Author(s):
Pires, Sância 
; Murilhas, António ; Almeida, Paulo ; Valério, Maria
Date: 2013
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10198/9280
Origin: Biblioteca Digital do IPB
Subject(s): Nosemosis; Diagnostic techniques; Pathology
Description
Considering the growing number of reports implicating Nosema ceranae in
colony morbidity/mortality, it is relevant to clarify the current epidemiology of Nosemosis in
Portugal beekeeping context, pinpointing the etiologic agents to the species level and,
eventually, identifying possible intra-specific types. About 2% of the registered Portuguese
apiaries were sampled in two consecutive years (2011 and 2012). Apiaries were grouped
according to their Nosema status (presence or absence of Nosema spores) by light
microscopy methodology. Preliminary research of Nosema in samples collected at national
level in the autumn of 2011, it becomes the objective of the present study. Laboratory
diagnosis made by optical microscopy revealed the prevalence of nosemosis, but also other
adult bee diseases, such as, varroosis, acarapidosis and apimyiasis. The results show the
presence of the pathogen Nosema spp. in all regions of mainland Portugal and that, its
prevalence is higher in the North, Centre and Alentejo regions. The varroosis presented a
lower prevalence at the Algarve (5.0%) comparatively to all other regions of mainland
Portugal. Regarding the acarapidosis disease, only one case was diagnosed in the central
region of Portugal (sub-region Dão-Lafões).
Keywords: honey bee, nosemosis, diagnostic techniques, pathology
