Risk assessment of bumblebee viruses

"Loch Morlich Virus", "River Luinaeg Virus" and "Mayfield Virus 1 and 2" are Plus-strand RNA viruses of the order Picornavirales, family Caliciviridae, which were first discovered in wild bumblebees in Scotland during field studies in 2009 and 2011. Bumblebees that showed no symptoms of disease were caught on flowers and the RNA was isolated from them. Molecular biological analyses then showed that viral RNA was detected in some samples. The prevalence was mostly below 15%, but for “Mayfield virus 1 and 2” it was up to 25%. “Loch Morlich virus” and “River Luinaeg virus” were increasingly found in the bumblebee species Bombus jonellus. These bumblebees were very often co-infected with both viruses. Infection with the viruses mentioned has now also been detected in hoverflies (e.g. Episyrphus balteatus), although here too no symptoms of disease were observed. The spread of the viruses in bees has not yet been shown. Further information regarding taxonomic classification, host range, pathogenicity or transmission routes is also lacking.

According to Section 5 Paragraph 1 GenTSV in conjunction with the criteria in Annex 1 GenTSV, "Loch Morlich Virus", "River Luinaeg Virus" and "Mayfield Virus 1 and 2" are accepted by the ZKBS as donor and recipient organisms for genetic engineering work by Risk group 1 assigned, since the viruses only in symptom-free insects have been found and there is currently no evidence of pathogenic potential.

The ZKBS statement can be found at File number 45242.0189 can be retrieved.