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Occurrence of bee viruses and pathogens associated with emerging infectious diseases in native and non-native bumble bees in southern Chile

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Abstract

The invasion of non-native bees to new ecological territories could spread novel pathogens causing emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) in native species. We provide novel information on the prevalence, load, and co-infection network of honey bee viruses, trypanosoma, microsporidia and neogregarinorida pathogens in native Bombus dahlbomii and non-native Bombus terrestris and Bombus ruderatus. Apicystis bombi and Crithidia bombi were highly prevalent (> 78%) in three bumble bee species, with high loads of these pathogens. Nosema bombi was detected only in B. terrestris (37%) and B. ruderatus (15%). Lotmaria passim was detected in low prevalence (< 6%) and low loads in three bumble bee species. Deformed wing virus (genotype A) was detected only in B. terrestris (20%) and B. ruderatus (6%). Black queen cell virus was detected in B. terrestris (34%), B. ruderatus (22%) and B. dahlbomii (23%). Chronic bee paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus and Acute bee paralysis virus were detected with low prevalence (7%) and titers in the three bumble bee species. The proximity of apiaries and collection sites was not a significant factor in the presence of viruses in bumble bees. The three bumble species were found to be co-infected with Apicystis bombi and C. bombi; a significant positive correlation was found between these two parasites, especially in B. terrestris. Multiple infections with N. bombi, A. bombi, C. bombi and viruses in B. terrestris and B. ruderatus were also detected. This suggests that the invasion and successful establishment of exotic bumble bees in a new area also entails the possible establishment of the pathogens that they carry, which could also be present in native bee species. This finding evidences a potential link between the population decline of B. dahlbomii and the pathogens that were detected with high levels and prevalence.

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Data accessibility

Real time PCR data are available in Zenodo data base. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3332941.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Grants FONDECYT No 1171781 and FONDECYT No 11170088 from the National Commission for Scientific and Technological Research, CONICYT, Chile.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Austral Biotech Research Center, Faculty of Science, Universidad Santo Tomás, Av. Ramón Picarte 1130, Valdivia, Chile

    Nolberto Arismendi

  2. Laboratories of Virology and Bee Pathology, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile

    Nolberto Arismendi, Gustavo Riveros & Marisol Vargas

  3. Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Agronomy, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, Chillán, Chile

    Nelson Zapata

  4. Laboratory of Agrozoology, Department of Plants and Crops, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Link 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Guy Smagghe

  5. Laboratory of Forest Heath, Faculty of Forest Sciences and Natural Resources, Universidad Austral de Chile, Campus Isla Teja S/N, Valdivia, Chile

    Cristian González

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  1. Nolberto Arismendi
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  2. Gustavo Riveros
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  3. Nelson Zapata
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  4. Guy Smagghe
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  6. Marisol Vargas
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Contributions

NA designed new primers, carried out the field work, and led the manuscript writing. GR conducted the laboratory work and helped in the sampling collection. MV guided the research and designed the experimental work in the field. NZ, GS and CG contributed to the analysis of the results. All authors provided manuscript input, editing and collaboration in the discussions of the results.

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Correspondence to Marisol Vargas.

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Arismendi, N., Riveros, G., Zapata, N. et al. Occurrence of bee viruses and pathogens associated with emerging infectious diseases in native and non-native bumble bees in southern Chile. Biol Invasions 23, 1175–1189 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02428-w

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