Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae in Beehives of the Apulian Region of Italy: How Citizen Science Can Support Scientific Research

Annamaria Pandiscia, Patrizio Lorusso, Alessio Manfredi (), Elisabetta Bonerba, Giancarlo Bozzo, Giuseppina M. Tantillo and Valentina Terio
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Annamaria Pandiscia: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Provincial Road to Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
Patrizio Lorusso: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Provincial Road to Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
Alessio Manfredi: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Provincial Road to Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
Elisabetta Bonerba: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Provincial Road to Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
Giancarlo Bozzo: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Provincial Road to Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
Giuseppina M. Tantillo: Department Interdisciplinary of Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Place Giulio Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, Italy
Valentina Terio: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Provincial Road to Casamassima km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are two well-known pathogens affecting the health of honeybees. To help understand how honeybee colonies are affected by these pathogens, the aim of this study was to analyze the impact of Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis in hives in the Apulian Region through a Citizen Science approach. First, a form about the health status of the beehives was filled out by beekeepers. After an inspection visit to confirm the signs observed by beekeepers, adult honeybee samples collected from beehives in four Apulian provinces (Taranto, Bari, Foggia and Brindisi) were subjected to light microscopy investigation for the detection of Nosema spp. spores and to molecular analysis using species-specific primers for the discrimination of Nosema apis spores from those of Nosema ceranae . Among the forty-eight samples, thirty-six tested positive for Nosema ceranae , and one sample tested positive for Nosema apis . The forms filled out by beekeepers revealed that only 5/36 beehives that tested positive for Nosema ceranae showed signs of depopulation and reduced honey production, while 19/36 had only low honey yield. This study provides data on Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae prevalence in Italy and correlates the presence of these intestinal pathogens with the most important problems encountered by local beekeepers.

Keywords: beekeeping; honeybees; microscopy; molecular biology; nosemosis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
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