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Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a prevalent pathogen that impacts the health of swine and is costly to the swine industry. This study utilized PRRSV test results from the University of Guelph's Animal Health Laboratory database to develop interactive, real-time dashboards and to monitor and investigate PRRSV data. The test results from Ontario swine herd samples submitted from January 2014 to July 2023 were processed in R v.4.1.1. The final optimized, aggregated, and anonymized datasets were exported to the Tableau server and were used to design dynamic real-time visualizations with Tableau Desktop v.2021.4. Constructed dashboards were: (1) monthly number of submissions and positive submissions over the last 10 years; (2) number of submissions and positive submissions over the last 3 years, interactively displayed at weekly, monthly, quarterly and yearly intervals; (3) monthly number of PRRSV restriction fragment length polymorphism pattern (RFLP) types at the submission level over the last 5 years; (4) weekly number of tested farms and positive farms over the last 6 Years; (5) monthly number of tested farms and positive farms over the last 6 Years; (6) indicators of the epidemiological data quality in each month; and (7) contextual information. Eighty different PRRSV RFLP patterns were identified with the predominant patterns being 1-8-4, 1-1-1, 1-4-2, and 2-5-2. Most farms contributed one submission per week or per month for PRRSV testing (median: 1 submission per week; IQR: 0; max: 13; median: 1 submission per month; IQR: 1, max: 31). Epidemiological data quality showed considerable improvements over the 9 years of investigation. Apparent changes in trends of submissions were visually observed when time series were stratified by reasons for submission and production class.

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) population declines have been associated with the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, which is currently primarily controlled by the use of acaricides. An alternative is to breed for resistance to Varroa, which was conducted in this study by bidirectional selection for mite fall to obtain colonies with low (resistant) or high (susceptible) Varroa population growth (LVG and HVG, respectively). Selection for three generations resulted in approx. 90% lower Varroa population growth in LVG than in HVG colonies. In addition, late summer Varroa infestation rates of brood and adults were both significantly lower in LVG colonies (p < 0.01), which was also significantly associated with lower Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) infection levels (p < 0.01). Survival of Varroa-parasitized bees was almost 50% higher for LVG bees compared to HVG bees (p < 0.01). Also, colony winter survivorship was significantly higher for LVG colonies than for HVG colonies (p < 0.05). However, the higher colony populations observed for LVG colonies were not significantly different from those of HVG colonies. Overall, individual and colony health was improved by selecting colonies for LVG, demonstrating its effectiveness as a means of breeding for controlling Varroa populations in honey bee colonies.

El estado de Jalisco es un importante productor de miel de abejas en México. Sin embargo, no existe información sobre las virosis que afectan a las abejas melíferas (Apis mellifera) en las diferentes regiones apícolas de la entidad. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia e intensidad de cuatro enfermedades virales de Apis mellifera durante la primavera, en seis regiones de Jalisco. Se analizaron abejas de 79 colonias, de las cuales, el 66 y 38 % fueron positivas al virus de la celda real negra (VCRN) y al virus de las alas deformes (VAD), respectivamente. Dos virosis no fueron detectadas, las causadas por el virus de la parálisis aguda Israelí (VPAI) y la causada por el virus de la parálisis crónica (VPC). Los niveles de infección fueron relativamente bajos para el VCRN, pero elevados para el VAD, cuyas infecciones fueron 8,000 veces más altas que las del VCRN. La prevalencia del VAD fue significativamente más alta en las regiones de los Altos, Centro y Sur, mientras que para el VCRN no hubo diferencias entre regiones. Para la intensidad de infecciones, no hubo diferencias entre regiones para el VAD, pero sí para el VCRN. Las regiones con niveles de infección más altos fueron la Sur y Centro. Se recomienda realizar muestreos en otras épocas del año para detectar posibles efectos estacionales de las virosis de las abejas y diseñar estrategias para su control.

Jalisco es uno de los principales estados productores de miel de abejas en México. Sin embargo, la información sobre parasitosis que afectan la productividad de las colonias de abejas melíferas (Apis mellifera) en el estado es limitada y de pocas regiones. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la prevalencia e intensidad de dos enfermedades parasitarias de Apis mellifera, varroosis (Varroa destructor) y nosemosis (Vairimorpha spp.), en seis regiones de Jalisco. Se analizaron abejas de 365 colonias colectadas durante la primavera. La varroosis fue la parasitosis más frecuente (90 %) y la nosemosis la menos frecuente (15 %). Los niveles de infestación o infección de las parasitosis fueron en general bajos. Para varroosis,

La ascosferosis o cría de cal, es una enfermedad infecciosa de las abejas melíferas (Apis mellifera) causada por el hongo Ascosphaera apis que ocasiona la muerte a sus larvas. En casos severos puede causar disminución de la población de abejas adultas y de productividad de la colonia. Este es el primer estudio que se realiza en México con la finalidad de determinar la prevalencia de A. apis en colonias de abejas melíferas en una región apícola. Se llevó a cabo en nueve municipios del sur de Jalisco, distribuidos en dos zonas climáticas (cálida subhúmeda y templada subhúmeda) y se analizó la relación del hongo con factores como altura sobre el nivel del mar, precipitación pluvial y temperatura ambiental. Se tomaron muestras de cría de abejas de 365 colonias, de las cuales, el 74.1 % fueron positivas a ascosferosis mediante análisis microscópico. El 75.6 % de las colonias de la zona cálida y el 72.2 % de la templada resultaron positivas a A. apis, respectivamente, y no fueron significativamente diferentes en la prevalencia de este hongo (P>0.05). El análisis de regresión logística indicó que al incrementarse la precipitación pluvial también se incrementa significativamente el número de colonias infectadas por A. apis (odds= 3.53; P

