Source: UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS submitted to
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS TO ASSESS BEE COLONY HEALTH
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
SPECIAL GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0213826
Grant No.
2008-34103-19187
Project No.
MAS020080234
Proposal No.
2008-02342
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
QQ.NE
Project Start Date
Jul 1, 2008
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2011
Grant Year
2008
Project Director
Burand, J. P.
Recipient Organization
UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS
(N/A)
AMHERST,MA 01003
Performing Department
PLANT, SOIL & INSECT SCIENCE
Non Technical Summary
This research project is aimed at improving bee health in the Northeast region and focuses on bees in cranberry and blueberry, two of the most economically important crops in the region. The proposed work addresses priorities developed by the NE-IPM fruit working group http://www.northeastipm.org/work_fruipriority.cfm/ including studies of "Effective monitoring strategies for key pests in which techniques currently do not exist,' and a focus on the extension priorities 'Education regarding monitoring techniques, etc.' and 'Education for growers to recognize new and/or emerging pests and associated damage.' We plan to produce assay tools to identify and monitor current and emerging diseases/parasitic mite pests of bee pollinators. Honey bees and bumble bees are the major pollinators of cranberries and blueberries. Since the level of production of these two small fruits is linked to the pollination of bees, factors that affect the health of bees in the region will untimely impact the commerce of both of these small fruits. The goal of this proposal is the improvement of bee health through: 1) Develop molecular monitoring methods to measure pathogen load (detection and quantitation of microbial pathogens) in native and commercially managed bumble bee and honey bee populations in the Northeast region. 2) Compare the microflora identified in Objective 1 to identify microbes that may be indicators of colony health. 3) Test for correlates of microfloral composition with colony exposure to insecticides, miticides and antibiotics as indicators of declining bee health. This information will provide a better understanding of factors affecting bee health and lead to recommendation of IPM practices that will aid in the maintenance of beneficial microbes in association with bees. The adoption of these practices will ultimately lead to the reduction in the use of chemical control agents and lower human health risks from exposure to these compounds.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
21630991130100%
Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3099 - Bees, honey, and other pollinators, general;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the proposed work is to increase our understanding of pathogens and parasites of bees and to establish a means of monitoring their occurrence. In addition to the direct impacts we anticipate that pathogens will have on bee health, we hypothesize that effect will be exacerbated by use of anti-microbial/anti-pathogen treatments which may disrupt the balance of bee-microbe symbioses. Our efforts focus on bees in cranberry and blueberry, two of the most economically important crops in the region. This goal will be accomplished through the following objectives: 1)Develop molecular monitoring methods to measure pathogen load (detection and quantitation of microbial pathogens) in native and commercially managed bumble bee and honey bee populations in the Northeast region. 2)Compare the microflora identified in Objective 1 to identify microbes that may be indicators of colony health. 3)Test for correlates of microfloral composition with colony exposure to insecticides, miticides and antibiotics as indicators of declining bee health.
Project Methods
PCR based molecular methods will be developed and utilized to examine the micro-organisms (microflora) including bacteria, viruses and protozoan found in intimate association with bees. These studies will identify benifical as well as pathogenic microflora of bees. This project also seeks to increase bee colony health through the identification of apicultural practices that adversely affect the microflora of bees that may be beneficial to the insect and enhance disease resistance. In the initial phase of the project information will be collected on the treatments of antibiotic and pesticide treatments that sampled colonies have received. This information will be integrated with our estimation of pathogen load, and the determination of beneficial microbes associated with healthy bees and used to make recommendations on apicultural and agricultural practices for pest management that will enhance bee colony health in the region.

Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The results of our work were presented to beekeepers in the state at the Franklin County Beekeepers Assoc., meeting January 15th, 2009, the Spring Meeting of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association on March 28th, 2009 and at the MREC Pollinator Conference, Amherst, MA Oct 2009. We also discussed various aspects of our research on honey bees at the Massachusetts Beekeeper's Field Day in South Deerfield MA, on June 21st, 2008, June 26, 2010 and June 25, 2011. Results from our laboratory research were presented at the 42st annual meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology in Park City Utah, August, 2009 in 3 poster entitled: Presence and prevalence of viruses in local and migratory honeybees in Massachusetts, Molecular detection of Noesma bombi and Crithidaia bombi in wild and commercial populations of bumble bees in the U.S., and Production of a full length cDNA clone and infectious transcripts of deformed wing virus. We presented our the results of some of our recent research at the 44th annual meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology in Halifax, Nova Scotia, August 2011 in two posters . PARTICIPANTS: Individuals PD. John P. Burand, University of Massachusetts - Amherst CoPD Anne Averill, University of Massachusetts - Amherst Partner Organizations Massachusetts State Beekeepers Association Essex County Beekeepers Association Warm Colors Apiary Training Postdoctoral Associate. Woojin Kim Graduate Students, Ajanta De, Anna Morkeski Undergraduate Student, Seth Levy,Shuning Zheng. Collaborator Francis Drummond, University of Maine, Jack Borden, University of Massachusetts - Amherst TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
In the first year of this project we completed a survey of viral pathogens in honey bee colonies in eastern Massachusetts. Beekeepers in the state are now aware of the fact that it is very likely that the bees in their hives are infected with at least two different viruses, Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) and Blackened Queen Cell Virus (BQCV). A third virus, Sacbrood Virus (SBV) was found in less than 1% in Massachusetts bees collected in 2008. Monitoring of hives in the newly established U-Mass apiary over the past two years revealed that the level of all three of these viruses varied dramatically in individual hives throughout the season ranging from between 60 or 80% to barely detectable levels. This wide range of virus prevalence is thought to due to the progression of viral infections and changes in host defenses as well as varying environmental conditions. Our survey of honey bees (Apis), bumble bees (Bombus) and other non-apis, non-bombus bee pollinators collected from different sites in the Maine blueberry barrens showed a positive correlation between the proximity of managed honey bee hives and the presence of the honeybee viruses BQCV, DWV and SBV, in bombus and non-apis, non-bombus bees. A comparison of the partial genome sequence of DWV recovered from different bee species collect at one site suggested that this virus is shared among these different bees. The implication of this result honey bees may serve as sources of viruses that can move into native bee populations possibly having an impact and ultimately contributing to the decline in these native bees. As well, infected non-apis bees could also serve as a source of virus acquired by honey bees brought into a location for pollination services.

