Microsporidia are single-celled pathogens related to Fungi. They are obligate pathogens, meaning that they cannot reproduce outside a living host cell. Different species of microsporidia have been found infecting almost all species of animals and even infect some protozoans. They are not pathogens of plants. There are about 1,200 described species, most of them from insects and other arthropods. Probably thousands of species remain undiscovered and undescribed. Nosema disease in honey bees is caused by two species of microsporidia in the genus Nosema, Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae.
- Lee Solter, University of Illinois
Bee Informed Partnership