RT Journal Article
T1 First data on the prevalence and distribution of pathogens in bumblebees (Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum) from Spain
A1 Jabal Uriel, Clara
A1 Martín-Hernández, Raquel
A1 Ornosa Gallego, Concepción
A1 Higes, Mariano
A1 Berriatúa, Eduardo
A1 Rúa, Pilar de la
AB Bumblebees provide pollination services not only to wildflowers but also to economically important crops. In the context of the global decline of pollinators, there is an increasing interest in determining the pathogen diversity of bumblebee species. In this work, wild bumblebees of the species Bombus terrestris and Bombus pascuorum from northern and southern Spain were molecularly screened to detect and estimate prevalence of pathogens. One third of bumblebees were infected: while viruses only infected B. pascuorum, B. terrestris was infected by Apicystis bombi, Crithidia bombi and Nosema bombi. Ecological differences between host species might affect the success of the pathogens biological cycle and consequently infection prevalence. Furthermore, sex of the bumblebees (workers or males), sampling area (north or south) and altitude were important predictors of pathogen prevalence. Understanding how these factors affect pathogens distribution is essential for future conservation of bumblebee wild populations.
PB Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)
SN 1695-971X; EISSN 	1695-971X
YR 2017
FD 2017
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/17990
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/17990
LA eng
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)
NO Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)
NO Comunidad de Murcia
DS Docta Complutense
RD 7 abr 2025