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PubMedDate not supplied

Paenibacillus larvae larvae spores in honey samples from Uruguay: a nationwide survey.

American foulbrood is a severe bacterial disease affecting larvae of the honeybee Apis mellifera and it is caused by Paenibacillus larvae larvae. The disease is present worldwide and cases have been reported in almost all the beekeeping regions of the five continents. During 2001 and 2002 we carried out a nationwide study to assess the presence and amount of P. l. larvae spores in honey samples from Uruguay, combining classic bacteriological, and molecular approaches. The distribution of P. l. larvae spores in honey of the whole country showed a clear pattern and may provide useful data for a control and prevention strategy of American foulbrood.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Inhibition of the growth of Paenibacillus larvae, the causal agent of American foulbrood of honeybees, by selected strains of aerobic spore-forming bacteria isolated from apiarian sources.

The bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease of honeybee larvae, occurs throughout the world and is found in many beekeeping areas of Argentina. The potential as biocontrol agents of antagonic aerobic spore-forming bacteria isolated from honey samples and other apiarian sources were evaluated. Each isolate was screened against one strain of Paenibacillus larvae (ATCC 9545) by using a perpendicular streak technique. Ten randomly selected bacterial strains from the group that showed the best antagonistic effect to P. larvae ATCC 9545 were selected for further study. These were identified as Bacillus subtilis (m351), B. pumilus (m350), B. licheniformis (m347), B. cereus (mv33), B. cereus (m387), B. cereus (m6c), B. megaterium (m404), Brevibacillus laterosporus (BLAT169), B. laterosporus (BLAT170), and B. laterosporus (BLAT171). The antagonistic strains were tested against 17 P. larvae strains from different geographical origins by means of a spot test in wells. The analysis of variance and posterior comparison of means by Tukey method (P < 0.01) showed that the best antagonists were B. megaterium (m404), B. licheniformis (m347), B. cereus (m6c), B. cereus (mv33), and B. cereus (m387).

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Honeybee viruses in Uruguay.

Mortality of honeybees is a serious problem that beekeepers have to face periodically in Uruguay and worldwide. The presence of RNA viruses, in addition to other pathogens may be one of its possible causes. In this work, we detected Chronic bee paralysis virus, Acute bee paralysis virus, Black queen cell virus, Sacbrood virus and Deformed wing virus in samples of Uruguayan honeybees with or without Varroa destructor and Nosema apis. The detection of viruses in different provinces, simultaneous co-infection of colonies by several viruses and the fact that 96% of the samples were infected with one or more virus, indicates they are widely spread in the region.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Spatial epidemiology of the Asian honey bee mite (Varroa destructor) in the North Island of New Zealand.

We describe the spatial epidemiology of Varroa destructor infestation among honey bee apiaries in the greater Auckland area of the North Island of New Zealand. The study population was comprised of 641 apiaries located within the boundaries of the study area on 11 April 2000. Cases were those members of the study population declared Varroa-infested on the basis of testing conducted between April and June 2000. The odds of Varroa was highest in apiaries in the area surrounding transport and storage facilities in the vicinity of Auckland International Airport. A mixed-effects geostatistical model, accounting for spatial extra-binomial variation in Varroa prevalence, showed a 17% reduction in the odds of an apiary being Varroa infested for each kilometre increase in the squared distance from the likely site of incursion (95% Bayesian credible interval 7-28%). The pattern of spatially autocorrelated risk that remained after controlling for the effect of distance from the likely incursion site identified areas thought to be 'secondary' foci of Varroa infestation initiated by beekeeper-assisted movement of infested bees. Targeted investigations within these identified areas indicated that the maximum rate of local spread of Varroa was in the order of 12 km/year (interquartile range 10-15 km/year).

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Proposal to reclassify Paenibacillus larvae subsp. pulvifaciens DSM 3615 (ATCC 49843) as Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae. Results of a comparative biochemical and genetic study.

