Impacts of nutrition on viral abundance in Kentucky honeybees

Honey bee colony loss is on an unsustainable trajectory in the United States, with a 43.7% mortality rate of managed hives between 2019 and 2020. Despite their importance, we have limited understanding of how viral infections contribute to hive mortality. We will quantify presence and abundance for nine major viruses that threaten honey bees in the United States. This is a citizen science project with Kentucky beekeepers altering in-hive nutrition availability by adding supplemental protein supplements throughout the honey bee active season (March through October) in Kentucky. This project has designed an artificial plasmid for deformed wing virus (DWV) establishing a standard curve to measure viral quantity. This was the first virus selected for viral testing because of the large body of existing research assisting in developing procedures and due to the virus being vectored by Varroa destructor mites. Initially developing a standard curve for this virus can be used to gain understanding of different single-strand RNA viruses. We are using cDNA, PCR and qPCR assays to test for viruses of different prevalence in Kentucky. Bees were collected across the state to assess hives exposed to a range of environmental conditions working with over 30 beekeepers and 231 hives. Our work will provide important hive health information to beekeepers and offer more immediate and informed management recommendations. Our goal is to establish a cost-efficient viral testing service for beekeepers.