EDP Sciences Journals List
Home Document
Subscriber Authentication Point
Issue Apidologie
Volume 40, Number 2, March-April 2009
Page(s) 117 - 123
DOI 10.1051/apido/2008065
Published online 03 February 2009

Apidologie 40 (2009) 117-123
DOI: 10.1051/apido/2008065

Nosema ceranae infects honey bees (Apis mellifera) and contaminates honey in Australia

Thomas Giersch, Tracey Berg, Francesca Galea and Michael Hornitzky

Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Private Mail Bag, 8, Camden, New South Wales, 2570, Australia

Received 3 July 2008 – Revised 1 October 2008 – Accepted 14 October 2008 - Published online 3 February 2009

Abstract - Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and microscopy were used to test 307 adult bee and 37 honey samples collected in Australia for the presence of two microsporidia, Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis. N. ceranae was detected in samples from 4 states (Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia) and was most commonly found in samples from Queensland where 28 (33.7%) of 83 samples were positive. New South Wales had the second highest prevalence with 15 (15.8%) of 95 samples positive. South Australia and Victoria had 4 (16%) of 25 and 2 (4.5%) of 44 samples positive respectively. N. ceranae was not detected in samples from Western Australia and Tasmania. N. apis was detected in samples from all states. Three honey samples (8.1%) were PCR positive for N. ceranae. These positive honey samples originated from beekeepers in Queensland. Six imported honey samples tested were negative for both Nosema spp.


Key words: Nosema ceranae / Nosema apis / nosemosis / Apis mellifera / PCR / RFLP


© INRA, DIB-AGIB, EDP Sciences 2009


What is OpenURL?

The OpenURL standard is a protocol for transmission of metadata describing the resource that you wish to access. An OpenURL link contains article metadata and directs it to the OpenURL server of your choice. The OpenURL server can provide access to the resource and also offer complementary services (specific search engine, export of references...). The OpenURL link can be generated by different means.
  • If your librarian has set up your subscription with an OpenURL resolver, OpenURL links appear automatically on the abstract pages.
  • You can define your own OpenURL resolver with your EDPS Account. In this case your choice will be given priority over that of your library.
  • You can use an add-on for your browser (Firefox or I.E.) to display OpenURL links on a page (see http://www.openly.com/openurlref/). You should disable this module if you wish to use the OpenURL server that you or your library have defined.