First molecular detection and characterization of deformed wing virus (DWV) in honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) and mite (Varroa destructor) in Turkey

Deformed wing virus (DWV), a member of the genus iflavirus of the insect picorna-like viruses, is one of the most common honey bee viruses transmitted by the parasitic mite Varroa destructor during pupal stages, and is associated with wing deformities in adult honeybees. Although no data are available from Turkey up till now, DWV have been reported in many countries from all continents. In the present study, we tested the presence of DWV in Apis mellifera L and V. destructor from Ordu province of Turkey using one step reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). We were able to demonstrate that all of the worker bees with deformed wings and the varroa mites but not healthy bees were infected with DWV. BLAST analysis of the sequences of PCR products showed 96-98% similarity to polyprotein gene of known DWV virus isolates.