Molecular Detection of Acarapis woodi Using Hive Debris as Innovative and Non-Invasive Matrix

Acarapis woodi is a pathogen affecting honey bees health worldwide. Its prevalence may be underestimated due to the time-consuming traditional method for its diagnosis and the attitude in focusing the attention only onto Varroa destructor. New PCR techniques have allowed for the verification of the presence of A. woodi in 44 samples of honey bees and 11 samples of hive debris collected from 17 apiaries by the veterinary services of the Latium region (Central Italy). Overall, 9.1% of adult honey bee samples (all belonging to one apiary) and 6.3% of hive debris samples (belonging to 6 apiaries) were positive in an end point PCR and presence of the pathogen was confirmed through Sanger sequencing. Results demonstrated the potential underestimation of A. woodi occurrence in Italian apiaries and reported the first detection of A. woodi in hive debris samples.