HONEY BEE & POLLINATION

Nosema Disease: Literature review and survey of beekeepers

  • 26 pages

  • Published: 25 May 2005

  • Author(s): Hornitzky, M

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Nosema apis causes one the most important diseases of honey bees but is mostly overlooked by beekeepers as there are no characteristic obvious symptoms of disease—it is known as ‘the silent killer’. The repercussions of infection with this parasite are equivalent to the losses caused by all of the other diseases, including the more easily diagnosed brood diseases. This study consists of a literature review outlining the different facets of N. apis infections, including a section on the methodology for counting N. apis spores in adult honey bees, and a survey of honey bee colonies to determine the prevalence and severity of N. apis under Australian conditions.