Southwestern Entomologist (2020) 45, 335-340

Joseph L. McInnis, Trevor Williams, Ya-Chen Chuang and Douglas A. Gregg (2020)
Replication of Invertebrate iridescent virus 6 (IIV-6) in European honey bees - potential involvement in colony collapse disorder?
Southwestern Entomologist 45 (2), 335-340
Abstract: Colony collapse disorder of honey bees, Apis mellifera L., is a global problem with no conclusive cause yet accepted. A previous U.S. Army study identified a DNA virus, invertebrate iridescent virus (IIV-6), and two microsporian pathogens, Nosema apis Zander 1909 and Nosema ceranae Fries et al. 1996, in bee samples from a collapsing hive. A PCR-based study using limited samples failed to confirm IIV-6 in collapsing colonies, causing the finding to be questioned. Here we demonstrate that honey bees are very susceptible to the virus. We observed viral inclusion bodies in the cytoplasm of honey bee brood previously inoculated with IIV-6. Electron microscopy revealed massive numbers of viral particles in cells at 3 days post-inoculation. Viral factories and paracrystalline arrays of particles ~125 nm in diameter were observed. Few cells were spared infection, indicating that honey bee larvae are very susceptible to IIV-6 and most tissues are infected.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Trevor Williams

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
non-target effects/fate in environm.

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
Invertebrate iridescent virus 6 (entomopathogen)