Two common gut parasites have been found to alter the behaviour and physiology of honeybees in ways that could harm the health and productivity of entire colonies.
A recent study published in the International Journal for Parasitology shows that the parasites Nosema ceranae and Lotmaria passim reduced the production of vitellogenin, an important protein for bee health and development, which in turn triggered earlier foraging.
Nosema ceranae is a common parasitic fungus that can replicate rapidly in the digestive tract of honeybees, explains lead author Courtney MacInnis, who conducted the research as a doctoral candidate in the Department of Biological Sciences.