Mexico is a major honey producer, but not much information exists about the health status of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) in the country. This study was conducted to determine the sanitary status of adult honey bees in Mexico’s five beekeeping regions. Samples from 369 apiaries were diagnosed to identify pathogens such as Varroa destructor, which was quantified, Acarapis woodi, Nosema spp., and five viruses. Colonies were also inspected for the presence of the small hive beetle (SHB), Aethina tumida. Varroa destructor was found in 83.5% of the apiaries, with the Pacific Coast region having the highest prevalence (>95%) and rates (4.5% ± 0.6). Acarapis woodi was detected in only one apiary from the Pacific Coast, whereas Nosema spp. were prevalent in 48.5% of the apiaries, with the highest and lowest frequencies in the Yucatan Peninsula and North regions (64.6% and 10.2%, respectively). For viruses, deformed wing virus (DWV) was detected in 26.1% of the apiaries, with the highest frequency in the Pacific Coast region (44.7%). Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) was diagnosed in 3.2% of the samples and sacbrood bee virus (SBV) in 23.3% of them, with the highest frequency in the High Plateau region (36.4%). Chronic bee paralysis and Kashmir bee viruses were not detected. SHB prevalence was 25.2% nationwide, with the highest frequency in the Yucatan Peninsula (39.2%). This study shows that the most common parasites of adult honey bees in Mexico are V. destructor and Nosema spp., and that the most prevalent virus is DWV, whereas SHB is highly prevalent in the Yucatan Peninsula. This information could be useful to design disease control strategies for honey bee colonies in different regions of Mexico.

This study was conducted to analyze the effect of genotype and climate on the resistance of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies to parasitic and viral diseases. The prevalence and intensity of parasitism by Varroa destructor, or infection by Nosema spp., and four honey bee viruses were determined in 365 colonies of predominantly European or African ancestry (descendants of A. m. scutellata) in subtropical and temperate regions of Mexico. Varroa destructor was the most prevalent parasite (95%), whilst N. ceranae was the least prevalent parasite (15%). Deformed wing virus (DWV) and black queen cell virus (BQCV) were the only viruses detected, at frequencies of 38% and 66%, respectively. Varroa destructor was significantly more prevalent in colonies of European ancestry (p < 0.05), and the intensity of parasitism by V. destructor or infection by DWV and BQCV was also significantly higher in colonies of European descent than in African descent colonies (p < 0.01), although no genotype–parasite associations were found for N. ceranae. Additionally, significant and positive correlations were found between V. destructor and DWV levels, and the abundance of these pathogens was negatively correlated with the African ancestry of colonies (p < 0.01). However, there were no significant effects of environment on parasitism or infection intensity for the colonies of both genotypes. Therefore, it is concluded that the genotype of honey bee colonies, but not climate, influences their resistance to DWV, BQCV, and V. destructor.

Alternatives to the antibiotic fumagillin for the control of Nosema ceranae, a gut parasite of the honey bee, are needed. The prebiotics eugenol, chitosan, and naringenin and the probiotic Protexin® (Enterococcus faecium) provided in sugar syrup or protein patty either in spring or fall were evaluated for their effects on N. ceranae infection, colony population, honey yield and winter survivorship using field colonies. In the first year, spring treatments with eugenol, naringenin, and Protexin® significantly reduced N. ceranae infection and increased honey production, while Protexin® also increased adult bee populations and chitosan was ineffective. Fall treatments increased survivorship and decreased N. ceranae infection the following spring. In the second year, selected compounds were further tested with a larger number of colonies per treatment and only protein patty used in the spring and sugar syrup in the fall. Protexin® and naringenin significantly decreased N. ceranae infections and increased the population of adult bees after spring treatment, but did not affect honey yields. There were no differences between treatments for colony winter mortality, but surviving colonies that had been treated with Protexin® and naringenin were significantly more populated and had lower N. ceranae spore counts than control, non-treated colonies. Protexin® and naringenin were the most promising candidates for controlling N. ceranae and promoting honey bee populations, warranting further investigation. Future research should investigate the optimal colony dose and treatment frequency to maximize colony health.

Nosema ceranae is an emerging pathogen of the western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), and thus its seasonality and impact on bee colonies is not sufficiently documented for North America. This study was conducted to determine the infection intensity, prevalence, and viability of N. ceranae in >200 honey bee colonies during spring, summer, and fall, in a North American region. We also determined the relationship of N. ceranae infections with colony populations, food stores, bee survivorship, and overwinter colony mortality. The highest rates of N. ceranae infection, prevalence, and spore viability were found in the spring and summer, while the lowest were recorded in the fall. N. ceranae spore viability was significantly correlated with its prevalence and infection intensity in bees. Threshold to high levels of N. ceranae infections (>1,000,000 spores/bee) were significantly associated with reduced bee populations and food stores in colonies. Furthermore, worker bee survivorship was significantly reduced by N. ceranae infections, although no association between N. ceranae and winter colony mortality was found. It is concluded that N. ceranae infections are highest in spring and summer and may be detrimental to honey bee populations and colony productivity. Our results support the notion that treatment is justified when infections of N. ceranae exceed 1,000,000 spores/bee.