Molecular discrimination of nosema species seen in honeybee in Elazig province and investigation of subclinical cases

Honey bees (Apis mellifera Linnaeus) are important creatures that contribute to the pollination of agricultural products with their products such as honey, royal jelly, pollen, propolis, beeswax and bee venom, which make important contributions to human health and nutrition. Nowadays, it is observed that their illnesses, which greatly harm these benefits, have increased and their benefits have been restricted. One of the most important of these diseases is Nosemosis Nosemosis is an important bee disease caused by Nosema apis or Nosema ceranae that causes disorders in the digestive tracts of adult honey bees of species. The species sometimes cause alone and sometimes mixed infections. In this study, materials consisting of at least 20 dead or live worker bees collected every month for 12 months from three fixed bees in Sivrice district of Elazig province were examined microscopically and molecularly in Fırat University Parasitology Laboratory. In the microscopic examination of the materials, Nosema spores were determined in all, and multiplex PCR was performed in the next stage, and the disease factor was determined to be N. ceranae in all positive samples. With this study, for the first time, Nosema ceranae was detected molecularly in Elazig province, and for the first time, subclinical cases were investigated throughout the year in Elazig Sivrice. Key Words: Nosemosis, Apis mellifera L., Elazığ, Nosema ceranae, Nosema apis, Multiplex PCR