Detection of Aethina tumida in Reunion Island: Technical and Scientific Support of the French National Reference Laboratory
Résumé
Since the discovery of Aethina tumida in july 2022 in La Réunion Island, the French NRL for Bee Health has been mobilised. The presentation focused on feedbacks regarding both morphological and molecular methods used in the diagnosis. The first confirmation of the introduction was performed on photos, allowing all the criteria defined in the EU RL/WOAH method to be visualized. Samples were received three days later for analytical confirmation and a report was edited four days after. From July 2022 to July 2023, 31 diagnostic reports were produced. Regarding the morphological method, some examples were described in order to show to the European NRLs the difficulties encountered. A feedback on the molecular method was also presented. The real time PCR was performed to confirm or to complete the morphological identification. Various sequencing investigations carried out on samples of eggs, of pupae or mixtures of larvae were described. All the data obtained from negative specimens allowed the consolidation of the specificity. In the same way, the data obtained on the positive samples will allow to modify the method to increase its sensitivity. During this period, the Anses and the French NRL had to respond to three requests from the French Ministry in order to issue opinions on surveillance, management, prevention strategy, and to update previous opinions in the light of the epidemiological situation, and the detection of infested wild colonies in La Réunion island. Five scientific opinions are available on the Anses web site.