About the viruses of honey bees (Apis mellifera). Review article

Literature data on the viruses infecting honey bee have been reported since more than three decades, however their relationship with Varroa.oa jacobsoni parasitic mite has recently aroused the interest of research workers and apiculturists. Demonstration and identification of viruses raise difficulties because the conventional virus diagnostic methods can only be used in part in the diagnosis of virus infection of bees. The present report has summarized the symptoms of the diseases caused by the viruses identified up to the present, basic methods used for the demonstration of viruses and data on the spreading of these viruses in the world. Special interest is given to the so-called parasitic-mite syndrome which developed world-wide during the past few years and Varroa jacobsoni mite is the virus vector in its aetiology.