Molecular detection of infectious pathogens in honeybee colonies reared in eastern Gyeongbuk province, Korea

Abstract The ecologically and economically important honeybee species are susceptible to infections by various pathogens. This study was investigated to detect infectious pathogens in honeybee colonies reared in eastern Gyeongbuk province by PCR in 2010∼2011. A total of 11 infectious pathogens, including 6 viruses, 2 bacteria, 2 fungi, and 1 parasite, were investigated in honeybee colonies suffering from symp-toms of sudden collapse, depopulation, or paralysis. The infectious pathogens and infection rates among 24 honeybee colonies detected were as follows: sacbrood virus (66.7%), deformed wing virus (4.2%), black queen cell virus (12.5%), Kashmir bee virus (29.2%), American foulbrood (41.7%), European foulbrood (12.5%), stonebrood (45.8%), chalkbrood (4.2%), and Nosema (33.3%), respectively. Since the coinfection rates of multiple pathogens were detected high in honeybee colonies reared in eastern Gyeongbuk province, large-scale investigation and appropriate control programs need to be established in this region.