Investigation of the prevalence of varroasis and nosemosis in honey bees in Aksaray, Türkiye

Varroa destructor and Nosema species (N. ceranae and N. apis) are significant and widespread honey bee (Apis mellifera) parasites responsible for substantial colony losses and reduced productivity worldwide. Numerous studies have assessed the prevalence of these parasites in honey bees across various provinces of Türkiye. In the present study, we aimed to determine the presence and prevalence of V. destructor and Nosema species in honeybees within Aksaray province, Türkiye, using both conventional and molecular methods. For this purpose, 50 hives from 10 apiaries were sampled between July and November 2020 and between April and June 2021. These hives were examined for the presence of the aforementioned parasites. The results revealed that 94% of the hives were infested with Varroa mites. A total of 686 Varroa sp. mites were collected from infested hives. The average number of mites per hive was 13.7 (ranging from 7 to 38 mites). However, Nosema spores were not detected in the samples using either microscopic or molecular analyses. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that V. destructor is prevalent in apiaries in Aksaray province and may pose a significant threat to honey bee populations.