Preliminary studies on the occurrence of honeybee pathogens in the national bumblebee population

Dangerous pathogens that affect honeybees, including microsporidia of the genus Nosema, the acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and the deformed wing virus (DWV), also contribute to the global decline in bumblebee populations. In this study, a few insects with the bumblebee population present in country was checked for the presence of Nosema apis, Nosema bombi and Nosema ceranae microsporidia, ABPV, the chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV) and DWV. Thirteen adult bumblebees (Bombus) representing 4 species were analyzed: Bombus lapidarius (2 workers, 2 males), Bombus lucorum (1 worker), Bombus pascuorum (5 workers, 1 male) and Bombus terrestris (2 workers). These specimens were found dead in two urban botanical gardens and four landscape parks in Lower Silesia. Microsporidia of the genus Nosema and CBPV were not detected in any of the examined samples. ABPV was identified in 2 insects of B. pascuorum and B. terrestris (2 workers). The presence of DWV was detected in 12 bumblebees (10 workers, 2 males).