The bacterial pathogen Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae (P. l. larvae), is the etiological agent of American foulbrood, an extremely contagious and disastrous disease of honeybee brood. In case of American foulbrood the destruction of infected colonies is often considered the only workable control measure. Therefore, the ability to diagnose this disease properly is important to prevent unnecessary economic loss to beekeepers. The development of suitable methods for the early and reliable detection of P. l. larvae is hampered by the fact that the two subspecies of Paenibacillus larvae, P. l. larvae and Paenibacillus larvae subsp. pulvifaciens (P. l. pulvifaciens), seem to be indistinguishable by cultural characteristics as well as by PCR protocols. Here we present an extensive analysis of several P. larvae reference strains. We employed conventional culture techniques, morphological and biochemical identification, PCR-based methods and sequencing of the 16S rDNA. We found indeed that P. l. pulvifaciens strain DSM 3615 is indistinguishable from P. l. larvae (DSM 7030). We did not face any problems to discriminate between P. l. larvae and P. l. pulvifaciens strains DSM 8442 and DSM 8443. Therefore, classification of DSM 3615 as type strain of P. l. pulvifaciens seems not to be justified. We propose to reclassify this strain as P. l. larvae. Former problems in differentiating the two subspecies might have arisen from this misclassification. PCR-based methods as well as appropriate biochemical identification systems provide a reliable means for the discrimination between the two subspecies P. l. larvae and P. l. pulvifaciens.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Vertical transmission of American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae) in honey bees (Apis mellifera).

The mode of transmission between hosts (horizontal versus vertical) of disease agents is important for determination of the evolution of virulence in pathogens. For disease management, it is imperative that the epidemiology of the disease is understood and pathogen transmission rates between hosts is a key factor for this understanding. Surprisingly little is known about transmission rates in honey bee pathology. We have studied the rate of vertical transmission of Paenibacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood (AFB) in honey bee colonies, as colonies reproduce by colony fission (swarming), by culturing for the spores from repetitive samples of adult bees. The results demonstrate vertical pathogen transmission to daughter swarms. The spore density declines over time in both mother colonies and daughter swarms if mother colonies do not exhibit clinical disease symptoms. Occasional positive samples more than a year post swarming, also in daughter swarms, indicate production of infectious spores from diseased larvae, without clinical disease observable by beekeepers, and/or maintenance of infective spores in the hive environment, allowing both horizontal and vertical transmission to be maintained. The results suggest that the virulence of AFB, being lethal at colony level in contrast to other bee diseases shaped by evolution, could be dependent on apicultural practices and that the pathogen probably would be maintained without causing frequent colony mortality in a natural system.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Cytotoxic, hepatoprotective and free radical scavenging effects of propolis from Brazil, Peru, the Netherlands and China.

Propolis is a resinous hive product collected by honeybees from various plant sources. The composition of the propolis depends upon the time, vegetation and the area of collection. Thus, quality evaluation of the propolis is important, before use in food and beverages. For this propose three different biological activities were carried out, i.e. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity, cytotoxicity and hepatoprotective activity, of MeOH and water extracts of nine different propolis from Brazil, Peru, the Netherlands and China. The results showed that water extracts of six Brazilian and a Chinese propolis possessed stronger DPPH free radical scavenging activity than the corresponding MeOH extract, whereas in the case of Netherlands and Peruvian propolis MeOH extract exhibited stronger DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The MeOH extracts of all propolis possessed stronger cytotoxicity than the corresponding water extract towards murine colon 26-L5 carcinoma and human HT-1080 fibrosarcoma cells. The result of hepatoprotective activity of Brazilian propolis on D-galactosamine (D-GalN)/tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced cell death in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes were found in accordance with the grade set up by beekeepers in Brazil.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Level of exhaled nitric oxide during human anaphylaxis.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) seems to play an important pathophysiologic role in modulating the systemic changes associated with anaphylaxis. Even if some effects of NO may be protective, animal models of anaphylaxis have shown that the summation effects of NO are deleterious, resulting in hypotension and loss of intravascular volume. There are no studies of NO production during anaphylaxis in humans. OBJECTIVE: To measure the level of exhaled NO during anaphylaxis induced by bee venom cluster immunotherapy in a 34-year-old beekeeper. METHODS: Exhaled NO was measured using a chemiluminescence analyzer at different flow rates, and alveolar NO concentration and airway NO production were calculated. RESULTS: We measured a high level of exhaled NO (78 ppb at 50 mL/s, with increased alveolar concentration and airway production) during anaphylaxis induced by bee venom immunotherapy in this patient. Normal values of exhaled NO were measured in the same patient 1 week later before and after a modified regimen of desensitization. CONCLUSIONS: Nitric oxide production was increased in the respiratory tract during anaphylaxis. Having excluded all the common causes of increased exhaled NO levels, these resultssupport the hypothesis that NO plays an important role in anaphylaxis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Bee and wasp venom allergy in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: Beekeeping has progressed recently to where bee sting exposure is an important public health problem in Turkey. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the status of bee and wasp sting allergy in a region of Turkey. METHODS: We conducted a questionnaire-based study of 786 subjects (cellulose paper factory personnel and family members older than 16 years of age) in Cay town of Afyon. Skin prick test with common aeroallergens and measurements of total IgE and specific IgE for bee and wasp venom were performed in 212 randomly selected subjects. RESULTS: Cumulative lifetime sting rate was 94.5% (geometric mean: 6.1 times), and last year bee sting rate was 20.4% (geometric mean: 1.6 times). Subjects who had beehives had higher risk of bee sting (P < .05) in the last year, whereas there was no significant difference among the groups for the cumulative lifetime sting exposure. Severe and mild systemic reactions were noted in 2.2% and 5.3%, respectively. Emergency room visits were reported in 9.3%, and familial Hymenoptera allergy in 10.2%. Fatal potential of bee sting was known by 81%. There was no mortality related with Hymenoptera allergy in records of the last 5 years. In 24 subjects with multiple sting exposures, allergic reactions changed severity in the latter exposures, which became less severe in five and more severe in 19 subjects. Atopy rate detected by prick testing was 20.3%. Specific IgE levels were class 1 in 22, class 2 in 11, and class 3 in 2 subjects for bee; and class 1 in 24 and class 2 in 2 subjects for wasp. Nobody had received immunotherapy for venom allergy. None of the factors including atopy, sex, occupation, smoking and family history of bee sting was significantly related with severity of the systemic reaction (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Bee and wasp stings are prevalent in Turkey. Severe systemic reactions complicating the sting are frequent (2.2%). Public awareness of potential fatality and treatment of the allergic reaction is not adequate.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Furosine: a suitable marker for assessing the freshness of royal jelly.

