The frequency of opportunist fungal pathogens (Ascosphaera apis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus) in a bee hives in Mazandaran Province

Opportunist fungal pathogens (Ascosphaera apis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus) cause considerable economic and health losses in honey bees. This article deals with the frequency of these agents in the bee hive in Mazandaran province. For this purpose, five regions (Noshahr, Nour, Amol,sari and Behshahr) were chosen in 1380. Samplings were conducted in the spring, summer and autumn.10 apiaries of each region and from each of which 4 hives were randomly selected In each season. In this study, a total of 468 hives were sampled during three seasons. In the laboratory, microbial cultures Operation were performed on samples. The results showed that 36.5% of samples were contaminated with pathogenic fungi (Ascosphaera apis, Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus). According to the type of sample (bees, larvae, pollen and honey), contamination rate are 37.4 %, 33.3%, 37.1 % and 36.7 %, respectively which is not statistically significant. Also according to the type of pathogenic fungi, contamination rate with Ascosphaera apis, 0.43% and (Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus fumigatus) , 36.07 % has been determined. The difference is statistically significant. Therefore, in this study, Ascosphaera apis infection is very low, whereas Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus infection is abundant.