Preprint Case Report Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

A Case Report of Chronic Stress in Honey Bee Colonies Induced by Pathogens and Acaricide Residues

Elena Alonso-Prados
ORCID logo ,
Amelia-Virginia González-Porto
,
José Luis Bernal
,
José Bernal
,
Raquel Martín-Hernández
ORCID logo ,
Mariano Higes
* ORCID logo
Version 1 : Received: 10 June 2021 / Approved: 11 June 2021 / Online: 11 June 2021 (09:55:42 CEST)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Alonso-Prados, E.; González-Porto, A.-V.; Bernal, J.L.; Bernal, J.; Martín-Hernández, R.; Higes, M. A Case Report of Chronic Stress in Honey Bee Colonies Induced by Pathogens and Acaricide Residues. Pathogens 2021, 10, 955. Alonso-Prados, E.; González-Porto, A.-V.; Bernal, J.L.; Bernal, J.; Martín-Hernández, R.; Higes, M. A Case Report of Chronic Stress in Honey Bee Colonies Induced by Pathogens and Acaricide Residues. Pathogens 2021, 10, 955.

Abstract

In this Case Report we analyze the possible causes of the poor health status of a professional Apis mellifera iberiensis apiary located in Gajanejos (Guadalajara, Spain). Several factors that potentially favor colony collapse were identified, including Nosema ceranae infection, alone or in combination with other factors (eg, BQCV and DWV infection), and the accumulation of acaricides commonly used to control Varroa destructor in the beebread (coumaphos and tau-fluvalinate). Based on the levels of residues, the average toxic unit estimated for the apiary, suggests a possible increase in vulnerability to infection by N. ceranae due to the presence of high levels of acaricides. These data highlight the importance of evaluating these factors in future monitoring programs, as well as the need to adopt adequate preventive measures as part of national and international welfare programs aimed at guaranteeing the health and fitness of bees.

Keywords

Honey bees; Apis mellifera; acaricides; pesticides; Toxic Unit; Varroa destructor; Nosema ceranae; bee viruses; tau-fluvalinate; coumaphos

Subject

Biology and Life Sciences, Anatomy and Physiology

Copyright: This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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