POPULATION DYNAMIC OF HONEYBEE (Apis mellifera L.) DISEASES IN UPPER EGYPT

Abstract

A survey of honeybee diseases in Upper Egypt was done in four private apiaries during years 2018-19 and 2019-20 with a total of 530 colonies in four governorates (Sohag, Qena, Luxor and Aswan). The obtained data revealed that American foul brood (AFB), European foul brood (EFB), Chalk brood (CHB), Varroa mite and Nosema were recorded in Sohag. While European foul brood EFB, Chalk brood (CHB), Varroa mites and Nosema were found in Qena. Luxor and Aswan governorates showed infection with Varroa mite and Nosema only. Meanwhile, all the governorates in Upper Egypt where free from Stone brood, Sacbrood and acarina diseases. American foul brood (AFB) disease was recorded in Sohag only, appeared in April during the study and the infection increased gradually reaching the maximum of 22.47, 22.87% in July of 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively. Infection decreased in November 2018-19 and December 2019-20. No infection was recorded in December, January, February and March. EFB was recorded in Sohag and Qena, and showed a maximum of 18.93% in July 2018-19 and 23.13% in August with significant differences. Fungal disease Chalkbrood (CHB) was also recorded in Sohag and Qena with maximum infestation of 25.60% in Sohag in April 2019-20 and 24.70% in Qena in April 2019-20. Varroa mite was most present in the apiaries in the four governorates with maximum percentage in December in Qena and January for Sohag, Luxor and Aswan during the two years of study. Nosema disease was recorded also in the four governorates from February to August in the two years of study, and the highest infection level was recorded in April and May. Article information Received: 27 October 2021 Revised: 8 December 2021 Accepted: 8 December 2021