Location of Nosema spp. spores within the body of the honey bee

摘要

Nosemosis (nosema) is the most common and widespread adult bee disease. It is caused by two species of the genus Nosema: N. apis and N. ceranae (Micro-sporidia: Nosematidae). The first description of European honeybee nosemosis comes just before 100 years (31). Initially it was thought that nosemosis is caused solely by one species - Nosema apis. But in 1996 a new species from Asia was described - Nosema ceranae (11), attacking Apis cerana. The first natural infection of Apis mellifera caused by Nosema ceranae was recorded among bees reared in Taiwan (18). Then infections were detected in Europe (13, 24), and also in Poland (28), in the United States (6, 7), in China and Vietnam (20). Moreover, N. ceranae can infect bumblebees (25). At present, serious infections of bees caused by N. ceranae are a worldwide problem (16, 19).