RT Journal Article
T1 Short communication: Amitraz treatments do not increase the frequency of mutations in the β2-adrenergic octopamine receptor in Varroa destructor: a field study in Central Spain
A1 Pérez-Pérez, Antonio
A1 Bartolomé, Carolina
A1 Sagastume, Soledad
A1 Meana Mañes, María Aranzazu
A1 Martín-Hernández, Raquel
A1 Maside, Xulio
A1 Higes, Mariano
AB The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor is a major threat to Apis mellifera colonies. Beekeepers use acaricides such as amitraz for control, but resistance has been reported, possibly linked to mutations in the Octβ2R gene. This study examined the frequency of these mutations in Varroa populations from two management systems: organic (oxalic acid treatment) and conventional (amitraz treatment). DNA was extracted individually from 83 mites collected from 14 apiaries, and a 1064 bp fragment of Octβ2R was amplified and sequenced. The F290L-related mutation appeared at a high frequency (89%), with no significant differences between treatments. No other reported mutations were found. The widespread homozygosity of F290L and lack of treatment-related variation suggest that this mutation existed before amitraz use, reflecting historical genetic variation rather than recent selection. Further research is needed to clarify its role in amitraz resistance
PB Elsevier
SN 0034-5288
YR 2026
FD 2026
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133218
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/133218
LA eng
NO Pérez-Pérez, A., Bartolomé, C., Sagastume, S., Meana, A., Martín-Hernández, R., Maside, X., & Higes, M. (2026). Short communication: Amitraz treatments do not increase the frequency of mutations in the β2-adrenergic octopamine receptor in Varroa destructor: a field study in Central Spain. Research in veterinary science, 203, 106101. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2026.106101
NO Credit authorship contribution statementAntonio Pérez-Pérez: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Validation, Investigation, Formal analysis, Data curation. Carolina Bartolomé: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Validation, Methodology, Formal analysis. Soledad Sagastume: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Validation, Methodology, Investigation, Formal analysis. Aránzazu Meana: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft. Raquel Martín-Hernández: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Validation, Supervision, Methodology, Formal analysis. Xulio Maside: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Methodology, Formal analysis. Mariano Higes: Writing – review & editing, Writing – original draft, Validation, Supervision, Resources, Project administration, Methodology, Investigation, Funding acquisition, Formal analysis, Data curation, Conceptualization.
NO Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
NO Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (España)
DS Docta Complutense
RD 22 mar 2026