Abstract:

Today, 25 virus species are known to infect honey bees (Apis mellifera). As a result of the transmission of these viruses to honey bees in different ways, some of them show high pathogenicity, while a significant part of them are found in colonies without causing disease, but under some special conditions, they cause disease symptoms and losses. Therefore, in the pathogenesis of honey bee viruses, virus, host (life stage of the honey bee) and environmental factors must be considered together. In this study, dead adult bee samples were collected from Yemişli, Ortaköy, Andaç and Dapdibi regions after bee deaths were observed in honey bee colonies with intense Varroa destructor infestation raised in Uludere district of Şırnak province. RNA was extracted from samples obtained from honey bee pools created based on the regions where these adult honey bee samples were taken. The presence of Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (AAPV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (KAPV) and Deformed Wing Virus (DKV) specific RNA presence was investigated in the RNA samples obtained by Real-Time RT-PCR. As a result of the research, although the presence of AAPV and KAPV RNA was detected in the adult, dead honey bee samples obtained from Yemişli, Ortaköy, Andaç and Dapdibi regions of Uludere district of Şırnak province, the presence of DKV RNA could not be detected. According to these results, it was concluded that AAPV and KAPV infections may occur in honey bees due to environmental effects, Varroa destructor infestation, and the co-infection of several viruses in colonies and the increase in the intensity of these effects, affecting them together, may cause bee deaths in colonies.

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