Fifteen commercial samples of royal jelly, consisting of 10 imported samples, and 5 samples of known origin obtained freshly harvested from beekeepers, were analyzed for protein, lysine, and furosine content. In addition, a commercial sample of royal jelly, at the beginning of its commercial shelf life, was stored for 10 months both at 4 degrees C and at room temperature in order to assess the development of the Maillard reaction (furosine) and relative nutritional damage (blocked lysine). The commercial royal jelly products contained different amounts of furosine, ranging from 37.1 to 113.3 mg/100 g protein, evidence of different storage times and conditions. The average furosine content of the royal jelly samples of known origin and harvesting was significantly lower than that of the imported samples (41.7 versus 73.6 mg/100 g protein, respectively). With regard to shelf life, furosine content increased significantly from 72.0 mg/100 g protein to 500.8 mg/100 g protein after 10 months of storage at room temperature, while it increased to a much lower level (100.5 mg/100 g protein) when the royal jelly was stored at 4 degrees C. However, nutritional damage, expressed as blocked lysine (calculated indirectly from the furosine content), was minor or negligible, 11.9 and 2.3% of total lysine, in samples stored at room temperature and at 4 degrees C, respectively. Lysine was determined by an innovative procedure based on high-performance anion-exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD). The results showed that furosine is a suitable index for assessing the quality and freshness of royal jelly.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗
PubMed2003

Distribution of [(14)C]imidacloprid in sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.) following seed treatment.

Imidacloprid, a neonicotinic insecticide, has been used as a seed dressing (Gaucho) to protect crops against soil and aerial insects. However, French beekeepers observed abnormal behavior of bees foraging on sunflowers and suspected a link between the imidacloprid seed treatment and the observed bee syndrome. This work studies the distribution of [(14)C-imidazolidin]imidacloprid (1 mg/seed) in three stages of Gaucho-treated sunflowers grown in an outdoor lysimeter. Plants absorbed <10% of [(14)C]imidacloprid spiked on seeds, and 75% of that absorbed radioactivity was found in cotyledons. Concentrations in the upper leaves were 20 times lower than in the first leaves. From the extracted radioactivity, imidacloprid accounted for 50% and metabolites for the other 50%. Four major metabolites can be detected, in variable concentrations, among which the hydroxy- and olefin-imidacloprid have toxicities equivalent to that of imidacloprid. In pollen, concentrations of imidacloprid were 13 ng x g(-1). Thus, imidacloprid residues from Gaucho seed treatment contaminated sunflower pollen, involving the translocation of imidacloprid within the plant.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Simultaneous immunoaffinity column cleanup and HPLC analysis of aflatoxins and ochratoxin A in Spanish bee pollen.