Publications

  • Welch, A. F. Drummond F, S. Tewari, A. Averill and J.P. Burand. 2009. Presence and Prevalence of Viruses in Local and Migratory Honeybees (Apis mellifera) in Massachusetts. Appl and Environ. Micro. 75: 7862-7865.


Progress 07/01/09 to 06/30/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The latest results of our work were presented to beekeeper in the state at the Massachusetts Beekeeper's Field Day, June 26, 2010 in South Deerfield MA, and at the MREC Pollinator Conference, Amherst, MA Oct 2009. Results from our laboratory research were presented at the 41st Annual meeting of the Society for Invertebrate Pathology in Park City Utah, August, 2009. in 3 poster entiled: Presence and prevalence of viruses in local and migratory honeybees in Massachusetts, Molecular dectection of Noesma bombi and Crithidaia bombi in wild and commercial populations of bumble bees in the U.S., and Production of a full length cDNA clone and infectious transcripts of deformed wing virus. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals PD. John P. Burand, University of Massachusetts - Amherst CoPD Anne Averill, University of Massachusetts - Amherst Partner Organizations Massachusetts State Beekeepers Association Essex County Beekeepers Association Warm Colors Apiary Training Postdoctoral Associate. Woojin Kim Graduate Students, Ajanta De, Anna Morkeski Undergraduate Student, Seth Levy Collaborator Francis Drummond, University of Maine Jack Borden, University of Massachusetts - Amherst TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: We have begun to expand our work to include a survey of pathogens in bumble bees and other native bee pollinators in the northeast. This is of interest because of the possible spread of pathogens between and among different species of bee pollinators. We have also started to move into studying the molecular biology of bee pathogens to begin to identify potential targets for use in controlling these pest and pathogens of bees.

Impacts
The results of our first years work indicted the presence of two viruses, BQCV and DWV at levels of ~ 90% in honey bees in eastern and central Massachusetts. This project year we determined that a third virus, SBV had increased to levels of ~ 80% in Massachusetts bees. The reason for this dramatic in crease in SBV is unknown but is thought to be weather related. We also determined that the level at which DWV was detected as actually replicating in Massachusetts bees was at ~70% and at 100% in all Varroa mites. These results suggest that DWV is often found associated with bees without infecting or replicating in them.

Publications

  • Welch, A. F. Drummond F, S. Tewari, A. Averill and J.P. Burand. 2009. Presence and Prevalence of Viruses in Local and Migratory Honeybees (Apis mellifera) in Massachusetts. Appl and Environ Micro. 75: 7862-7865.


Progress 07/01/08 to 06/30/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: In the first year of this project we have completed a survey of viral pathogens in honey bee colonies in eastern Massachusetts. Beekeepers in the state are now aware of the fact that it is very likely that the bees in their hives are infected with at least two different viruses. The effect these two pathogens have on bee colony health and performance is not known at the present time, however continued work on this project will allow us to monitor colony health as well as, to determine the presence of other viruses into bee populations in the state.The planned research and latest results of our work was presented in the following talks: Update of UMass Bee Project at Massachusetts Beekeeper's Field Day, June 21st, 2008. Colony Collapse Disorder: Good News and Bad News at Franklin County Beekeepers Assoc., January 15th, 2009. Bee Viruses in Massachusetts at Spring Meeting of the Massachusetts Beekeepers Association. March 28th, 2009. PARTICIPANTS: John P. Burand Principle Investigator Anne Averill Co-principle Investigator Francis Drummund Collaborator Anna Welch - Techician TARGET AUDIENCES: Beekeepers and Growers in the Northeast region PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
To date we have analyzed well over 1,000 bees for a variety of protozoan and viral pathogens. We have focused our efforts on the analysis of the results obtained from both migratory hives and local hives maintained in eastern Massachusetts, the region of the state where cranberry is cultivated. In this study bees collected in July or October from both migratory hives and hives maintained in eastern Massachusetts were examined for the presence and level of infection of bee viruses. All three of these viruses (BQCV, DWV and SBV) were found in bees from both local and migratory hives, but at differing rates of infection. DWV was the most prevalent, with 98% of the local bees being infected compared to 72% of the bees from migratory hives. BQCV was second most common virus found, with the trend reversed, as 92% of the migratory bees were infected with BQCV while only 60% of the Massachusetts bees had this virus. The third virus, SBV, was detected in 16% of the migratory bees and <1% of the local bees.

Publications

  • Welch, A., F. Drummond, S. Tewari, A. Averill, and J.P. Burand. 2009. Presence and Prevalence of Viruses in Local and Migratory Honeybees (Apis mellifera) in Massachusetts. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 7862-7865.