Apicystis bombi

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Apicystis bombi
Scientific classification
Domain:
Eukaryota
(unranked):
SAR
(unranked):
Alveolata
Phylum:
Apicomplexa
Class:
Conoidasida
Subclass:
Gregarinasina
Order:
Neogregarinorida
Family:
Lipotrophidae
Genus:
Apicystis
Species:
A. bombi
Binomial name
Apicystis bombi
(Liu et al, 1974)
Synonyms

Mattesia bombi

Apicystis bombi is a species of parasitic alveolates in the phylum Apicomplexa. It infects bees, especially bumblebees. It is believed to have a cosmopolitan distribution in bumblebees and a sporadic occurrence in honey bees, and causes disease symptoms in nonresistant bee species.

Taxonomy

This protozoan was first described by Liu in 1974 as Mattesia bombi. [1] In 1996, Lipa and Triggiani transferred it to the new genus Apicystis on the basis of morphology and life cycle.[2]

Distribution

This protozoan was found in Canada in overwintering queens and in males of various species of Bombus, with the half-black bumblebee (

Apis mellifera).[2] Further finds were made in Italy over the next few years with the level of infection in Bombus species being considered low and that in A. mellifera sporadic. With specimens being found in Canada, France, Italy, Finland and Switzerland, it is likely that the parasite is cosmopolitan in distribution and will be identified in other countries.[2]

In 2009 the parasite was identified in

gregarines at the shared pollen source.[4] It is thought that the parasite was introduced in 1998 with commercially reared B. terrestris being imported into Chile for their use as pollinators.[5] Apicystis bombi appears to have no adverse effects on B. terrestris.[6][7] The introduction of B.terrestris into certain regions of Patagonia and southern South America (starting around the 1980s) have led to the rapid decline of Bombus dahlbomii populations in the area.[8] A large part of this decline can be attributed to Apicystis bombi pathogen spillover. Unlike B. terretstris, B.dahlbomii does not have a natural resistance of A.bombi. A.bombi infection prevents B.dahlbomii from completing proper foraging behaviors by inducing a plethora of behavioral and physiological impairments.[9] Although transmission is not well understood, Bombus affinis has also been adversely affected by the A. bombi.[10] Incidence of infection has been observed in about 3% of all B. affinis, and has become particularly prevalent in northern Ontario. This parasite causes increased worker death and prevention of new colony formation.[10]

In 2013 the parasite was identified, along with several others, to be infecting bumblebees imported into the UK and potentially in bumblebees imported around Europe.[11] In 2014 the parasite was identified to be present in a large numbers of bumblebees in England. This prevalence was greatest in bumblebees which foraged close to farms using commercial (imported) bumblebees.[12] Whilst it's not clear if this pattern is a result of parasite spillover, it is clear that the prevalence in England is far greater than previously detected.

Life cycle

Oocysts are ingested by the bee and

sporozoites develop from these in the intestine. They migrate through the wall of the gut before taking up residence in the fat body cells, where they develop and multiply. The presence of the pathogen gives the fat tissue a white appearance but microscopic examination of the tissue is required to confirm the presence of oocysts.[2]

Effects

The effects of Apicystis bombi differ between host species.[7] Heavily infected bees are rare, but this may be due to high pathogenicity of the neogregarine. Infected workers have increased mortality, reduced fatbody and increased sensitivity to sucrose.[13] Infected queen bumblebees are unlikely to survive hibernation which is thought to be due to the reduced fatbody of infected queens.[14] There is also some evidence that Deformed wing virus may reduce some of the negative effects of Apicystis bombi.[13]

References

  1. PMID 4207630
    .
  2. ^
    doi:10.1051/apido:19960104
    .
  3. ^
    PMID 23761336
    .
  4. ^
    PMID 22032828
    .
  5. PMID 19682459
    .
  6. ^ Goulson, Dave (2013). "Argentinian invasion!". Buzzword. 21: 17–18.
  7. ^ a b King, Anthony (2012-09-14). "Plight of the Bumblebee". ScienceNow. Retrieved 2015-02-16.
  8. PMID 18164709
    .
  9. doi:10.1051/apido:19960104
    . Retrieved 15 October 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Newsletter of the BumbleBee Specialist Group" (PDF). Bumblebee Conservator. 2014.
  11. S2CID 3937352
    .
  12. PMID 25165632
    .
  13. ^
    S2CID 44770028
    .
  14. PMID 24749545
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Apicystis_bombi&oldid=1187877190"