Molecular Detection of Three Viral Diseases in Honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) Colonies Infested with Mite (Varroa destructor) in Jordan

Little information exists in Jordan about the presence of viral diseases in honey bee (Apis meilfera) colonies and their association with Varroa destructor mites. The first investigation using molecular techniques of honey bees colonies infested with Varroa mites for the presence of three viruses in Jordan is reported. Samples of adult bees, larvae and Varroa mites were collected from twenty four colonies representing seven different locations of Jordan. Infestation percentages were 54.2% for Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus (IAPV) followed by 11.1% for Deformed Wing Virus (DWV) and 4.2% for Black Queen Cell Virus (BQCV). IAPV and DWV were detected in adult bees, larvae and Varroa, while, BQCV was found only in adult bees and Varroa. The results were confirmed by analyzing the samples with reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for the three viruses surveyed using specific primers. This is the first molecular detection of these three viruses infecting honey bees in Jordan.