First detection of Nosema ceranae, a microsporidian parasite of European honey bees (Apis mellifera), in Canada and central USA

Geoffrey R Williams; Aaron B A Shafer; Richard E L Rogers; Dave Shutler; Donald T Stewart

doi:10.1016/j.jip.2007.08.005

First detection of Nosema ceranae, a microsporidian parasite of European honey bees (Apis mellifera), in Canada and central USA

J Invertebr Pathol. 2008 Feb;97(2):189-92. doi: 10.1016/j.jip.2007.08.005. Epub 2007 Aug 24.

Authors

Geoffrey R Williams¹, Aaron B A Shafer, Richard E L Rogers, Dave Shutler, Donald T Stewart

Affiliation

¹ Department of Biology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada B4P 2R6.

PMID: 17897670
DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2007.08.005

Abstract

Nosema ceranae is an emerging microsporidian parasite of European honey bees, Apis mellifera, but its distribution is not well known. Six Nosema-positive samples (determined from light microscopy of spores) of adult worker bees from Canada (two each from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island) and two from USA (Minnesota) were tested to determine Nosema species using previously-developed PCR primers of the 16S rRNA gene. We detected for the first time N. ceranae in Canada and central USA. One haplotype of N. ceranae was identified; its virulence may differ from that of other haplotypes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Bees / microbiology*
Canada / epidemiology
Microsporidiosis / epidemiology
Microsporidiosis / veterinary
Nosema / pathogenicity*
United States / epidemiology