The Prevalance of Deformed Wing Virus in NC Honeybees and Surrounding Wild Bee Populations

Pollinator health is a topic of major concern due to the impact pollinators have on available food resources produced. Recently the number of wild bee species have been declining due to a number of factors; one such factor under investigation is the introduction of pathogens. Honeybees are a common host for pathogens of concern, and as they are transported and utilized for their pollination services they could act to transmit these infections to wild bee species. In this study we look at 2 honeybee apiaries to see if a genus of wild bees, Lasioglossum, collected nearby can contract Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) which is a common infection seen in honeybees. Total sample RNA was converted into cDNA where we amplified loci specific to DWV variant A and B along with housekeeping genes to act as an internal positive control. I found both variant A and B of DWV in our collected samples at both apiaries along with a marginal negative correlation between the proportion of Lasioglossum infected and the distance to apiary. Honeybees collected were significantly more likely to harbor both DWV variants than either variant A or B alone, while Lasioglossum were significantly less likely to contain a Co-infection.<p></p>