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Investigating amitraz resistance in French varroa mite (Varroa destructor) populations

Preliminary results from 2020 and 2021

Varroa management has become a necessary and routine task for beekeepers globally, including beekeepers in France, over the last decades. Without strategic varroa management, beekeepers risk the health and survival of their colonies as well as their honey harvest and the expected income from honey sales. Amongst the numerous challenges that are associated with successful varroa management in beekeeping operations, the occurrence of varroa mite (Varroa destructor) resistance against active ingredients* of varroa treatments represents a major threat to treatment efficacy.

Resistance development in varroa mites against widely used active ingredients of varroa treatments, such as tau-fluvalinate or coumaphos, has complicated varroa management for decades.1-2 Varroa mite resistance against these molecules has been observed on a large scale and across countries, threatening colony health and survival in many regions by limiting the arsenal of treatments available to beekeepers to control the mites.

In recent years, reports of amitraz resistance development have surfaced, mainly from research in France and the United States.3-4 The scientific observation of resistance in these two countries is mainly based on:

  1. France: varroa mites’ exposure and response towards a pre-determined LC90 (lethal concentration 90%)* of amitraz in the laboratory,
  2. United States: field bioassays, in which mite sensitivity towards amitraz is tested by exposure of a honey bee (and phoretic mite) sample towards a piece of an Apivar® strip for a pre-defined exposure time.34-5
  3. Genotyping of selected varroa mite populations, based on the results obtained in the two types of experiments mentioned above (1. + 2.).5

A link between reported reduced efficacy of amitraz treatments in the French region AURA (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) and a mutation in the varroa mite genome has recently been suggested as a demonstration of amitraz resistance in France. The genetic analysis of varroa mite samples from this region was based on treatment failure reported by beekeepers from the area.5

To investigate a possible link between the mutation N87S at position 260 of the β-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor* and reduced sensitivity of mites towards amitraz, we initiated laboratory sensitivity assays of different mite populations (2020)6 and genotyping of single mites (2021)7 that had either died from amitraz exposure during the assays or survived the exposure in the laboratory.

The sensitivity tests were carried out by an external and independent laboratory approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food for beekeeping pathologies. These analyses were supervised by a veterinary biologist, in accordance with the regulations.

Capsules coated with paraffin and acaricide, to test the sensitivity of varroa mites in the laboratory assay.

In total, more than 800 varroa mites from 9 apiaries in the North-East, East and South of France were tested in the laboratory to measure their sensitivity. The mortality rate of varroa mites at LC90 was on average 92%, which indicates a good sensitivity of the samples. Only two of them showed an “intermediate” sensitivity.

After the finalization of LC90 (lethal concentration 90%) laboratory assays with varroa mites from different regions all over France, including mites from the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 105 individual mites from the 9 apiaries were sent to a French laboratory, external to Véto-pharma, specialized in molecular biology and genotyping analysis. The objective of the genetic analyses carried out by this laboratory was to study the mutation N87S at position 260 of the β-adrenergic octopamine receptor in both categories of mites.

Of the 105 individual varroa mites selected for genotyping, 53 mites had died resulting from the exposure towards the LC90 concentration of amitraz in the laboratory, and 52 mites had survived the LC90 exposure in the laboratory. The objective of the genetic analyses was to directly compare the genetic disposition of varroa mites from each category (varroa mites that survived the laboratory test versus those that died during exposure towards amitraz).

The results show that the percentage of mites carrying the new-found mutation (heterozygous* (A/G) or homozygous* (G/G)) does not differ significantly between both groups – mites that perished during the lethal concentration 90% exposure towards amitraz, and mites that survived the exposure.

In other words, mites carrying the mutation that were exposed to amitraz in the laboratory died from the exposure – just like mites that did not carry the mutation. Other (natural) causes of death for those mites carrying the mutation that died during the exposure to amitraz in the laboratory are highly unlikely, as the mortality in this group was much higher than the “natural mortality” in a control group of mites that was not exposed to amitraz, for each population.

The only difference observed between surviving and perished mites in the laboratory trial was the percentage of homozygous vs. heterozygous mites, carrying the mutation. We found a higher percentage of heterozygous mites in the sample of mites that had survived the assay.

These results indicate that a direct association between the mutation N87S at position 260 of the β-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor alone and reduced sensitivity of varroa mites towards amitraz is unlikely.

