1 structural protein was used to identify viral proteins and particles. The histological data were confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR of dissected organs. Results showed that DWV infection is not restricted to the digestive tract of the bee but spread in the whole body, including queen ovaries, queen fat body and drone seminal vesicles.