KSBV RT-PCR Kit

Background Information

Sacbrood Sacbrood virus (SBV), or Morator aetatulas, is an infectious virus affecting honeybee larvae in many areas of the world. Larvae die off before fully transforming into pupae, leaving a distinct sac-like appearance in the affected brood. The infection typically presents in the colony growth phase often in the spring. Once SBV infiltrates honeybee larvae, the larvae fail to pupate and ultimately die off. While sacbrood is often only a minor issue, this affliction causes significant damage within a colony if it is stressed or weak. Infection can lead to large areas of affected comb where the queen will refuse to lay more eggs. Additionally, infected adult bees will also have a shorter overall lifespan. As a result, the overall strength and function of a colony is compromised. Beekeepers should look for symptoms of sacbrood virus such as an uneven brood pattern with discoloured, sunken or perforated cappings. Infected larvae change from a healthy pearly white, to yellowish, then grey-brown and finally dark brown-black. Darkening begins at the head of the dead larva and spreads to the rest of the body. The skin of the dead larva also changes into a tough plastic-like sac, which is filled with fluid. The larva dies with its head characteristically raised in a banana shape toward the top of the cell and stretched out on its back in the cell. Nurse bees usually uncap the cell exposing the dead larvae. Sacbrood virus is most damaging and obvious when larvae are affected. The disease cycle for Sacbrood virus affecting larvae is as follows: It is thought that the virus infects larvae when infected nurse bees feed larvae brood food contaminated with particles of the Sacbrood virus. The virus multiplies within the infected larvae causing it to display unusual behaviour (such as sitting in cells with their head up). The infected larvae die shortly after capping before they pupate. The larvae then changes colour from a white to a yellow and then brown. The skin of the larvae hardens and fills with a fluid which gives the impression of the larvae becoming a fluid-filled sac. The fluid contains viral particles, which allows the virus to spread and infect other bees. Over time the larvae dries out becoming a brown to black coloured, brittle, scale that adheres loosely to the cell. The scales contain viral particles, providing another mechanism for spreading the virus.

LiliF™ KSBV RT-PCR Kit is able to detect directly and specifically Korean Sacbrood virus by CLP™ technology and Maxime ™ technology on the basis of a genetic database of target nucleic acid fragments. Therefore, this kit can diagnose very sensitive, fast and accurately. The kit contains a specific primer set for a highly conserved region based on current sequence alignments of Korean Sacbrood virus, allowing the RNA detection. It can determine the infecting all serotype and accurately and sensitivity detect multiple detection genes at one time using the conventional RT-PCR method, and take only 2 hours for detection. Fast and sensitive detection of pathogen enables patients to get appropriate treatment and prevent the rapid spreading of disease by separating patients immediately.