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Endosymbiotic bacteria in honey bees: Arsenophonus spp. are not transmitted transovarially

Orlando Yañez1, Laurent Gauthier2, Panuwan Chantawannakul3

  • 1Institute of Bee Health, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Schwarzenburgstrasse 161, CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Swiss Bee Research Centre, Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland orlando.yanez@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.

FEMS Microbiology Letters
|June 10, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Arsenophonus bacteria were found in some honey bee colonies, but not in eggs or queen reproductive organs, suggesting horizontal transmission, not vertical, is likely for these bee endosymbionts.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Entomology
  • Apiculture

Background:

  • Intracellular endosymbiotic bacteria are prevalent in insects and can impact host health.
  • Understanding endosymbiont transmission is crucial for managing honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony losses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and transmission routes of key endosymbiotic bacteria genera (Arsenophonus, Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, Rickettsia) in various Apis species.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of Apis mellifera colonies (adult workers, brood cells) and queens of Apis cerana, Apis dorsata, and Apis florea using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR).

Main Results:

  • Arsenophonus spp. detected in 24.2% of A. mellifera colonies and queens, 8.3% of A. dorsata queens, and 8.3% of A. florea queens.
  • Wolbachia, Spiroplasma, and Rickettsia were not detected in any screened samples.
  • Arsenophonus spp. were absent from A. mellifera queen reproductive organs and surface-sterilized eggs, and not found in A. cerana queens.

Conclusions:

  • Arsenophonus spp. are present in some Apis species, notably A. mellifera, A. dorsata, and A. florea.
  • The absence of Arsenophonus from eggs and queen reproductive organs indicates transovarial vertical transmission is unlikely.
  • Horizontal transmission is the probable route for Arsenophonus endosymbionts in these honey bee species.
Keywords:
Apis dorsataApis floreaApis melliferaArsenophonusEndosymbiontshoney bees

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