Bee pollen is a major substrate for mycotoxins growth when no prompt and adequate drying is performed by the beekeeper after collection by bees. Regulatory limits for aflatoxins and ochratoxin A are currently in force in the European Union for a rising list of foodstuffs, but not for this. An immunoaffinity column cleanup process has been applied prior to the analysis of aflatoxins B(1), B(2), G(1), and G(2) and ochratoxin A (OTA). Optimization of the HPLC conditions has involved both a gradient elution and a wavelength program for the separation and fluorimetric quantitation of all five mycotoxins at their maximum excitation and emission values of wavelength in a single run. The higher limit of detection (mug/kg) was 0.49 for OTA and 0.20 for aflatoxin B(1). Repeatability (RSDr) at the lower limit tested ranged from 9.85% for OTA to 6.23% for aflatoxin G(2), and recoveries also at the lower spiked level were 73% for OTA and 81% for aflatoxin B(1). None of the 20 samples assayed showed quantifiable values for the five mycotoxins.

Aflatoxins↗
PubMed1979

Cyanide residue levels in extracted honey, comb honey and wax cappings.

Cyanide (CN) residue levels were determined in samples of extracted honey, comb honey and was cappings at 1 hr, 24 hr, and 48 hr intervals after destroying the bees in honey bee colonies with normal (ca. 8.5 g) and twice normal (ca. 17 g) doses of CyanogasR A-dust. Applications of CyanogasR A-dust, administered by means of a dust pump at normal and twice normal doses, gave an average residue of 0.01 and 0.04 microgram CN/g of extracted honey, 0.01 and 0.02 microgram CN/g of comb honey and 0.04 and 0.06 microgram CN/g of wax cappings, respectively. When the CyanogasR A-dust (ca. 17 g) was placed on a tray and placed on the bottom board of the hive, the average residue levels for extracted honey, comb honey and wax cappings were less than 0.004, 0.01 and 0.02 microgram CN/g, respectively. Random honey samples from beekeepers, who used CyanogasR to destroy bees, had a median level of 0.031 microgram CN/g, whereas honey from a packing plant and other commercial samples contained less than 0.004--0.026, median less than 0.004 microgram CN/g. Based on residue data from this study, the temporary registration for CyanogasR, to kill honey bees after crop removal, was revised to a full registration in May 1977.

Bees↗
PubMed2003

Managing honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) for greenhouse tomato pollination.

Although commercially reared colonies of bumble bees (Bombus sp.) are the primary pollinator world-wide for greenhouse tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) previous research indicates that honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) might be a feasible alternative or supplement to bumble bee pollination. However, management methods for honey bee greenhouse tomato pollination scarcely have been explored. We 1) tested the effect of initial amounts of brood on colony population size and flight activity in screened greenhouses during the winter, and 2) compared foraging from colonies with brood used within screened and unscreened greenhouses during the summer. Brood rearing was maintained at low levels in both brood and no-brood colonies after 21 d during the winter, and emerging honey bees from both treatments had significantly lower weights than bees from outdoor colonies. Honey bee flight activity throughout the day and over the 21 d in the greenhouse was not influenced by initial brood level. In our summer experiment, brood production in screened greenhouses neared zero after 21 d but higher levels of brood were reared in unscreened greenhouses with access to outside forage. Flower visitation measured throughout the day and over the 21 d the colonies were in the greenhouse was not influenced by screening treatment. An economic analysis indicated that managing honey bees for greenhouse tomato pollination would be financially viable for both beekeepers and growers. We conclude that honey bees can be successfully managed for greenhouse tomato pollination in both screened and unscreened greenhouses if the foraging force is maintained by replacing colonies every 3 wk.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2003

American foulbrood and African honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

We have taken samples of honey from individual beekeepers (N = 64), and of domestic (N = 35) and imported honey (N = 15) retailed in supermarkets in several sub-Saharan countries and cultivated these samples for Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae Heyndrickx et al. causing American foulbrood in honey bee colonies. The results are compared with samples of similar backgrounds and treated the same way but collected in Sweden (N = 35). No P. larvae subsp. larvae spores were found in any honey produced in Africa south of the Sahara although honey imported into this region frequently contains the pathogen. Swedish honey frequently contains P. larvae subsp. larvae spores although the general level of visibly infected bee colonies is low (roughly 0.5%). The results suggest that large parts of Africa may be free from American foulbrood. Behavioral studies (hygienic behavior) on Apis mellifera subsp. scutellata Lepeletier in Zimbabwe suggest that hygienic behavior of African bees could influence the apparent low level, or even absence of American foulbrood in large parts of Africa.

