DIAGNOSIS AND ISOLATION OF THE PATHOGEN CAUSING ASCOSPHEROSIS IN BEES IN THE WEST KAZAKHSTAN REGION

Abstract

This article presents the results of diagnosis and isolation of the causative agent of Ascospherosis in bee colonies of the West Kazakhstan region. The studies were conducted in 2025–2026 in affected apiaries of the region. T he objects of the study included infected bee larvae, brood samples, and pathological materials collected from bee colonies showing signs of mycosis.

Clinical, epizootological, and laboratory studies were carried out. Examination of bee colonies revealed characteristic signs of the disease, including the presence of mummified larvae of white and gray color, decreased bee activity, and impaired brood structure.  In 2025, the prevalence of ascospherosis in honey bee colonies in apiaries of the West Kazakhstan region was found to be 80%, indicating the widespread distribution of the disease in the region. Microscopic examination identified mycelium and spores of the fungus Ascosphaera apis. For isolation of the pathogen, pathological material was cultured on Sabouraud agar medium followed by incubation at 28–30 °C. As a result, characteristic white and gray fungal colonies were obtained.

It was established that the development of the disease was promoted by high humidity inside the hives, insufficient ventilation, and weakened bee colonies. The obtained results confirm the spread of ascospherosis in apiaries of the West Kazakhstan region and indicate the need for timely diagnostic and preventive measures.