BEE DOC workshop-Diagnostics in honeybees: from sampling to data analyses
VISAVET function: participant| Organizer: | BEE DOC Diagnostics Department. |
Place: Ghent University
City: Ghent
Country: Belgium
Date: August 30th - September 1st, 2010
ProgramSummary
The BEEDOC (BEes in Europe and the Decline Of Colonies) is an EU-project within the FP7framework aiming to improve honeybee health. Over three years,11 European partners from honeybee pathology, chemistry, genetics and apicultural extension will empirically and experimentally fill knowledge gaps in honeybee pests and diseases, including CCD (Colony Collapse Disorder) and quantify the impact of interactions between parasites, pathogens and pesticides to explain intimate mechanisms and reasons for increased honeybee mortality. The BEEDOC will use transcriptomeanalyses to explore host-pathogen-pesticide interactions and identify novel genes for disease resistance. The BEEDOC will specifically address sublethaland chronic exposure to pesticides and screen how apicultural practices affect colony health. The BEEDOC will also develop novel diagnostic screening methods and develop sustainable concepts for disease prevention using novel treatments and selection tools for resistant stock. The BEEDOC will be linked to various ongoing national and international programs in particular with the COLOSS network. This will ensure not only pan-European but also global visibility, thereby enhancing public awareness of honeybee health. Moreover, these links will also enable to transfer the BEEDOC results to all stakeholders responsible for bee health.
The workshop will provide state-of-the-art training in various aspects of honeybee diagnosis, ranging from sampling in the field to data analyses. For that purpose, different experts will cover sampling procedures, quality control, the description of the latest diagnostic techniques for most honeybee diseases, as well as national and international strategies and policies. This will provide a broad overview of the field of honeybee diagnosis, thereby offering an an interesting programme for a very diverse audience ranging from researchers, technicians working in honeybee disease laboratories, to experienced beekeepers and policy makers
