Plant-based supplement containing B-complex vitamins can improve bee health and increase colony performance

Parasites are linked to the decline of some bee populations; thus, understanding defense mechanisms has important implications for bee health. Recent advances have improved our understanding of factors mediating bee health ranging from molecular to landscape scales, but often as disparate literatures. Here, we bring together these fields and summarize our current understanding of bee defense mechanisms including immunity, immunization, and transgenerational immune priming in social and solitary species. Additionally, the characterization of microbial diversity and function in some bee taxa has shed light on the importance of microbes for bee health, but we lack information that links microbial communities to parasite infection in most bee species. Studies are beginning to identify how bee defense mechanisms are affected by stressors such as poor-quality diets and pesticides, but further research on this topic is needed. We discuss how integrating research on host traits, microbial partners, and nutrition, as well as improving our knowledge base on wild and semi-social bees, will help inform future research, conservation efforts, and management.

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The Effect of B-Complex Vitamins on the Voluntary Consumption of Alcohol by Rats

Quarterly Journal of Studies on Alcohol ◽

10.15288/qjsa.1947.7.499 ◽

1947 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 499-505 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Roscoe A. Brady ◽

W.W. Westerfeld

Keyword(s):

B Complex Vitamins

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Combined impacts of viral pathogens and pesticides on bumble bee health

10.1603/ice.2016.115463 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Diana Cox-Foster

Keyword(s):

Bumble Bee ◽

Viral Pathogens ◽

Bee Health

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Impact of Chronic Exposure to Sublethal Doses of Glyphosate on Honey Bee Immunity, Gut Microbiota and Infection by Pathogens

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9040845 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (4) ◽

pp. 845

Author(s):

Loreley Castelli ◽

Sofía Balbuena ◽

Belén Branchiccela ◽

Pablo Zunino ◽

Joanito Liberti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Honey Bee ◽

Chronic Exposure ◽

Pollination Services ◽

Deformed Wing Virus ◽

Immune Genes ◽

Bee Health ◽

Honey Bee Health ◽

Sublethal Doses ◽

The Impact

Glyphosate is the most used pesticide around the world. Although different studies have evidenced its negative effect on honey bees, including detrimental impacts on behavior, cognitive, sensory and developmental abilities, its use continues to grow. Recent studies have shown that it also alters the composition of the honey bee gut microbiota. In this study we explored the impact of chronic exposure to sublethal doses of glyphosate on the honey bee gut microbiota and its effects on the immune response, infection by Nosema ceranae and Deformed wing virus (DWV) and honey bee survival. Glyphosate combined with N. ceranae infection altered the structure and composition of the honey bee gut microbiota, for example by decreasing the relative abundance of the core members Snodgrassella alvi and Lactobacillus apis. Glyphosate increased the expression of some immune genes, possibly representing a physiological response to mitigate its negative effects. However, this response was not sufficient to maintain honey bee health, as glyphosate promoted the replication of DWV and decreased the expression of vitellogenin, which were accompanied by a reduced life span. Infection by N. ceranae also alters honey bee immunity although no synergistic effect with glyphosate was observed. These results corroborate previous findings suggesting deleterious effects of widespread use of glyphosate on honey bee health, and they contribute to elucidate the physiological mechanisms underlying a global decline of pollination services.

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Eristalis flower flies can be mechanical vectors of the common trypanosome bee parasite, Crithidia bombi

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-95323-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Abby E. Davis ◽

Kaitlin R. Deutsch ◽

Alondra M. Torres ◽

Mesly J. Mata Loya ◽

Lauren V. Cody ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Theoretical Work ◽

