RT Journal Article
T1 Honey bee pathogens in Ghana and the presence of contaminated beeswax
A1 Llorens Picher, Miguel
A1 Higes, Mariano
A1 Martín Hernández, Raquel
A1 De la Rúa, Pilar
A1 Muñoz Gabaldón, Irene
A1 Aidoo, Kwame
A1 Bempong, Eric Obeng
A1 Polkuraf, Faustina
A1 Meana Mañes, María Aranzazu
AB A nationwide survey was performed to study the distribution of parasites, pathogens and pesticides in managed honey bee populations in Ghana. When 45 colonies were sampled and inspected for signs of disease, Varroa destructor was the most prevalent parasite (89%; n = 40), all mites corresponding to the Korean haplotype of this pathogen. Aethina tumida (42%; n = 19) and Braula coeca (7%; n = 3) were also detected, as were Melissococcus plutonius and trypanosomatids (7%). By contrast, Nosema spp., Acarapis spp., Ascosphaera apis and Paenibacillus larvae were not detected by molecular screening. Amitraz was the most widely distributed pesticide (75%; n = 23) followed by coumaphos (47%; n = 15), chlorpyrifos (34%; n = 15) and fluvalinate (31%; n = 10). This survey lays the groundwork for further monitoring of honey bee populations in Ghana.
PB Springer Nature
SN 0044-8435
YR 2017
FD 2017-06-12
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/128758
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/128758
LA eng
NO Llorens-Picher, M., Higes, M., Martín-Hernández, R. et al. Honey bee pathogens in Ghana and the presence of contaminated beeswax. Apidologie 48, 732–742 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13592-017-0518-2
NO The authors wish to acknowledge the help and support received by beekeepers from all over Ghana, with special mention to the staff at the Animal Health and Production College at Pong-Tamale, Dr. Rosa Gálvez for her support using GIS software and Airbus Defence and Space for their funding. IM was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the University of Murcia (R-1017/2015). PDLR received support from the COST Action FA1307 (SUPER-B). Financial support for this research was also provided by the 19908-GERM-15 project of Regional Excellence from the Fundación Séneca (Gobierno Regional de Murcia, Spain).
NO Airbus
NO Universidad de Murcia
NO European Commission
NO Fundación Séneca
DS Docta Complutense
RD 22 ene 2026