Further investigations in the form of genotyping of French varroa mites samples from different geographic origin and with different varroa treatment history are necessary to confirm these results. As of today (July 2022), we have collected additional data (as yet unpublished) which confirm these findings.

For clarification, these results do not imply that amitraz resistance in French varroa mite populations does not exist. However, our results strongly suggest that the mechanisms leading to the expression of amitraz resistance in varroa mites are much more complex compared with tau-fluvalinate and coumaphos resistance development in varroa mite populations.

As we are currently looking into amitraz resistance in French varroa mite populations and will continue to investigate this important concern of French beekeepers, we will be able to communicate more clearly about the potential risks and recommendations associated with amitraz resistance development in France in the future.

At this point in time, the evidence collected thus far clearly suggests that:

  1. Amitraz resistance is developing more slowly than tau-fluvalinate and/or coumaphos resistance and in patches rather than on a wide geographical scale,
  2. The reduction of field efficacy associated with amitraz resistance in varroa mites internationally is less severe compared with tau-fluvalinate or coumaphos resistance,
  3. The mechanisms causing amitraz resistance are likely more complex than merely a direct link between a single nucleotide polymorphism and the physiological manifestation of resistance,
  4. Data from Hernandez-Rodriguez et al. (2021)5 suggest that the new-found mutation N87S, which may represent one of the necessary steps in the mechanism of amitraz resistance development in varroa mites, occurs rarely or not at all in French mite populations that have not been exposed to amitraz for only one year. This suggests a significantly shorter period of amitraz resistance-reversal compared with, for example, tau-fluvalinate, which requires a reversal period of 4-6 years until the active ingredient is effective against varroa mites in the field again.

These preliminary findings indicate a positive perspective for the continued efficient treatment of varroa mite infestations with amitraz in French beekeeping operations. It is important to keep in mind that the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) practices – combining infestation monitoring, medical treatments and biomechanical control methods, as well as the proper use of authorized treatments in compliance with their instructions for use – are essential prerequisites for effective varroa management and the preservation of the therapeutic arsenal available today.

*Definitions

“Active Ingredient” = Substance that is active in the medicines formula for the efficacy expected. In this case substance that is toxic to varroa mites and the main ingredient of varroa treatments.

“LC90 – lethal concentration (90%)” = The concentration of a toxic substance that results in a 90% mortality rate of sensitive varroa mite populations.

“β-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor” = One of the suggested target sites (binding location) of amitraz in the nervous system of varroa mites.

“heterozygous” = having inherited two different versions of a particular gene (e.g. varroa mites carrying wildtype and mutated versions of a gene)

“homozygous” = having inherited the same version of a particular gene from both parents (e.g. varroa mites carrying either only wildtype or only mutated versions of a gene)

“IPM” = Integrated Pest Management

1- Colin, M. E., et al. “Fluvalinate resistance of Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans (Acari: Varroidae) in mediterranean apiaries of France.” Apidologie 28.6 (1997): 375-384.

2- Milani, Norberto. “The resistance of Varroa jacobsoni Oud. to acaricides.” Apidologie 30.2-3 (1999): 229-234.

3- Rinkevich, Frank D. “Detection of amitraz resistance and reduced treatment efficacy in the Varroa Mite, Varroa destructor, within commercial beekeeping operations.” PloS one 15.1 (2020): e0227264.

4- Almecija, Gabrielle, et al. “Inventory of Varroa destructor susceptibility to amitraz and tau-fluvalinate in France.” Experimental and Applied Acarology 82.1 (2020): 1-16.

5- Hernández-Rodríguez, Carmen Sara, et al. “Resistance to amitraz in the parasitic honey bee mite Varroa destructor is associated with mutations in the β-adrenergic-like octopamine receptor.” Journal of Pest Science (2021): 1-17.

6- Marsky, U. et al. (2020) „Varroa mite sensitivity towards amitraz in France.” COLOSS Conference (October 2020)

7- Rognon, B. et al. (2021) “New Data Suggest an Association with Mutation N87S of the β-Adrenergic-Like Octopamine Receptor in Varroa Mites with Resistance Towards Amitraz May Be Unlikely.” COLOSS Conference (October 2021).


APV-121-EX-N02-07/22