Haemolymph removal by the parasite Varroa destructor can trigger the proliferation of the Deformed Wing Virus in mite infested bees (Apis mellifera), contributing to enhanced pathogen virulence
D. Annoscia, S. Brown, G. Di Prisco, E. De Paoli, S. Del Fabbro, V. Zanni, D. Galbraith, E. Caprio, C. M. Grozinger, F. Pennacchio, F. Nazzi
The paper shows that removing haemolymph from bees by Varroa destructor mites increases Deformed Wing Virus density, suggesting mite feeding disrupts viral immune control.
bioRxiv · Feb 5, 2018Ecology