Dokazivanje prisustva virusnih infekcija u zajednicama Apis mellifera primjenom molekularno-bioloških metoda / Detection of viral infections in communities of Apis mellifera using molecular-biological methods

Evidence of viral infection of bees is of great interest for the proper assessment of the relationship between host and pathogen potential. By making this doctoral thesis on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where before was no present study of evidence of viral infections, lead to ability on clinical evaluation of pathological relations for eco-genotype adapted colonies. Evolutionarily adapted viruses honeybee Apis mellifera, from the veterinary entomology, veterinary virology and infectious diseases, and knowledge of the veterinary services in general, have not been recognized enough. The appearance and availability of molecular diagnostic methods have allowed sensitive and specific detection part of the genome of the virus that infects the colonies. Templates were extracted from samples of different patterns, homogenisate, randomly sampled bees, RNA, with a pair of primers for each virus, respectively, in the order: BQCV, DWV, SBV, ABPV, KBV, CBPV amplification protocols were done and the results obtained by conventional, end point, RT -PCR. This doctoral dissertation obtained the first results concerning the determination of the presence and spread of viral infections in the species Apis mellifera in Bosnia and Herzegovina. From about twenty viruses that can infect bees and hives using diagnostic methods applicable in this doctoral thesis we demonstrate the presence of viral infections of six most studied viruses of bees. The obtained results showed the presence five of the six essential viruses in forms of co-infection with different combinations and varied virus spatial distribution. Awareness of the complex mechanisms of viral infections in colonies is that the new knowledge proclaimed a virus as "emergent pathogen" that significantly impairs the survival of honeybee colonies. The pathogenic synergistic relationship with the parasite Varroa destructor causes that bee viruses are globally listed as reasons for losses. Part of the research work was related to the field study of the dynamics of the presence of Varroa destructor mites in honey bee colonies. For a accurate judgment of the deaths of bee colonies, in addition to existing requirements bee pathogen control procedures defined by diagnostic Manuals and Code of the OIE, it would be necessary to have the results to prove the qualitative and quantitative presence of the virus in the species Apis mellifera. The introduction and standardization of molecular biological methods in routine diagnosis of viral diseases of bees is justified. It is only a matter of time before the virus infections of bees will be subject to routine diagnostics which controls the health of bee colonies.