Floral Resources ◽

Active Infection ◽

Osmia Lignaria ◽

Crithidia Bombi ◽

Large Populations ◽

Bee Health ◽

The Common ◽

Flower Flies ◽

Bee Communities

AbstractFlowers can be transmission platforms for parasites that impact bee health, yet bees share floral resources with other pollinator taxa, such as flies, that may be hosts or non-host vectors (i.e., mechanical vectors) of parasites. Here, we assessed whether the fecal-orally transmitted gut parasite of bees, Crithidia bombi, can infect Eristalis tenax flower flies. We also investigated the potential for two confirmed solitary bee hosts of C. bombi, Osmia lignaria and Megachile rotundata, as well as two flower fly species, Eristalis arbustorum and E. tenax, to transmit the parasite at flowers. We found that C. bombi did not replicate (i.e., cause an active infection) in E. tenax flies. However, 93% of inoculated flies defecated live C. bombi in their first fecal event, and all contaminated fecal events contained C. bombi at concentrations sufficient to infect bumble bees. Flies and bees defecated inside the corolla (flower) more frequently than other plant locations, and flies defecated at volumes comparable to or greater than bees. Our results demonstrate that Eristalis flower flies are not hosts of C. bombi, but they may be mechanical vectors of this parasite at flowers. Thus, flower flies may amplify or dilute C. bombi in bee communities, though current theoretical work suggests that unless present in large populations, the effects of mechanical vectors will be smaller than hosts.

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Correction to: Stakeholders’ views on sustaining honey bee health and beekeeping: the roles of ecological and social system drivers

Landscape Ecology ◽

10.1007/s10980-021-01222-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 36 (5) ◽

pp. 1585-1585

Author(s):

Mariia Fedoriak ◽

Oleksandr Kulmanov ◽

Alina Zhuk ◽

Oleksandr Shkrobanets ◽

Kateryna Tymchuk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Social System ◽

Bee Health ◽

Honey Bee Health

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Propolis Extract and Chitosan Improve Health of Nosema ceranae Infected Giant Honey Bees, Apis dorsata Fabricius, 1793

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10070785 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 785

Author(s):

Sanchai Naree ◽

Rujira Ponkit ◽

Evada Chotiaroonrat ◽

Christopher L. Mayack ◽

Guntima Suwannapong

Keyword(s):

Honey Bees ◽

Treatment Options ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Apis Dorsata ◽

Propolis Extract ◽

Bee Health ◽

Honey Bee Health ◽

Underlying Mechanisms ◽

Honey Solution

Nosema ceranae is a large contributing factor to the most recent decline in honey bee health worldwide. Developing new alternative treatments against N. ceranae is particularly pressing because there are few treatment options available and therefore the risk of increased antibiotic resistance is quite high. Recently, natural products have demonstrated to be a promising avenue for finding new effective treatments against N. ceranae. We evaluated the effects of propolis extract of stingless bee, Tetrigona apicalis and chito-oligosaccharide (COS) on giant honey bees, Apis dorsata, experimentally infected with N. ceranae to determine if these treatments could improve the health of the infected individuals. Newly emerged Nosema-free bees were individually inoculated with 106N. ceranae spores per bee. We fed infected and control bees the following treatments consisting of 0%, 50%, propolis extracts, 0 ppm and 0.5 ppm COS in honey solution (w/v). Propolis extracts and COS caused a significant increase in trehalose levels in hemolymph, protein contents, survival rates and acini diameters of the hypopharyngeal glands in infected bees. Our results suggest that propolis and COS could improve the health of infected bees. Further research is needed to determine the underlying mechanisms responsible for the improved health of the infected bees.

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Comparing Survival of Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus Infection among Stocks of U.S. Honey Bees

Insects ◽

10.3390/insects12010060 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 60

Author(s):

Shilpi Bhatia ◽

Saman S. Baral ◽

Carlos Vega Melendez ◽

Esmaeil Amiri ◽

Olav Rueppell

Keyword(s):

Honey Bee ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Virus Infections ◽

Israeli Acute Paralysis Virus ◽

Immune Genes ◽

Starting Point ◽

Bee Health ◽

Honey Bee Health ◽

Survival Differences ◽

Paralysis Virus

Among numerous viruses that infect honey bees (Apis mellifera), Israeli acute paralysis virus (IAPV) can be linked to severe honey bee health problems. Breeding for virus resistance may improve honey bee health. To evaluate the potential for this approach, we compared the survival of IAPV infection among stocks from the U.S. We complemented the survival analysis with a survey of existing viruses in these stocks and assessing constitutive and induced expression of immune genes. Worker offspring from selected queens in a common apiary were inoculated with IAPV by topical applications after emergence to assess subsequent survival. Differences among stocks were small compared to variation within stocks, indicating the potential for improving honey bee survival of virus infections in all stocks. A positive relation between worker survival and virus load among stocks further suggested that honey bees may be able to adapt to better cope with viruses, while our molecular studies indicate that toll-6 may be related to survival differences among virus-infected worker bees. Together, these findings highlight the importance of viruses in queen breeding operations and provide a promising starting point for the quest to improve honey bee health by selectively breeding stock to be better able to survive virus infections.

