Investigations on presence, distribution, molecular and ultrastructural characterization of nosemosis agents in Ordu and Kastamonu province

Nosemosis is a fatal disease for honeybee. At the same time it gives rise to decrease production of honey. The disease is caused by two factors; Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. This study aimed to compare these disease factors in the terms of morphological, molecular and ultrastructural characters in honey bees in Ordu and Kastamonu Province. 731 adult bees were collected from 14 localities in Ordu and 237 adult bees were collected from Küre, Kastamonu. Spores of the disease factors were measured and photographed using an Olympus BX51 microscope. Significant differences were detected between spore morphology of the disease factors. We also studied molecular and ultrastructure of Nosema spores in order to determine the differences of spores. Molecular studies were performed for the purpose of characterization in species level of the disease factors. It was determined that Nosema ceranae occurs in 4 different localities. Nosema spores determined from Küre, Kastamonu as well as Ordu were studied comprehensively in electron microscope. Ultrastructural studies show that N. ceranae in Ordu and Kastamonu has isofilar and different numbers of polar filament coils and thick spore wall. Thus, morphometric, molecular and ultrastructural study of Nosema spores isolated from honeybees in Ordu and Kastamonu province has been first studied extensively.