ABSTRACT
The Varroa destructor ectoparasitic mite has spread globally and in conjunction with Deformed Wing Virus has killed millions of honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies. This has forced Northern hemisphere beekeepers into using miticides to avoid mass colony losses. However, in many Southern hemisphere countries widespread treatment did not occur since miticides were prohibitively expensive, or a centralised choice was made not to treat, both allowing natural selection to act. The Varroa mite initially caused high losses before mite-resistance appeared in the honeybee populations. Initially, mite-resistance was only associated with African and Africanised honeybees. Although recently, several isolated mite-resistant European honeybee populations have appeared. Here we studied the mite-resistance in Cuba and found high rates of recapping of infested worker cells (77%), high removal of mites (80%) and corresponding low mite fertility (r = 0.77). These are all traits found in all naturally evolved Varroa-resistant populations. We can confirm Cuba has the world's largest European mite-resistant population with 220,000 colonies that have been treatment-free for over two decades and illustrating the power of natural selection. Cuban honeybees are also highly productive, 40-70 kg of honey produced annually, and are mild mannered. Cuba is an excellent example of what is possible when honeybees are allowed to adapt naturally to Varroa with minimal human interference.
Subject(s)
Acaricides , RNA Viruses , Varroidae , Animals , Bees , Cuba , HumansABSTRACT
Most life-threatening conditions form a coherent clinical picture, with examination findings confirming the patient's history. However, pain out of proportion to examination findings can also signify an emergency - acute compartment syndrome, bowel ischaemia, necrotising fasciitis and acute aortic dissection may all present in this way. A lack of situational awareness leads doctors to erroneously rely on examination findings to flag impending catastrophe, but in such cases misdiagnosis or delayed treatment can have dire consequences. Patients with unexplained pain risk significant morbidity and mortality, and doctors are vulnerable to litigation and reputational damage. This article addresses this danger, exploring the causes and pathology of pain that is out of proportion, and presenting an approach to mitigate risk and prevent catastrophe.
Subject(s)
Aortic Dissection , Fasciitis, Necrotizing , Mesenteric Ischemia , Aortic Dissection/complications , Aortic Dissection/diagnosis , Diagnostic Errors/prevention & control , Humans , PainABSTRACT
Chest pain is a common presenting complaint with a broad differential diagnosis. Even after the full array of special investigations, a cause cannot be found in some patients. Psychological factors can play a significant role in the perception of chest pain. Patients with such a psychological disturbance may not meet the full criteria for a diagnosable psychiatric illness, and thus cannot be assigned a specific diagnosis. Not knowing how to manage this situation can lead to poor rapport between doctor and patient. Through their clinical acumen, judicious use of special investigations and by forming a therapeutic alliance, clinicians can identify and help these patients.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Schools, Medical , Chest Pain/diagnosis , Chest Pain/etiology , Diagnosis, Differential , Humans , Mental Disorders/diagnosisABSTRACT
The combination of Deformed wing virus (DWV) and Varroa destructor is arguably one of the greatest threats currently facing western honey bees, Apis mellifera. Varroa's association with DWV has decreased viral diversity and increased loads of DWV within honey bee populations. Nowhere has this been better studied than in Hawaii, where the arrival of Varroa progressively led to the dominance of the single master variant (DWV-A) on both mite-infested Hawaiian Islands of Oahu and Big Island. Now, exactly 10 years following the original study, we find that the DWV population has changed once again, with variants containing the RdRp coding sequence pertaining to the master variant B beginning to co-dominate alongside variants with the DWV-A RdRp sequence on the mite-infested islands of Oahu and Big Island. In speculation, based on other studies, it appears this could represent a stage in the journey towards the complete dominance of DWV-B, a variant that appears better adapted to be transmitted within honey bee colonies.
Subject(s)
Animal Diseases/epidemiology , Animal Diseases/virology , Bees/virology , Genetic Variation , Open Reading Frames , RNA Virus Infections/veterinary , RNA Viruses/genetics , Animals , Genome, Viral , Prevalence , RNA Viruses/classification , Viral LoadABSTRACT
We analyzed the complete mitochondrial genome of the 'Buckfast bee', Apis mellifera, collected from North Ireland, UK. It consisted of a circular molecule of 16,353 bp. The genome contained 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, and 2 rRNA genes, along with one A + T-rich control region. The average AT content was 84.9%. The genes ATP8 and ATP6 shared 19 nucleotides. A phylogenetic analysis, suggested that the matriline 'Buckfast bee' has remained most closely related to the A. mellifera ligustica race from which it originated in 1917, despite being cross-bred with many other A. mellifera races over the past 100 years.
