Molecular identification of Nosema species in the apiary of Kurdistan province of Iran

Nosema disease is the most important adult bee disease but is mostly by beekeepers as there are no
characteristic obvious symptoms. Hence, Nosema disease is also referred to as "the silent killer". The aim of
the present study was to determine the molecular identification of Nosema spices in Kurdistan province of
Iran. 100 samples were collected from apiaries (870 hives) of Kurdistan. Samples were examined by a light
microscope and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The light microscope was used for determination of
the presence of Nosema spores in all of the collected samples. PCR assay based on 16S ribosomal RNA has
been used to differentiate between Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae. Only Nosema ceranae was found in
all samples, indicating that this species present in Kurdistan