Genetic variations and relationships between deformed wing virus strains infesting honey bees based on structural proteins

Strategies to Mitigate the Adverse Impacts of Viral Infections on Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Colonies

Honey bees (Apis mellifera) play a crucial role in global food production through the pollination of various crops. These vital insects are susceptible to a range of viral pathogens that can disrupt their normal behavior and physiology, ultimately affecting colony dynamics and survival. There are diverse viruses that infect honey bees at different life stages, with a year-round prevalence. There are multiple pathways through which viruses can be transmitted among colonies. Notably, there is also a lack of commercial treatments against viral infections in bees, but some promising strategies exist to mitigate their negative effects, including vector control, and the implementation of good beekeeping practices and biosecurity measures. While methods for treating infected colonies have garnered attention, they receive less focus compared to aspects like transmission methods and seasonal prevalence of viruses. This article aims to review the aforementioned strategies in light of the available literature. It presents succinct and practical approaches categorized based on their potential direct or indirect effects on viruses, providing beekeepers and researchers with an overview of both fully established and still-developing methods. Controlling the ectoparasitic Varroa destructor mite population, which significantly impacts viral prevalence and virulence in bees, is crucial for reducing infections. Practical approaches such as selectively breeding honey bee populations resistant to viruses and ensuring proper nutrition are important strategies. Moreover, genetic methods have also been proposed and tested. The article not only emphasizes these methods but also discusses knowledge gaps and suggests future solutions to improve the health and productivity of honey bee colonies.

Influence of Hyperthermia Treatment on Varroa Infestation, Viral Infections, and Honey Bee Health in Beehives

The mite Varroa destructor is widely acknowledged as the most destructive threat to honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies on a global scale. Varroa mite infestations in bee colonies are intricately linked with viral infections, collaboratively leading to diminished bee populations and accelerated colony losses. Extensive research has firmly established the correlation between varroa mites and viruses, underscoring the mite's efficiency in spreading viruses among bees and colonies. The effective control of varroa mites is expected to result in a decrease in viral infections within bee colonies. Research suggests that thermal treatments (hyperthermia) present a viable approach to combat varroa mites, with studies demonstrating the role of heat stress in reducing viral infections in affected bees. This article examines the extant literature surrounding the utilization of hyperthermia as a potential method to ameliorate the adverse impacts of varroa mites and their associated viral infections on honey bee colonies. It also outlines the thermal characteristics of these stressors. Diverse devices can be used for subjecting colonies to hyperthermia treatment, targeting mites both within and outside of brood cells. The application of thermal treatments, typically ranging between 40 and 42 °C for 1.5-3 h, as a method to reduce varroa mites and viral infections, has shown promise. Notably, the precise effectiveness of hyperthermia treatment in comparison with alternative varroa mite control measures remains uncertain within the available literature. The potential deleterious repercussions of this control mechanism on immature and mature honey bees are evaluated. Concurrently, the detrimental implications of prolonged treatment durations on colonies are discussed. Regarding viral infections, hyperthermia treatment can impact them negatively by either reducing varroa mite infestations or by inducing the production of heat shock proteins that possess potential antiviral properties. Various factors are identified as influential on hyperthermia treatment efficacy within bee colonies, including the device type and treatment duration, necessitating further empirical investigations. Additionally, this article highlights the existing gaps in the knowledge and provides insights into the prospective directions of research concerning this control method.