[First detection of Kashmir bee virus in Hesse, Germany]

We gathered dead bees of 56 Hessian bee colonies following a sudden collapse during winter 2002/03. Viral RNA was purified from ten dead bees per sample. Kashmir bee virus (KBV) was detected by use of a RT-PCR protocol. 13 samples were positive for KBV. The PCR amplicon was sequenced. A BLAST GenBank search clearly identified the Hessian amplicon as a KBV fragment. Similarities of more than 85% were found. Phylogenetic analysis revealed a close genetic relationship of the Hessian isolate to an isolate from New Zealand. The Northamerican, the Russian and Australian notations listed in GenBank did not cluster round with the Hessian isolate. This is the first documented detection of KBV in Middle Europe.