Acute bee paralysis

Definition

A highly contagious viral disease of honey bees (Apis mellifera) caused by Acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV), a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus in the family Dicistroviridae. The disease manifests as trembling, paralysis of flight muscles, inability to fly, and accumulation of dead or dying bees at hive entrances; it can occur as covert infection or as overt epizootic, often triggered by stressors such as Varroa destructor parasitism or nutritional deficiency. Infection occurs through oral and vector-mediated routes, with the virus replicating primarily in the fat body and nervous tissue.

Etymology

Example

Colony collapse disorder investigations frequently screen for Acute bee paralysis virus alongside other honey bee pathogens, as high Varroa mite infestations can trigger lethal ABPV outbreaks in otherwise asymptomatic colonies.

Synonyms

• ABPV
• Acute bee paralysis virus infection

Related Terms

• Chronic bee paralysis
• Deformed wing virus
• Varroa destructor
• IAPV
• KBV
• honey bee virome
• picornavirus
• dicistrovirus

Usage Notes

Distinguished from Chronic bee paralysis (caused by Chronic bee paralysis virus, CBPV), which produces different symptoms including hair loss and abnormal trembling without the rapid mortality characteristic of ABPV. The term refers to the disease syndrome; the causal agent is properly termed Acute bee paralysis virus. Molecular diagnostics (RT-PCR) are required for definitive diagnosis, as clinical signs overlap with other bee diseases and pesticide toxicity.