Project description

The project deals with the chronic bee paralysis virus, a virus of the adult honey bee. The disease "chronic bee paralysis" was previously relatively rare, but is currently being observed more and more frequently. Due to the rare occurrence and the different courses of the disease, there is hardly any practical experience of how to optimally support a diseased colony with measures. When diseased, the adult bees show signs of paralysis, become hairless (=shiny black) and die within days. The course of the disease can vary greatly; in the worst case, so many workers fall ill that the colony dies.

The project has three objectives:

• the optimisation of beekeeping measures against chronic bee paralysis in cooperation with citizen scientists (= beekeepers)
• the establishment of a knowledge network in Lower Austria on the subject of chronic bee paralysis and
• research into possible genetic changes in the chronic bee paralysis virus in recent decades.

Researchers, beekeeping advisors, beekeepers and media scientists are working together to solve these problems. Research provides the tools to test measures correctly. The beekeepers test and provide their practical experience and tips - the collected scientific findings and practical experience are recorded in training material and videos. They will be freely available to affected beekeepers, beekeeping advisors and veterinarians in the future.

Benefits of the project

The aim of the project is to significantly improve the fight against chronic bee paralysis through scientifically proven facts and high-quality information material. In future, Lower Austrian beekeeping advisors and experienced beekeepers will be able to provide expert advice on the disease. Beekeepers will also be able to inform themselves independently using the materials, enabling them to recognise the disease in a targeted manner and take effective measures to support the diseased colonies. The resulting network of specialists and interested beekeepers will extend beyond Lower Austria and have a positive effect on bee health throughout Austria.

On a scientific level, the knowledge gathered will help to close the gaps in knowledge about the virus. The benefits of the currently recommended measures will be tested on the basis of standardised data collection and statistical analysis. The genome analyses of the CBPV samples will also provide more clarity about genetic variants of this virus.