Partial detection of Nosema ceranae in honey bees Apis mellifera l. and molecular characterization of cytochrome oxidase I gene in the mitochondrial

Honey bee keeping is a large-scale global industry in the world; bee health suffers from one of the most dangerous diseases by Vairimorpha (Nosema) pathogen. The molecular genetic diversity among the collected honey bee populations was investigated using the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). To determine the level of Vairimorpha (Nosema) ceranae (V. ceranae) concentration within honey bee individuals in the colony, we dissected the honey bee and extracted the mid gut, ovary from newly hatched virgin queens, and hypopharengeal gland and mid gut from newly hatch worker bees. The spores were counted initially using light microscopy. The quality and quantity were determined by conventional PCR and qPCR technology to track infection levels. The sequence of COI showed that belong to Apis mellifera Arabia haplotype by 99% and by 78% to African haplotype Apis mellifera capensis. Vairimorpha cerane with significant differences ranged from 0.90×106 spore/bee to 18.0×106 spore/bee (samples code C7) for adult bees. While, the copies number of V. ceranae varied from one organ to another, the pathogen was in newly hatched workers or virgin's queens higher than old generation. The hypopharengeal glands in new hatch honey bees’ workers were the most infected of all organs by 25.49×106 copies. These results demonstrate the importance of maintain proper quarantine measures to reduce infection. Also, these results could explain how V. ceranae pathogen is transmitted vertically and horizontally within and between the colonies.