Honey bee viruses generally persist at low levels in bee populations without causing overt symptoms. However, under certain conditions, they can become pathogenic and widespread, leading to colony mortality (Traynor et al., 2016).

The following is a brief summary of the three major groups of honey bee pathogens (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) that are tested by NAGC. Since we are a testing facility, we are unable to make treatment or management recommendations based on pathogen results. If you have more specific questions regarding treatment and/or management practices, please contact your State Apiary Inspector’s office.

The Honey Bee Quantitative (HB-Q) Pathogen Panel was developed by NAGC as a tool used to screen for the health of honey bees. NAGC’s quantitative pathogen panel is specific for the following 15 pathogens (viruses, bacteria, and fungi):  Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), American Foulbrood (AFB), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Deformed Wing Virus (DWV), European Foulbrood (EFB), Israeli Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (IABPV), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), Lake Sinai Virus 1 (LSV1), Lake Sinai Virus 2 (LSV2), Nosema apis (Napis), Nosema ceranae (Nceranae), Slow Bee Paralysis Virus (SBPV), Sacbrood Virus (SBV), and Varroa Destructor Virus (VDV1).

This multi-target panel has been shown to be highly specific for each target using the unique DNA sequence from each pathogen. In addition to the cost savings, the utilization of a multiplex panel shortens the turnaround time which, in turn, heightens the throughput capacity of the laboratory.

This project was funded by the National Corn Growers Association and the North Dakota Department of Agriculture.