Epidemiology, factors influencing prevalence and level of varroosis infestation (Varroa destructor) in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies in different agroecologies of Southwest Ethiopia

Dereje Tulu Robi; Shiferaw Temteme; Melkam Aleme; Ararsa Bogale; Awraris Getachew; Esayas Mendesil

doi:10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00325

Epidemiology, factors influencing prevalence and level of varroosis infestation (Varroa destructor) in honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies in different agroecologies of Southwest Ethiopia

Parasite Epidemiol Control. 2023 Sep 4:23:e00325. doi: 10.1016/j.parepi.2023.e00325. eCollection 2023 Nov.

Authors

Dereje Tulu Robi¹, Shiferaw Temteme¹, Melkam Aleme¹, Ararsa Bogale², Awraris Getachew³, Esayas Mendesil⁴

Affiliations

¹ Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Tepi Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 34, Tepi, Ethiopia.
² Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holeta Agricultural Research Center, P.O. Box 2003, Holeta, Ethiopia.
³ Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
⁴ Department of Horticulture and Plant Sciences, Jimma University College of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine, P.O. Box 307, Jimma, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Little information is available on the epidemiology of varroosis caused by Varroa mite, Varroa destructor infestation in Ethiopia, although it is a devastating honeybee disease that results in significant economic losses in beekeeping. Therefore, between October 2021 and October 2022, a cross-sectional study was carried out in different agroecology zones in Southwest Ethiopia to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for varroosis, as well as the effects of this disease on honeybee colonies and honey production. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify possible risk factors for the prevalence of V. destructor. A total of 384 adult honeybee and worker or drone brood samples were collected from honeybee colonies and examined using standard diagnostic techniques in the laboratory. The result shows that the prevalence of V. destructor was found to be 39.3% (95% CI 34.44-44.21) and 43.2% (38.27-48.18) in adult honeybees and brood, respectively. The major risk factors for the prevalence of V. destructor in the study areas included agroecology (OR = 5.2, 95% CI 1.75-14.85), type of hive (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.17-17.03), management system (OR = 4.3, 95% CI 1.23-14.70), and colony management (OR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.31-9.14). The lower level of colony infestation in adult bees and brood was measured as 1.97 ± 0.14 and 3.19 ± 0.25, respectively. Season, colony status, colony management, and agroecology were among the determinant factors of the level of varroa mite infestation in adult bees and brood. The results of the study demonstrated that honey production losses are largely attributable to V. destructor infestation. Therefore, it is critical to inform the community about the effects of V. destructor on honey production and develop and implement effective management strategies for this disease. In addition, further research should be done to identify and isolate additional factors that contribute to varroosis in honeybees in different regions.

Keywords: Apis mellifera; Infestation level; Prevalence; Risk factors; Varroa destructor.