Dick Rogers of Wildwood Labs has released this information about the results of on-going investigations into the presence of Nosema and Nosema ceranae in the Maritime Provinces:
Based on results to-date, it appears that N.ceranae is well established and makes up about 50% or more of cases in surveyed provinces of NS and PEI. More survey work is underway that will shed additional light on prevalence of the two Nosema species.
Our summer and fall Nosema spp. surveys have turned up much more Nosema than we previously assumed to be present at this time of year. Some counts as high as 30 million spores per bee. If left unmedicated, or unresponsive to medication, it is expected that these high levels could play an important role in the loss of bees over winter. Geoff Williams, Acadia University, will have results on the efficacy of medication after he completes his spring 2008 hive assessments.
For those provinces that are interested, we are still able to offer Nosema spp spore count, and N.ceranae ID services.
Meanwhile, researchers for the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association have found Nosema in every one of about 450 samples of bees collected from 25 Ontario beekeepers. More than half of the samples had the “more aggressive strain” called Nosema ceranae, according to a recent statement from the association.
See also:
Parasite found in every Ontario bee sample
CBC News, 22 November 2007
Asian parasite may be to blame for bee deaths
CBC News, 24 July 2007
Written by beekeepers
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