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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Bee Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #397989
Research Project: Managing Honey Bees Against Disease and Colony Stress

Location: Bee Research Laboratory

Title: Susceptible and infectious states for both vector and host in a dynamic pathogen-vector-host system.

Author
item LAMAS, ZACHARY - University Of Maryland
item RYABOV, EUGENE - Collaborator
item HAWTHORNE, DAVID - University Of Maryland
item Evans, Jay

Submitted to: Proceedings of the Royal Society. B. Biological Sciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2023
Publication Date: 1/10/2024
Citation: Lamas, Z., Ryabov, E.V., Hawthorne, D.J., Evans, J.D. 2024. Susceptible and infectious states for both vector and host in a dynamic pathogen-vector-host system.. Proceedings of the Royal Society. B. Biological Sciences. 291. Article e20232293. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2293.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2023.2293

Interpretive Summary: Honey bees face numerous parasites and pathogens, but none are as impactful as Varroa mites and the viruses carried by these mites. This study determined the abilities of mites to initiate infections in colonies and the subsequent routes used by viruses to move from one bee to the next. These values ae critical for understanding virus dynamics and control. Honey bees are critical species, and the control of their parasites and pathogens will help reduce costly colony losses.

Technical Abstract: Horizontal movement of pathogens is achieved via host contact, animal vectors and, rarely, both. Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a key insect pathogen of honey bees that is transmitted directly between hosts and via a parasitic mite that has spread to nearly all populations of the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, in recent decades. Using tagged viruses, we clarify vector-vector, host-host and host-vector transmission routes in groups of bees. Mites readily acquire viruses from their hosts and then transmit these viruses to naïve hosts. In parallel, two bee social behaviors, trophallaxis and cannibalization of pupae, accelerate communicable transmission from bee to bee. Communicable circulation of the virus solely amongst hosts provides a reservoir of DWV for naïve Varroa to acquire and subsequently vector the pathogen. These findings clarify a rare system where communicable transmission between hosts synergizes vector-based transmission.