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Effects of Prebiotics and Probiotics on Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) Infected with the Microsporidian Parasite Nosema ceranae

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9030481 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 481

Author(s):

Daniel Borges ◽

Ernesto Guzman-Novoa ◽

Paul H. Goodwin

Keyword(s):

Apis Mellifera ◽

Honey Bees ◽

Bifidobacterium Bifidum ◽

Nosema Ceranae ◽

Food Supplementation ◽

Microsporidian Parasite ◽

Single Strain ◽

Acacia Gum ◽

Bee Health ◽

Commercial Probiotics

Nosema ceranae is a microsporidian fungus that parasitizes the midgut epithelial cells of honey bees, Apis mellifera. Due to the role that midgut microorganisms play in bee health and immunity, food supplementation with prebiotics and probiotics may assist in the control of N. ceranae. The dietary fiber prebiotics acacia gum, inulin, and fructooligosaccharides, as well as the commercial probiotics Vetafarm Probotic, Protexin Concentrate single-strain (Enterococcus faecium), and Protexin Concentrate multi-strain (Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. plantarum, L. rhamnosus, L. delbrueckii, Bifidobacterium bifidum, Streptococcus salivarius, and E. faecium) were tested for their effect on N. ceranae spore loads and honey bee survivorship. Bees kept in cages were inoculated with N. ceranae spores and single-dose treatments were administered in sugar syrup. Acacia gum caused the greatest reduction in N. ceranae spore numbers (67%) but also significantly increased bee mortality (62.2%). However, Protexin Concentrate single-strain gave similarly reduced spore numbers (59%) without affecting the mortality. In a second experiment, multiple doses of the probiotics revealed significantly reduced spore numbers with 2.50 mg/mL Vetafarm Probotic, and 0.25, 1.25, and 2.50 mg/mL Protexin Concentrate single-strain. Mortality was also significantly reduced with 1.25 mg/mL Protexin Concentrate single-strain. N. ceranae-inoculated bees fed 3.75 mg/mL Vetafarm Probotic had higher survival than N. ceranae-inoculated bees, which was similar to that of non-inoculated bees, while N. ceranae-inoculated bees fed 2.50 mg/mL Protexin Concentrate single-strain, had significantly higher survival than both N. ceranae-inoculated and non-inoculated bees. Protexin Concentrate single-strain is promising as it can reduce N. ceranae proliferation and increase bee survivorship of infected bees, even compared to healthy, non-infected bees.

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Liver Failure in a Dog Following Suspected Ingestion of Blue-Green Algae (Microcystis spp.): A Case Report and Review of the Toxin

Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association ◽

10.5326/jaaha-ms-5913 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 49 (5) ◽

pp. 342-346 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Lionel Sebbag ◽

Nicole Smee ◽

Deon van der Merwe ◽

Dustin Schmid

Keyword(s):

Green Algae ◽

Acute Hepatic Failure ◽

Fresh Frozen Plasma ◽

Blue Green Algae ◽

Fresh Frozen ◽

Adenosyl Methionine ◽

B Complex Vitamins ◽

Time Of Admission ◽

Frozen Plasma

A 2.5 yr old spayed female Weimaraner presented after ingestion of blue-green algae (Microcystis spp.). One day prior to presentation, the patient was swimming at a local lake known to be contaminated with high levels of blue-green algae that was responsible for deaths of several other dogs the same summer. The patient presented 24 hr after exposure with vomiting, inappetence, weakness, and lethargy. Blood work at the time of admission was consistent with acute hepatic failure, characteristic findings of intoxication by Microcystis spp. Diagnosis was suspected by analyzing a water sample from the location where the patient was swimming. Supportive care including fluids, fresh frozen plasma, whole blood, vitamin K, B complex vitamins, S-adenosyl methionine, and Silybum marianum were started. The patient was discharged on supportive medications, and follow-up blood work showed continued improvement. Ingestion is typically fatal for most patients. This is the first canine to be reported in the literature to survive treatment after known exposure.

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