13.3.1 Apis mellifera
Nosemosis is among the common diseases of adult honeybees in Iran. Two species,
namely Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae – which have been shown to infect
honeybee midgut epithelial cells – have been reported by apiaries in various provinces. Infection with Nosema induces dysentery and a shorted lifespan in honeybees,
delayed fertility of queens, and colony size reduction (Razmaraii et al. 2013). The
Nosema infection leads to economic and biological damage in colonies. According
to Lotfi et al. (2009) and Razmaraii and Karimi 2010, nosemosis in Iran is caused by
N. apis. However, Nabian et al. (2011) introduced N. ceranae to the Mazandaran
province for the first time. Infection to N. apis was surveyed in North Khorasan
province by Moshaverinia et al. (2012). Prevalence of nosemosis in East Azerbaijan
was surveyed by Razmaraii et al. (2013). Also, the N. ceranae was introduced as a
causal agent of nosemosis in East Azerbaijan province (Razmaraii et al. 2013).
Modirrousta et al. (2014) surveyed on Nosema incidence in honeybees and
41 positive samples of Nosema sp. were collected from five provinces from 2004
to 2013. The samples were examined by multiplex PCR technique and characterized
for two species, N. ceranea and N. apis. The obtained results indicated that all of
samples were positive for N. ceranea, thus confirming that the N. ceranea has been
spread in Iran (Modirrousta et al. 2014).
In another study, Aroee et al. (2017), identified Nosema species in Isfahan, Fars
and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces. Sequencing the 16S rRNA gene of this
microsporid indicated that the Nosema infection in southwestern Iran is related to
N. ceranae. In Kurdistan province, N. ceranae was determined as a nosemosis causal
agent by 16S rRNA gene data (Khezri et al. 2018). Another study was performed by
Mohammadian et al. (2018) that surveyed distribution of Nosema spp. in climatic
regions of the country. In this study, 183 adult bees were selected and surveyed by
microscope and PCR techniques. Infection caused by N. ceranae was observed in all
regions of the study, and the infection rate was 46.40%. However, infection with
N. apis was not observed. The prevalence of N. ceranae in humid, semi-humid, very
humid, arid, semi-arid, and Mediterranean climates was 58.8%, 71%, 68.10%,
29.40%, 34.30%, and 24%, respectively. Here there was a significant difference
between different climatic regions. Thus climate can affect the spread of N. ceranae
(Mohammadian et al. 2018).
13.3.2 Culicidae
Omrani et al. (2016), identified a microsporidian in Anopheles superpictus. The
species was from the genus Parathelohania and the family Ambliosporidae. This
microsporidian introduced as Parathelohania iranica (Omrani et al. 2017).
526
M. Mehrabadi et al.
Nosemosis is among the common diseases of adult honeybees in Iran. Two species,
namely Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae – which have been shown to infect
honeybee midgut epithelial cells – have been reported by apiaries in various provinces. Infection with Nosema induces dysentery and a shorted lifespan in honeybees,
delayed fertility of queens, and colony size reduction (Razmaraii et al. 2013). The
Nosema infection leads to economic and biological damage in colonies. According
to Lotfi et al. (2009) and Razmaraii and Karimi 2010, nosemosis in Iran is caused by
N. apis. However, Nabian et al. (2011) introduced N. ceranae to the Mazandaran
province for the first time. Infection to N. apis was surveyed in North Khorasan
province by Moshaverinia et al. (2012). Prevalence of nosemosis in East Azerbaijan
was surveyed by Razmaraii et al. (2013). Also, the N. ceranae was introduced as a
causal agent of nosemosis in East Azerbaijan province (Razmaraii et al. 2013).
Modirrousta et al. (2014) surveyed on Nosema incidence in honeybees and
41 positive samples of Nosema sp. were collected from five provinces from 2004
to 2013. The samples were examined by multiplex PCR technique and characterized
for two species, N. ceranea and N. apis. The obtained results indicated that all of
samples were positive for N. ceranea, thus confirming that the N. ceranea has been
spread in Iran (Modirrousta et al. 2014).
In another study, Aroee et al. (2017), identified Nosema species in Isfahan, Fars
and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari provinces. Sequencing the 16S rRNA gene of this
microsporid indicated that the Nosema infection in southwestern Iran is related to
N. ceranae. In Kurdistan province, N. ceranae was determined as a nosemosis causal
agent by 16S rRNA gene data (Khezri et al. 2018). Another study was performed by
Mohammadian et al. (2018) that surveyed distribution of Nosema spp. in climatic
regions of the country. In this study, 183 adult bees were selected and surveyed by
microscope and PCR techniques. Infection caused by N. ceranae was observed in all
regions of the study, and the infection rate was 46.40%. However, infection with
N. apis was not observed. The prevalence of N. ceranae in humid, semi-humid, very
humid, arid, semi-arid, and Mediterranean climates was 58.8%, 71%, 68.10%,
29.40%, 34.30%, and 24%, respectively. Here there was a significant difference
between different climatic regions. Thus climate can affect the spread of N. ceranae
(Mohammadian et al. 2018).
13.3.2 Culicidae
Omrani et al. (2016), identified a microsporidian in Anopheles superpictus. The
species was from the genus Parathelohania and the family Ambliosporidae. This
microsporidian introduced as Parathelohania iranica (Omrani et al. 2017).
526
M. Mehrabadi et al.