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Distribution and variability of deformed wing virus of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) in the Middle East and North Africa

  • Nizar Jamal Haddad
  • , Adjlane Noureddine
  • , Banan Al-Shagour
  • , Wahida Loucif-Ayad
  • , Mogbel A. A. El-Niweiri
  • , Eman Anaswah
  • , Wafaa Abu Hammour
  • , Dany El-Obeid
  • , Albaba Imad
  • , Mohamed A. Shebl
  • , Abdulhusien Sehen Almaleky
  • , Abdullah Nasher
  • , Nagara Walid
  • , Mohamed Fouad Bergigui
  • , Orlando Yanez
  • , Joachim R. de Miranda
  • , et al.

Publication: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Abstract

Three hundred and eleven honeybee samples from 12 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Yemen, Palestine, and Sudan) were analyzed for the presence of deformed wing virus (DWV). The prevalence of DWV throughout the MENA region was pervasive, but variable. The highest prevalence was found in Lebanon and Syria, with prevalence dropping in Palestine, Jordan, and Egypt before increasing slightly moving westwards to Algeria and Morocco Phylogenetic analysis of a 194 nucleotide section of the DWV Lp gene did not identify any significant phylogenetic resolution among the samples, although the sequences did show consistent regional clustering, including an interesting geographic gradient from Morocco through North Africa to Jordan and Syria. The sequences revealed several clear variability hotspots in the deduced amino acid sequence, which furthermore showed some patterns of regional identity. Furthermore, the sequence variants from the Middle East and North Africa appear more numerous and diverse than those from Europe.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)103-113
Number of pages11
JournalInsect Science
Volume24
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Apis mellifera
  • deformed wing virus
  • Middle East
  • North Africa
  • prevalence
  • variability

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