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Pathogen and Hemocyte Dynamics in Three Apiaries Across a Bee Season
Cato Van Herzele1,2, Sieglinde Coppens3, Sebastiaan Theuns3
1Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium, ugent.be.
Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
|December 22, 2025
Summary
Honey bee health is threatened by multiple factors. This study identified new viruses and tracked pathogen loads and immune cell counts throughout the season, offering insights into colony collapse prevention.
Area of Science:
- Apiculture
- Insect Pathology
- Immunology
Background:
- Honey bee populations face decline due to a complex of interacting stressors including pathogens, parasites, and environmental factors.
- Understanding the seasonal dynamics of pathogens and the honey bee immune response is crucial for mitigating colony losses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the seasonal prevalence of pathogens and hemocyte dynamics in honey bee colonies.
- To identify novel viral and bacterial threats to European honey bees.
- To explore the potential for transgenerational immunity in honey bee colonies.
Main Methods:
- Third-generation nanopore sequencing was used to identify pathogens in honey bee hemolymph.
- Flow cytometry was employed to analyze total hemocyte counts (THCs).
- Sampling was conducted across three apiaries throughout a single honey bee season.
Main Results:
- Several viruses and bacteria were detected, including the novel detection of La Jolla virus and Apis rhabdovirus 5 in European honey bees.
- Pathogen loads peaked in spring and summer, coinciding with major flowering periods.
- Evidence suggests colony-wide transgenerational immunity may clear some viral infections, but Hubei partiti-like virus 34 showed endemic persistence, evading this immunity.
- Total hemocyte counts (THCs) exhibited distinct seasonal dynamics.
Conclusions:
- Seasonal monitoring of honey bee pathogens and immune responses is vital for understanding colony health.
- The identification of new viruses and the persistence of certain pathogens like Hubei partiti-like virus 34 highlight ongoing threats.
- Insights into pathogen dynamics and transgenerational immunity can inform strategies for preventing honey bee colony collapse.
