Uludağ Arıcılık Dergisi / Uludağ Bee Journal

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Paralytic viruses of the honey bee
(Uludağ Üniversitesi, 2010) Chejanovsky, Nor
The Acute bee paralysis virus, the Israeli acute paralysis virus, the Kashmir virus and the Chronic bee paralysis virus of the honey bee are actively involved in the worldwide continuous decrease in Honey bee (Apis mellifera L) colonies in the last years. The first three viruses belong to the same viral family, the Dicistroviridae, and induce quick paralysis and mortality, in contrast to the latter virus that is not classified yet. The former viruses bear a monopartite, and the latter a bipartite, positive strand RNA genome. Moreover, the route of infection of the three former viruses seems to require a vector while the latter does not. However the four viruses may become activated in covertly infected asymptomatic bees by still undefined stress factors, to cause overt lethal infections and substantial honey bee colony losses. Progress made in understanding their molecular structure, ways of infection and innate immune defenses of the honey bee, will contribute to improve management of honey bee colonies.