Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Powered by: University of Bern
2339 Members
127 Countries!
join us
HomeArticlesEffect of oxalic acid on Nosema ceranae infection

Effect of oxalic acid on Nosema ceranae infection

Nosema ceranae is a honey bee pathogen parasitizing the ventricular epithelium and potentially causing colony death. The effect of 0.25 M oxalic acid solution administered to the bees in the form of sugar syrup was determined in laboratory and field trials. The spore numbers in an 8-day laboratory experiment were significantly lower when AO was administered (treated: 11.86 ± 0.94 s.e. × 10^6; untreated: 30.64 ± 0.31 s.e. x 10^6). When administered in autumn to free flying colonies twice, 3 weeks apart, the infection prevalence decreased in young (relative reduction of 53.8% ± 6.5 s.e.) and old bees (relative reduction of 44.4% ± 6.0 s.e.). Meanwhile increased prevalence in all the controls was detected (young and old bees: relative increase of 45.7% ± 22.8 s.e. and 10.2% ± 5.9 s.e., respectively). While all the treated colonies overwintered correctly, the untreated ones did not (3 out of 5 were dead).

In the absence of commercial products approved in several countries to control nosemosis, oxalic acid syrup appears promising in the development of alternative management strategies.

Keywords: Apis mellifera; Nosema ceranae; Oxalic acid; Control; Prevalence; Organic apiculture

Antonio Nanetti, Cristina Rodriguez-García, Aránzazu Meana, Raquel Martín-Hernández, Mariano Higes, Effect of oxalic acid on Nosema ceranae infection, Research in Veterinary Science, Volume 102, October 2015, Pages 167-172.
ISSN 0034-5288, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.08.003

Nanetti et al. – 2015 – Effect of oxalic acid on Nosema ceranae infection.pdf
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0034528815300333
COLOSS Association
COLOSS Associationhttps://coloss.org/
COLOSS (Prevention of honey bee COlony LOSSes) is an international, non-profit association headquartered in Bern, Switzerland that is focussed on improving the well-being of bees at a global level. We are composed of scientific professionals that include researchers, veterinarians, agriculture extension specialists and students. We understand that cooperation and open dialogue are key to better understanding the reasons why bee populations are threatened in today’s world.