Deformed wing virus is a recent global epidemic in honeybees driven by Varroa mites

Wilfert, L; Long, G; Leggett, H; Schmid-hemple, P; Butlin, R; Martin, SJ; Boots, M

Abstract

Deformed wing virus (DWV) and its vector, the mite Varroa destructor, are a major threat to the world’s honeybees. Although the impact of Varroa on colony-level DWV epidemiology is evident, we have little understanding of wider DWV epidemiology and the role that Varroa has played in its global spread. A phylogeographic analysis shows that DWV is globally distributed in honeybees, having recently spread from a common source, the European honeybee Apis mellifera. DWV exhibits epidemic growth and transmission that is predominantly mediated by European and North American honeybee populations and driven by trade and movement of honeybee colonies. DWV is now an important reemerging pathogen of honeybees, which are undergoing a worldwide manmade epidemic fueled by the direct transmission route that the Varroa mite provides.

Citation

Wilfert, L., Long, G., Leggett, H., Schmid-hemple, P., Butlin, R., Martin, S., & Boots, M. (2016). Deformed wing virus is a recent global epidemic in honeybees driven by Varroa mites. Science, 351(6273), 594-597. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac9976

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 8, 2016
• Publication Date: Feb 5, 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 18, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2016
• Journal: Science
• Print ISSN: 0036-8075
• Electronic ISSN: 1095-9203
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Volume: 351
• Issue: 6273
• Pages: 594-597
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac9976
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.aac9976
• Related Public URLs: http://www.sciencemag.org/
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is the author’s version of the work. It is posted here by permission of the AAAS for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Science Vol. 351, Issue 6273, pp. 594-597 (2016) DOI: 10.1126/science.aac9976; Grant Number: NE/F019610/1