Description

Honey bee colonies face numerous challenges, one of which is vulnerability to infection by various
pathogens belonging to any of the following groups: fungi, bacteria, viruses, Arthropoda, or protozoa.
Infection with any of these pathogens can lead to significant losses in colony numbers and production
(Lannutti, et al., 2020).

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 panel is specific for the following pathogens:

Acarapis woodi (Awoodi), Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), American Foulbrood (AFB),
Ascosphaera apis (Aapis), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV),
Crithidia mellificae (Cme), Deformed Wing Virus-A (DWV-A), Deformed Wing Virus-B (DWV-B),
Deformed Wing Virus-C (DWV-C), European Foulbrood (EFB), Israeli Acute Bee Paralysis Virus
(IABPV), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), Lake Sinai Virus 1 (LSV1), Lake Sinai Virus 2 (LSV2),
Lotmaria passim (Lpa), Nosema apis (Napis), Nosema ceranae (Nceranae), Sacbrood Virus (SBV),
Slow Bee Paralysis Virus (SBPV), Tropilaelaps spp. (Trop).

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, heighten the throughput capacity of the laboratory. Since NAGC is a
testing facility, we are unable to make treatment or management recommendations based on the pathogen
results. If you have specific questions regarding treatment and/or management practices, please contact
your State Apiary Inspector’s Office.

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

References

Lannutti, et al. (2022). Molecular Detection and Differentiation of Arthropod, Fungal, Protozoan, Bacterial and Viral
Pathogens of Honeybees. Vet Sci, 9(5).