New Research about CCD (Colony Colapse Disorder)

A new research on Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) lead by Dr. Jay D. Evans from the Bee Research Lab (ARS) in Beltsville, Maryland  was just released on August 21, 2012. Here's the link to the article: http://home.ezezine.com/1636/1636-2012.08.24.13.30.archive.html

Today I will try to explain what I have read and understood from this new release. As you have probably heard the honey bees are "disappearing"(remember it happens to one of my colony.. ..most of my Russian bees were gone without any traces, leaving the queen, a little brood and a handful of workers), at a rate around 30% of colony loss or about 400,000+ colonies each winter in the USA alone! That is tremendous! This decline has been going on for about 6 years now and the implications are substantial to our economy as well as to our well being.

In the article "Pathogen Webs in Collapsing Honey bee colonies" recently published, the new study seem to indicate that the collapse of honey bees in the United States differs from one region to another. However pathogens were in greater abundance  and incidence in colonies showing CCD than healthy controlled colonies. Colonies affected seem to be more susceptible to a diverse set of pathogens, the co-infections acting together in synergy producing a rapid reduction in worker bees a characteristic of the disorder.
The scientists also showed that  individual bees can have this "mix"and interaction  of pathogens without affecting the colony as a whole. This shows that pathogen interactions is an important factor of bee disease. Many microorganisms affect honey bees in general, and/ or the colony entirely but  their effects is not well known today.
One thing is clear from this paper: CCD colonies did have more pathogen species present than did non- CCD colonies. However these pathogens are also present in non-CCD colonies but not at the level of CCD hives. Some specific viruses have a higher incidence as well as gut parasites N. apis, and C. mellificae. N.apis...some 20-fold higher! In addition, what is remarkable is that it is a certain combination of viruses is needed to show the symptoms of CCD.
Conclusion:

• Honey bee pathogens exist in healthy colonies as well as those affected by CCD
• Many honey bees can be infected with pathogen loads but without affecting the colony as a whole
• Higher pathogen loads is a hallmark of CCD but not necessary the colony's size.
• A specific set of pathogens, in a certain amount working together show symptoms CCD colonies
• No single pathogen or virus is responsible for CCD
• Novel strains of virus (LSV) "provoke" a shift in the composition of gut bacteria: may be a bio marker for CCD detection

However, having observed and quantified scientifically the role and relationship between pathogens, honey bees and the tremendous decline all over the world...the cause of CCD remains ambiguous. Researchers will continue their quest to find an answer which perhaps will save our honey bees.

The USDA now estimates that every third bite we consume in our diet is dependent upon honey bee pollination. In the US alone, the total contribution of pollination in terms of added value to fruit crops exceeds $15 billion per annum (Kaplan, http://www.ars.usda.gov/IS/pr/2007/070906.htm 2007). CCD-related losses (direct and indirect) have been estimated at $75 billion (Swinton et al., Ecological Economics volume 64, pages 245-252; 2007). (taken directly from Beelogics.)