RT Journal Article
T1 Coexistence of genetically different Varroa destructor in Apis mellifera colonies
A1 Gajić, Bojan
A1 Muñoz Gabaldón, Irene
A1 De la Rúa, Pilar
A1 Stevanović, Jevrosima
A1 Lakić, Nada
A1 Kulišić, Zoran
A1 Stanimirović, Zoran
AB The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity of Varroa destructor parasitizing Apis mellifera colonies and to test for possible host–parasite association at the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) level. Six A. mellifera haplotypes (including a novel C2aa) and five haplotypes of V. destructor were detected in 29 analyzed colonies from eight sampling sites in Serbia. We revealed the presence of the K and S1 haplotypes as well as KS1 and KP1 heteroplasmic mite individuals in all localities, while the P1 haplotype was only found in four sampling sites. Significant differences in V. destructor genetic diversity were found at both apiary and colony levels, with mite haplotypes coexisting in almost all tested colonies. In addition, a significant correlation between the number of analyzed mites per colony and the number of identified V. destructor haplotypes was observed. However, no significant host–parasite relationship was found, suggesting that mites bearing different haplotypes as well as those heteroplasmic individuals are well adapted to the host, A. mellifera, independently of the identified haplotype present in each colony. Our results will contribute to future population and biogeographic studies concerning V. destructor infesting A. mellifera, as well as to better understanding their host–parasite relationship.
PB Springer Nature
SN 0168-8162
YR 2019
FD 2019-06-13
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/126173
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/126173
LA eng
NO Gajić, B., Muñoz, I., De la Rúa, P., Stevanović, J., Lakić, N., Kulišić, Z., & Stanimirović, Z. (2019). Coexistence of genetically different Varroa destructor in Apis mellifera colonies. Experimental and Applied Acarology, 78(3), 315-326. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10493-019-00395-Z
NO This study was supported by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia (Grant No. III46002) and the 19908-GERM-15 project of Regional Excellence from the Fundación Séneca (Gobierno Regional de Murcia, Spain). Irene Muñoz is supported by Fundación Séneca (Gobierno Regional de Murcia, Spain) through the post-doctoral fellowship “Saavedra Fajardo” (20036/SF/16).
NO Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia
NO Fundación Séneca
DS Docta Complutense
RD 18 mar 2026