DETECTION OF HONEY BEE VIRUSES ON THE TERRITORY OF UKRAINE

A survey of honey bee viruses on the territory of Ukraine has been conducted forthe first time in 2016-2017 years. The samples of adult bees, affected combs andmites were collected from apiaries in two regions (Kyiv and Cherkasy). Detailedstudying of the bee samples revealed following morphological changes: deformedwings, saccular brood, blackened pistil, changing of the body color. Virus-likeparticles were observed under TEM after purification of bee samples.Symptomless samples were also analyzed for the presence of bee viruses by RTPCR.According to results of RT-PCR, we concluded that the following virusescirculate on the territory of Ukraine: Acute Bee Paralysis Virus (ABPV), KashmirBee Virus (KBV), Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV), Black Queen Cell Virus(BQCV), Sacbrood Bee Virus (SBV) Chronic bee paralysis virus (CBPV). Takentogether, these data indicate that bee virus infections occur in bee populations onthe territory of Ukraine. Despite the lack of symptoms viruses are often present incolonies and environmental factors might result disease outbreaks that lead to theactivation of viral replication in bees