Thai sacbrood Virus

About Thai sacbrood Virus:

• The Thai sacbrood virus is one of the greatest threats facing the Asiatic honey bee.
• The particular viral strain that attacks western honey bees is less virulent.
• The disease caused by the virus’s infection kills the bees’ larvae. The particular viral strain that attacks western honey bees is less virulent.
• Geographical spread: In 1991-1992, a Thai sacbrood virus outbreak devastated around 90% of Asiatic honey bee colonies in South India and reemerged in 2021 in Telangana. The virus has been reported from other parts of the world, including China and Vietnam.

Key facts about Indian Bees

• India hosts more than 700 bee species, including four indigenous honey bees: Asiatic honey bee (Apis cerana indica), giant rock bee (Apis dorsata), dwarf honey bee (Apis florea), and the stingless bee (sp. Trigona). Western honey bees were introduced in India in 1983 to increase the country’s honey yield.

Do you know?

• Pathogen spillover: An event in which a species-specific pathogen establishes infection in a novel susceptible host. E.g: transmission of Nipah virus from bats into pigs.
• Pathogen Spillback: A specific instance of spillover that occurs when a pathogen is transmitted from a novel host back into an origin host. E.g.: Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from humans into wild-caught bats.

Q1: What is Pollination?

It is the act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma. The goal of every living organism, including plants, is to create offspring for the next generation.

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