Detection of <i>Lotmaria passim</i> and <i>Crithidia mellificae</i> in Selected Bumblebee Species

Bumblebees (<i>Bombus</i> spp.) are an essential element of the ecosystem and the global economy. They are valued pollinators in many countries around the word. Unfortunately, there has been a decline in the bumblebee population, which is attributed to, among others, pathogens and reduce...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pathogens
Main Authors: Maria Michalczyk, Rajmund Sokół
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/11/9/1053
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Summary:Bumblebees (<i>Bombus</i> spp.) are an essential element of the ecosystem and the global economy. They are valued pollinators in many countries around the word. Unfortunately, there has been a decline in the bumblebee population, which is attributed to, among others, pathogens and reduced access to food due to the loss of natural nesting sites. <i>Lotmaria passim</i> and <i>Crithidia mellificae</i>, protozoan pathogens of the family Trypanosomatidae, commonly infect bumblebees, including in Poland. In this study, a Polish population of bumblebees was screened for <i>L. passim</i> and <i>C. mellificae</i>. The experiment was performed on 13 adult bumblebees belonging to 4 species: <i>B. lapidarius</i>, <i>B. lucorum</i>, <i>B. pascuorum</i>, and <i>B. terrestris</i>. Protozoa of the family Trypanosomatidae were identified by PCR. Only <i>L. passim</i> was identified in one <i>B. pascuorum</i> individual. Further research is needed to confirm the effect of concurrent pathogens on the decline of bumblebee populations.
ISSN:2076-0817