Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa

Rahşan Koç Akpınar; Sema Nur Çelik; Ayhan Akman; Onur Taş; Coşkun Aydın

doi:10.35206/jan.1890701

TR EN

Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa

Abstract

Bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic agents found in bee farms play a significant role among the most important causes of colony losses observed in the honeybee (Apis mellifera L). Parasites and diseases affecting honey bees pose a significant threat to the sustainability and productivity of beekeeping in Türkiye. In this study, the presence of Paenibacillus larvae (P. larvae) the causative agent of American foulbrood, Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Deformed Wing Virus-A (DWV-A), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), Sacbrood Virus (SBV), Israeli Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (IAPV), Apis mellifera Filamentous Virus (AmFV), and Deformed Wing Virus-B (DWV-B formerly VDV-1), Nosema spp. and Varroa destructor (V. destructor) were investigated using microscopic, bacteriological, and molecular methods in suspected adult bee and larval samples collected from apiaries experiencing colony losses in Samsun, Sinop, Ordu, Amasya, and Tokat provinces during 2024 and 2025. According to the findings, mixed infections with two or more pathogens present together were detected in all colonies examined. At the end of the study, viral pathogens detected in samples from the Central Black Sea region and surrounding provinces were investigated. The prevalence rates were determined as follows: DWV-A 73.07%, BQCV 69.23%, SBV 67.3%, AmFV 65.38%, DWV-B 48.07%, ABPV 38.46%, CBPV 17.3%, IAPV 17.3%, and KBV 3.84%. In the samples examined, the prevalence of V. destructor was found to be 59.61%, Nosema ceranae 23.07%, and P. larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood, 28.84%. In conclusion, the results suggest that the cause of the losses observed in honey bee colonies is mixed infections. These multiple infections suppress the immune system and reduce colony resilience, thereby predisposing colonies to collapse and highlighting the necessity of multifactorial and holistic approaches for the maintenance of colony health.

Keywords

Apis mellifera L., Central Black Sea, Honey bee pathogens, Paenibacillus larvae, Viral disease

Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa

Abstract

Bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic agents found in bee farms play a significant role among the most important causes of colony losses observed in the honeybee (Apis mellifera L). Parasites and diseases affecting honey bees pose a significant threat to the sustainability and productivity of beekeeping in Türkiye. In this study, the presence of Paenibacillus larvae (P. larvae) the causative agent of American foulbrood, Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV), Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus (CBPV), Deformed Wing Virus-A (DWV-A), Kashmir Bee Virus (KBV), Sacbrood Virus (SBV), Israeli Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (IAPV), Apis mellifera Filamentous Virus (AmFV), and Deformed Wing Virus-B (DWV-B formerly VDV-1), Nosema spp. and Varroa destructor (V. destructor) were investigated using microscopic, bacteriological, and molecular methods in suspected adult bee and larval samples collected from apiaries experiencing colony losses in Samsun, Sinop, Ordu, Amasya, and Tokat provinces during 2024 and 2025. According to the findings, mixed infections with two or more pathogens present together were detected in all colonies examined. At the end of the study, viral pathogens detected in samples from the Central Black Sea region and surrounding provinces were investigated. The prevalence rates were determined as follows: DWV-A 73.07%, BQCV 69.23%, SBV 67.3%, AmFV 65.38%, DWV-B 48.07%, ABPV 38.46%, CBPV 17.3%, IAPV 17.3%, and KBV 3.84%. In the samples examined, the prevalence of V. destructor was found to be 59.61%, Nosema ceranae 23.07%, and P. larvae, the causative agent of American Foulbrood, 28.84%. In conclusion, the results suggest that the cause of the losses observed in honey bee colonies is mixed infections. These multiple infections suppress the immune system and reduce colony resilience, thereby predisposing colonies to collapse and highlighting the necessity of multifactorial and holistic approaches for the maintenance of colony health.

Keywords

Apis mellifera L., Central Black Sea, Honey bee pathogens, Paenibacillus larvae, Viral Disease

Ethical Statement

Ethics Approval: This study did not include any procedures that required ethical approval.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Bee and Silkworm Breeding and Improvement

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Rahşan Koç Akpınar ^*
0000-0003-0075-9247
Türkiye

Sema Nur Çelik
0000-0001-5657-1273
Türkiye

Ayhan Akman
0000-0003-0152-0481
Türkiye

Onur Taş
0000-0003-0577-4024
Türkiye

Coşkun Aydın
0000-0001-6244-414X
Türkiye

Publication Date

May 10, 2026

Submission Date

February 16, 2026

Acceptance Date

May 10, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 9 Number: 1

DOI

https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1890701

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA89GS64LM

APA

Koç Akpınar, R., Çelik, S. N., Akman, A., Taş, O., & Aydın, C. (2026). Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature, 9(1), 57-75. https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1890701

AMA

1.Koç Akpınar R, Çelik SN, Akman A, Taş O, Aydın C. Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa. J.Apit.Nat. 2026;9(1):57-75. doi:10.35206/jan.1890701

Chicago

Koç Akpınar, Rahşan, Sema Nur Çelik, Ayhan Akman, Onur Taş, and Coşkun Aydın. 2026. “Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa”. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature 9 (1): 57-75. https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1890701.

EndNote

Koç Akpınar R, Çelik SN, Akman A, Taş O, Aydın C (May 1, 2026) Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature 9 1 57–75.

IEEE

[1]R. Koç Akpınar, S. N. Çelik, A. Akman, O. Taş, and C. Aydın, “Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa”, J.Apit.Nat., vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 57–75, May 2026, doi: 10.35206/jan.1890701.

ISNAD

Koç Akpınar, Rahşan - Çelik, Sema Nur - Akman, Ayhan - Taş, Onur - Aydın, Coşkun. “Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa”. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature 9/1 (May 1, 2026): 57-75. https://doi.org/10.35206/jan.1890701.

JAMA

1.Koç Akpınar R, Çelik SN, Akman A, Taş O, Aydın C. Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa. J.Apit.Nat. 2026;9:57–75.

MLA

Koç Akpınar, Rahşan, et al. “Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa”. Journal of Apitherapy and Nature, vol. 9, no. 1, May 2026, pp. 57-75, doi:10.35206/jan.1890701.

Vancouver

1.Rahşan Koç Akpınar, Sema Nur Çelik, Ayhan Akman, Onur Taş, Coşkun Aydın. Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa. J.Apit.Nat. 2026 May 1;9(1):57-75. doi:10.35206/jan.1890701

e-ISSN: 2667-4734 Publication Model: Continuous Publication Citation Indexes: TR Dizin

Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa

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Bee Health in the Central Black Sea Region and Surrounding Provinces: Regional Prevalence of American Foulbrood, Viral Diseases, Nosema, and Varroa

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