PlumX Metrics
Embed PlumX Metrics

Honeybees in the UAE: Diseases, Associated Microbial Communities, And Parasitic Varroa Mites

2019
  • 0
    Citations
  • 643
    Usage
  • 0
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 0
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

Thesis / Dissertation Description

Apis mellifera honeybees are the most important pollinator worldwide. Numerous diseases and parasites are causing the decreasing numbers of the A. mellifera honeybee. The main objective of this thesis was to study the A. mellifera honeybee pathogens and parasites along with the Varroa destructor mite. The study included (1) Studying bacterial communities associated with A. mellifera and A. florea in the UAE. (2) Conducting a molecular detection of A. mellifera honeybee pathogens in the UAE. (3) Studying Varroa mites and Varroa-associated pathogen in the UAE. DNA and RNA were extracted from A. mellifera honeybees and V. destructor mites. Subsequently, PCR assays were conducted. Sequencing results revealed 23 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in both A. mellifera and A. florea honeybees. Another result, Nosema ceranae parasite was detected, while Nosema apis parasite was not found in any of the A. mellifera honeybee samples. In addition, two viral pathogens were detected in both A. mellifera honeybee and V. destructor mites. The species of the V. destructor mite was confirmed using DNA sequencing. This study is the first of its kind in the UAE. Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of these pathogens on honey production in the UAE.

Provide Feedback

Have ideas for a new metric? Would you like to see something else here?Let us know