Abstract
Dear Editor:
We were very pleased to read the article about deformed wing virus infection in honeybees and the research about Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae tissue tropism in such a specialized journal as Veterinary Pathology. 3,4
During the past years, many factors have reduced the number of honeybees worldwide, with great damage to biodiversity and to agrozootechnical economics. 7
Honeybee pollination represents a key element in ecosystem function; it not only ensures the reproduction of wild plants and agricultural crops but also ensures genetic variability among species, thus defending global biodiversity. Moreover, the abundance and diversity of flora ensure food for human beings and feed for animals.
Also, honeybee products are of great interest as a therapeutic tool, especially in fighting antimicrobial resistant infections. 1
Although the concurrent action of different stressors (including bacteria, virus, parasites, pesticides) has been identified as the source of loss of honeybees, very little information is available about how these factors actually affect the health of honeybees. 2,5
Honeybee pathology has been for many years a subject of great interest for researchers with different backgrounds, including biologists, agronomists, entomologists, and ecologists. However, this subject has elicited little interest among veterinarians and veterinary pathologists. Yet, who could better define the pathogenesis of viral, bacterial, parasitic, or fungal diseases than veterinary pathologists?
Those of us who study honeybee pathology often find ourselves explaining why a veterinary pathologist should be the best researcher in this specific issue. We often answer by asking these simple rhetorical questions: “Aren’t honeybees animals?” “Don’t honeybees produce products that are consumed by people, and therefore mustn’t we, as veterinarians, be interested in honeybee health in order to guarantee animal food safety?” “Aren’t veterinarians the only people who study animal pathology thoroughly during their courses?”
Moreover, identification of macroscopic and microscopic alterations, understanding of morphological changes that have occurred in tissues, and classification of lesions may be best performed by those who have studied these specific subjects and have deep knowledge and experience in disease processes, diagnostics, and research to better understand pathogenesis and association between pathogens and lesions.
Increased interest of pathologists in this field could help unravel the mysteries around the huge colony losses by creating effective laboratory protocols, diagnostic tools, and therapeutics.
Histopathology has already been suggested as an efficient tool to diagnose honeybee pathologies, and some research protocols are already available, but the road is still long. 6
Very little is still known about basic phenomena such as what is the pathogenic mechanism behind the deformed wings caused by the deformed wing virus, how the honeybee immune system controls pathogens, and the reasons that colonies suddenly collapse.
Unfortunately, until we understand the mechanisms and pathogenesis of these diseases, we will be unable to provide answers and solutions to beekeepers and to all of those who are interested in honeybee loss.
Thus, this letter is an appeal to all veterinary pathologists, especially younger researchers, to broaden their knowledge and to engage in studying this new field that could generate new research opportunities, provide new discoveries, and open the world of veterinary pathology to new challenges.
We strongly believe that today is the right time to start, as honeybees have never been in the public eye as nowadays, and funding by private and public institutions has never been so consistent.
So why shouldn’t we put more energy in this field?
Why shouldn’t veterinary pathologists be interested in honeybee pathology?
