NOSEMOSIS

Nosemosis
• Nosemosis is the most widespread adult bee disease
caused by a parasite of genus Nosema.
• Nosema is a microsporidian, small, unicellular parasite
that was recently reclassified as fungi.
• Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are the only
microsporidian parasites that have been identified in
honeybees.
• Under a light microscope, spore from both species are
similar in shape but the later are consistently smaller.
• The biology and manifestation of N. apis are the most
studied in honey bee colonies.
 Nosema apis
• Produce 6-8µm spore which are resistant to
environmental degradation.
• The spores may remain viable in the colony for
several months.
• Within the colony it occurs in dried spots of excreta
on brood combs where it is ingested by bees while
cleaning.
• It is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated comb
material, water, crushed infected bees and by
trophallaxis.
• Invades the digestive tract of all castes.
 Nosema apis
• It may be present at any time in the colony but it is more
prevalent in spring or after extend periods of cold/harsh
weather when colonies have been confined.
• Spores germinate in the gut and enter the digestive cells
that line the midgut where they rapidly multiply.
• In six to 10 days, the infected host epithelial cells become
filled with new spores.
• After they multiply the parasite consume cell contents
and the cells rupture.
• The spores leak into the midgut > small intestine > rectum
– passing out of the bees to contaminate and infect other
bees in the hive.
 Symptoms
• Damage to the digestive tract may produce signs of
dysentery which include fouling on the combs, hives
parts and around the hive.
• Infection of workers inhibits digestion and production of
royal jelly – production life of worker is shortened.
• Brood production and colony development are
retarded, a condition often referred as spring dwindling.
• Infected queens reduce egg production and are likely to
be superseded.
• Effects of Nosema may be aggravated by the presence
of viruses.
Signs of dysentery
Signs of dysentery
 Symptoms
• Black queen cell virus, filamentous virus and virus Y all invade
the adult bee through the gut.
• Their close association with nosema may be responsible for
the variability in disease symptoms between colonies.
• Nosema result into disjointed wings which inhibit flying – bees
start crawling.
• In severe cases, abdomen of infected workers become swollen
and shiny.
• Bees tend to die away from the apiary, which causes a
reduction in food gathered and can eventually lead to colony
collapse
• Colonies infested with N. ceranae do not present classical
symptoms of N. apis such as diarrhea, crawling, large numbers
of dead bees in the apiary.
 Detection
• Positive identification of this disease is through
microscopic examination under light microscope at 400 x
magnification where the characteristic Nosema spores
can be observed.
• Giemsa or Toluidine staining are normally used.
• Yeast and Nosema spores reflect light differently - use of
phase contrast microscope can avoid misidentification.
• Spores of N. apis and N. ceranae have slight
morphological differences that cannot observed under
microscope – PCR or electron microscopy can be used to
distinguish them.
• In bee dissections, the ventriculus often appears whitish
A: Spores of N ceranae Toluidine staining of a semi thin
B: Spores of N apis section of ventricular tissue.
 Control and Treatment
• The best defense against Nosema is to reduce stress
within colony.
• Infected colonies should be provided with plenty of
honey and pollen during extended harsh environmental
conditions i.e. winter.
• A vigorous young queen should also be introduced to
maintain colony strength.
• Replacing combs regularly help to reduce infection.
• If an infected colony dies, the combs and hive parts
should be disinfected with 80% acetic acid (or
formaldehyde) – the fumes kill the Nosema but do not
harm the honey or pollen stores in the comb.
 Control and Treatment
• Heat treatment can also be used to kill the spore
on contaminated equipment.
• Treatment with antibiotic i.e. Fumidil B can
prevent spore production but do not kill the
spores.
• Physical radiation i.e. ultrasonic and gamma
radiation is also an option but not practical to
beekeepers.