Structure of the Midgut of the Queen Bee Apis mellifera L. Naturally Infected with Sacbrood virus (SBV)

Abstract

Bees and their larvae are susceptible to various viral diseases, which leads to disruption of the bee family, and sometimes to its death. The Sacbrood virus is especially dangerous for the bee family. Sick families differ sharply in their condition and productivity from healthy ones, develop slowly in the spring, and grow little brood. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify physiological changes in the intestines of mature uteruses affected by Sacbrood virus or SBV disease. Histological examinations supplemented the data on the pathogenesis of honey bees affected by Sacbrood virus. Data on physiological and morphological changes in the middle part of the intestine of fertile queens are presented. Histological examinations were performed in different parts of the midgut. In patients of queens, in comparison with clinically healthy ones, changes in the function of the pertrophic membrane were revealed. An increase in the length of the midgut fold in the anterior part of the intestine by 23% (p<0.001) was detected. Under the influence of pathogenicity of the virus there is an intensive proliferation of enterocytes in the middle part of the intestine. The defeat of the structural components of the mucosa is evidenced by the absence of a peretrophic membrane in the caudal direction of the midgut of diseased queens where necrotic lesions of the mucous membrane up to the basement membrane were detected.