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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2021

An international inter-laboratory study on Nosema spp. spore detection and quantification through microscopic examination of crushed honey bee abdomens

Duquesne, Veronique; Gastaldi, Cristina; Del Cont, Aurelie; Cougoule, Nicolas; Bober, Andrzej; Brunain, Marleen; Chioveanu, Gabriela; Demicoli, Noel; Paulus, Petra Deakne; Somalo, Pilar Fernandez; Filipova, Miriam; Forsgren, Eva; Granato, Anna; Gurgulova, Kalinka; Heinikainen, Sirpa; Karssin, Age; Kinduriene, Irena; Koglberger, Hemma; Oureilidis, Konstantinos; Ozolina, Zanda;
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Abstract

Nosemosis is a microsporidian disease causing mortality and weakening of honey bee colonies, especially in the event of co-exposure to other sources of stress. As a result, the disease is regulated in some countries. Reliable and harmonised diagnosis is crucial to ensure the quality of surveillance and research results. For this reason, the first European Interlaboratory Comparison (ILC) was organised in 2017 in order to assess both the methods and the results obtained by National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) in counting Nosema spp. spores by microscopy. Implementing their own routine conditions of analysis, the 23 participants were asked to perform an assay on & nbsp;a & nbsp;panel of ten positive and negative samples of crushed honey bee abdomens. They were asked to report results from a qualitative and quantitative standpoint. The assessment covered specificity, sensitivity, trueness and precision. Quantitative results were analysed in compliance with international standards NF ISO 13528 (2015) and NF ISO 5725-2 (1994). Three results showed a lack of precision and five a lack of trueness. However, overall results indicated a global specificity of 98% and a global sensitivity of 100%, thus demonstrating the advanced performance of the microscopic methods applied to Nosema spores by the NRLs. Therefore, the study concluded that using microscopy to detect and quantify spores of Nosema spp. was reliable and valid.panel of ten positive and negative samples of crushed honey bee abdomens. They were asked to report results from a qualitative and quantitative standpoint. The assessment covered specificity, sensitivity, trueness and precision. Quantitative results were analysed in compliance with international standards NF ISO 13528 (2015) and NF ISO 5725-2 (1994). Three results showed a lack of precision and five a lack of trueness. However, overall results indicated a global specificity of 98% and a global sensitivity of 100%, thus demonstrating the advanced performance of the microscopic methods applied to Nosema spores by the NRLs. Therefore, the study concluded

Keywords

Diagnosis; Interlaboratory comparison; Microscopic counting; Microsporidia

Published in

Journal of Microbiological Methods
2021, volume: 184, article number: 106183
Publisher: ELSEVIER

Authors' information

Duquesne, Veronique
French Agcy Food Environm and Occupat Hlth and Safety
Gastaldi, Cristina
French Agcy Food Environm and Occupat Hlth and Safety
Del Cont, Aurelie
French Agcy Food Environm and Occupat Hlth and Safety
Cougoule, Nicolas
French Agcy Food Environm and Occupat Hlth and Safety
Bober, Andrzej
National Veterinary Institute - National Research Institute
Brunain, Marleen
Ghent University
Chioveanu, Gabriela
Inst Diag and Anim Hlth
Demicoli, Noel
Natl Vet Lab
Paulus, Petra Deakne
NFCSO Vet Diagnost Directorate Mol Biol Lab
Somalo, Pilar Fernandez
Lab Cent Vet
Filipova, Miriam
State Vet and Food Inst
Forsgren, Eva
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Ecology
Granato, Anna
IZS delle Venezie
Gurgulova, Kalinka
NRL Bee Hlth
Heinikainen, Sirpa
Finnish Food Authority
Karssin, Age
Vet and Food Lab
Kinduriene, Irena
Natl Food and Vet Risk Assessment Inst
Koglberger, Hemma
AGES
Oureilidis, Konstantinos
Institute of Food Safety, Animal Health and Environment BIOR
Ozolina, Zanda
Thessalon Vet Ctr
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UKÄ Subject classification

Microbiology

Publication Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mimet.2021.106183

URI (permanent link to this page)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/112026