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

Abstract

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.

Seed Meals from Brassica nigra and Eruca sativa Control Artificial Nosema ceranae Infections in Apis mellifera

“…In detail, chitosan and peptidoglycan significantly reduced the nosemosis infection level in infected bees, and significantly increased their survivorship [ 30 ]. Even prebiotic and probiotic administration could be useful to reduce N. ceranae [ 31 , 32 ]. The administration of two probiotics, 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 ) significantly reduce the number of spores in infected bees without affecting their surviving [ 31 ].…”

“…Even prebiotic and probiotic administration could be useful to reduce N. ceranae [ 31 , 32 ]. The administration of two probiotics, 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 ) significantly reduce the number of spores in infected bees without affecting their surviving [ 31 ]. Moreover, the probiotic effect of two bee gut bacteria ( Parasaccharibacter apium and Bacillus sp.)…”

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

“…To propagate more spores, midguts were removed and transferred to a 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube containing 100 µL distilled water. The midguts were then homogenized using a sterile pestle and centrifuged at 6000× g (Benchmark Scientific Z206-A, Sayreville, NJ, USA) for 10 min, this was repeated for 3 times [ 40 ]. We discarded the supernatant each time and the white sediment at the bottom was collected to be counted using a hemocytometer (Hausser Scientific, Horsham, PA, USA) under a light microscope (Olympus CX50, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan) [ 71 ].…”

“…Among the various promising substances to control N. ceranae- infection, ApiHerb ® and Api-Bioxal ® , commercial dietary supplements were used as treatments against N. ceranae -infection effectively in both laboratory and colony level [ 39 ]. 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 [ 40 ], and Parasaccharibacter apium (PC1 sp.) and Bacillus sp.…”

A Potential Fungal Probiotic Aureobasidium melanogenum CK-CsC for the Western Honey Bee, Apis mellifera

“…The use of probiotics for honey bees to improve bee health has recently gained popularity [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. In honey bees, probiotics have been found that not only improve the gut metabolism (e.g., carbohydrate breakdown), resulting in increased body weight [ 23 , 24 , 25 ], but also reduce diseases by preventing intestinal infection and stimulating host immune responses [ 26 , 27 ].…”