Influence of carbon dioxide on Nosema apis infection of honeybees (Apis mellifera).

Young workers of the honeybee Apis mellifera carnica were individually inoculated with Nosema apis spores subjected to carbon dioxide (CO(2)) treatment. The spores were kept in a CO(2) atmosphere for 30, 35 and 40 h. The course of the infection was evaluated on the basis of the survival rate of bee workers and the number of N. apis spores in their digestive tracts. CO(2) treatment of N. apis spores resulted in faster proliferation of the parasite as well as higher mortality among workers infected with spores kept in CO(2) for 30 and 35 h.