Investigation of Nosema spp. and Some Important Viral Diseases in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera L.) Colonies in the Greater Caucasus Region of Azerbaijan: The First Molecular Detection and Analysis of Viral Diseases of Honey Bee

Abstract

Parasitic and viral factors seen in beekeeping farms are among the most critical causes of colony losses in honey bees. Within the scope of this study, Nosema spp microsporidial disease, one of the bee diseases that is important for bee health in Azerbaijan, and nine bee viruses that are important in colony losses. The presence of acute bee paralysis virus, Black Queen cell virus, Chronic bee paralysis virus, Deformed wing virus, Filamentous virus, Kashmir bee virus, Sacbrood virus, Israel acute bee paralysis virus and Varroa destructor 1-virus was investigated. For this purpose, adult bee samples taken from various beekeeping farms in Gabala province in the Greater Caucasus region of Azerbaijan were examined with microscopic and molecular methods, and the presence of Nosema ceranae, DWV-A, SBV, AmFV, DWV-B, and BQCV was detected in the farms. DWV-A, SBV, AmFV, DWV-B, and BQCV viruses were sequenced, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed. Phylogenetic analysis was mainly based on comparison of nucleotide similarities with isolates obtained from Genbank; the highest identity (100%) was between the BQCV isolate and the South African isolates. In addition, 99% identity was recorded with the SBV isolate and the Turkish isolate, VDV-1 with Georgia, and AmFV with the Argentinian isolates. Amino acid similarity with a 100% value was observed between Albania and Turkey with BQCV isolation, and between Turkey and SBV isolation. Additionally, DWV showed similarity with Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, France, Lebanon, Iran, and Israel. © (c) 2025 Rafiga Gazi, Rahsan Koc Akpinar, Emre Ozan, Levent Aydin, Barat Ahmadov. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.