Africa↗
PubMed2004

Altered physiology in worker honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) infested with the mite Varroa destructor (Acari: Varroidae): a factor in colony loss during overwintering?

The ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor (Anderson & Trueman) is the most destructive pest of the honey bee, Apis mellifera L., in Europe and the United States. In temperate zones, the main losses of colonies from the mites occur during colony overwintering. To obtain a deeper knowledge of this phenomenon, we studied the mites' impact on the vitellogenin titer, the total protein stores in the hemolymph, the hemocyte characteristics, and the ecdysteroid titer of adult honey bees. These physiological characteristics are indicators of long-time survival and endocrine function, and we show that they change if bees have been infested by mites during the pupal stage. Compared with noninfested workers, adult bees infested as pupae do not fully develop physiological features typical of long-lived wintering bees. Management procedures designed to kill V. destructor in late autumn may thus fail to prevent losses of colonies because many of the adult bees are no longer able to survive until spring. Beekeepers in temperate climates should therefore combine late autumn management strategies with treatment protocols that keep the mite population at low levels before and during the period when the winter bees emerge.

Acari↗
PubMed2005

Evaluation of an upper hive entrance for control of Aethina tumida (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) in colonies of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae).

This investigation was conducted to test whether an upper hive entrance may result in reduced Aethina tumida Murray (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) population buildup in newly established honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies over an 8-mo period. The upper hive entrance consisted of a 3.5-cm-i.d. polyvinyl chloride pipe positioned 20 cm above the hive bottom. Sixteen bee colonies were established using five-frame nucleus hives with a 0.9-kg (2-1b) package of bees with queen. Eight colonies were placed in each apiary, and each colony received one of two treatments: 1) conventional hive lower entrance and 2) modified upper hive entrance. This investigation was conducted in two distant apiaries where A. tumida had been a major problem to local beekeepers for a minimum of 2 yr. Results showed no overall differences between treatment effects on A. tumida counts over the test period, but there was a reduction in bee brood measured in colonies having an upper hive entrance. We conclude that the upper pipe entrance is not recommended in areas where A. tumida are well established and have become problematic. The expected reduction of brood in colonies as a result of using an upper hive entrance will lead to less productive units for honey production and pollination activities. Other control measures will be necessary to maintain tolerable levels of A. tumida in honey bee colonies at high pest densities.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of concentration and exposure time on treatment efficacy against Varroa mites (Acari: Varroidae) during indoor winter fumigation of honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) with formic acid.

The combination of the concentration of formic acid and the duration of fumigation (CT product) during indoor treatments of honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies to control the varroa mite, Varroa destructor Anderson & Trueman, determines the efficacy of the treatment. Because high concentrations can cause queen mortality, we hypothesized that a high CT product given as a low concentration over a long exposure time rather than as a high concentration over a short exposure time would allow effective control of varroa mites without the detrimental effects on queens. The objective of this study was to assess different combinations of formic acid concentration and exposure time with similar CT products in controlling varroa mites while minimizing the effect on worker and queen honey bees. Treated colonies were exposed to a low, medium, or high concentration of formic acid until a mean CT product of 471 ppm*d in room air was realized. The treatments consisted of a long-term low concentration of 19 ppm for 27 d, a medium-term medium concentration of 42 ppm for 10 d, a short-term high concentration of 53 ppm for 9 d, and an untreated control. Both short-term high-concentration and medium-term medium-concentration fumigation with formic acid killed varroa mites, with averages of 93 and 83% mortality, respectively, but both treatments also were associated with an increase in mortality of worker bees, queen bees, or both. Long-term low-concentration fumigation had lower efficacy (60% varroa mite mortality), but it did not increase worker or queen bee mortality. This trend differed slightly in colonies from two different beekeepers. Varroa mite mean abundance was significantly decreased in all three acid treatments relative to the control. Daily worker mortality was significantly increased by the short-term high concentration treatment, which was reflected by a decrease in the size of the worker population, but not an increase in colony mortality. Queen mortality was significantly greater under the medium-term medium concentration and the short-term high concentration treatments than in controls.

Animals↗