Does Nosema ceranae Wipe Out Nosema apis in Turkey?

<p><strong><em>Background:</em></strong> The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the <em>Nosema ceranae</em> and <em>Nosema apis</em> among apiaries using both spore counts and multiplex PCR and the replacement of <em>N. apis </em>by <em>N. ceranae </em>in some regions of Turkey. <strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Methods:</em></strong> A hundred honey bee samples were collected from 99 apiaries in 11 different locations in 2011-2012 in Turkey. <em>Nosema</em> infection degree from collected samples was determined using light microscope and molecular detection of <em>Nosema</em> spp. (<em>N. ceranae</em> and <em>N. apis</em>) was performed using specific primers by multiplex PCR.</p><p><strong><em>Results</em></strong>: <em>N. ceranae</em> was only found spores in sampling areas using molecular diagnosis. <em>N. apis </em>was not detected in whole sampling areas using both techniques. There are no <em>Nosema</em> spores detected in Konya one location using two techniques. The nu­cleotide sequences from amplification products of the <em>Nosema</em> infested honeybee samples were (98%) identical with the sequence of <em>N. ceranae </em>for many countries deposited in the GenBank database in this study.</p><strong><em>Conclusion:</em></strong> The present study illustrated that <em>N. ceranae </em>is the only spores for sampled areas in 2011-2012. The study could also indicate that <em>N. ceranae</em> has been replaced instead of N<em>. apis</em> in Turkey. In addition, the prevalence of <em>N. ceranae</em> and two microsporodia spores effects on honey bee colonies in Turkey were needed to determine with intensive sampling, periodically