A qPCR assay for sensitive and rapid detection of African A-lineage honey bees (Apis mellifera)

Abstract

A real-time qPCR assay was designed to detect African-derived subspecies of western honey bees (Apis mellifera L.). The probes targeted the same region of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene used in previous restriction enzyme assays. Using samples from 16 A. mellifera subspecies representing four lineages, we evaluated the efficacy of this assay to identify African- (or A-lineage) and non-A-lineage honey bees. The qPCR assay successfully differentiated A-lineage honey bees, including A. m. scutellata and A. m. capensis, from M-, C-, and O-lineage A. mellifera subspecies. In conclusion, the assay we developed is useful for rapid detection of A-lineage honey bees in areas where they are introduced, although it cannot be used to identify the specific A. mellifera subspecies within the A-lineage.

Publication Title

Apidologie

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