Multi-biomarker approach and IBR index to evaluate the effects of different contaminants on the ecotoxicological status of Apis mellifera

Caliani, Ilaria; Campani, Tommaso; Conti, Bárbara; Cosci, Francesca; Bedini, Stefano; D’Agostino, Antonella; Ammendola, Anna; Noi, Agata Di; Gori, Alessandro; Casini, Silvia

doi:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111486

Cited by 41 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 90 publications

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“…Based on our results, in the orchard, CaE activity probably plays a detoxifying role instead of inactivating neurotoxic compounds. In the orchard site, due to the presence of fruit trees and the consequent large use of PPPs, we expected an induction in GST activities (Caliani et al 2021;Carvalho et al 2013); on the contrary, our data showed a decrease in GST activity. Other authors report that GST activity is modulated by insecticides that cause a decrease in its activity (Badiou-Bénéteau et al 2012;Lupi et al 2020;Yao et al 2018).…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 60%

First application of an Integrated Biological Response index to assess the ecotoxicological status of honeybees from rural and urban areas

Caliani

Campani

Conti

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Understanding the effects of environmental contaminants on honeybees is essential to minimize their impacts on these important pollinating insects. The aim of this study was to assess the ecotoxicological status of honeybees in environments undergoing different anthropic pressure: a wood (reference site), an orchard, an agricultural area, and an urban site, using a multi-biomarker approach. To synthetically represent the ecotoxicological status of the honeybees, the responses of the single biomarkers were integrated by the Integrated Biological Response (IBRv2) index. Overall, the strongest alteration of the ecotoxicological status (IBRv2 = 7.52) was detected in the bees from the orchard due to the alteration of metabolic and genotoxicity biomarkers indicating the presence of pesticides, metals, and lipophilic compounds. Honeybees from the cultivated area (IBRv2 = 7.18) revealed an alteration especially in neurotoxicity, metabolic, and genotoxicity biomarkers probably related to the presence of pesticides, especially fungicides. Finally, in the urban area (IBRv2 = 6.60), the biomarker results (GST, lysozyme, and hemocytes) indicated immunosuppression in the honeybees and the effects of the presence of lipophilic compounds and metals in the environment.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 60%

First application of an Integrated Biological Response index to assess the ecotoxicological status of honeybees from rural and urban areas

Caliani

Campani

Conti

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Moreover, Lazarov and Zhelyazkova (2019) [149] observed that Varroa destructor infestations are responsible for the weakening of honey bees' immune system, which may lead to a pronounced susceptibility of honey bees to contaminant exposure. To the best of our knowledge, Caliani et al (2021) [43] is the only study that has been conducted into genotoxicity and that has examined Apis mellifera; in this study, it was observed that there are not only compounds such as EMS, with known genotoxic effects; indeed, there are also Cd and fungicides that have effects on the presence of hemocytes nuclear abnormalities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Moreover, we believe that studies regarding other pollutants, such as PAHs and trace elements, should be improved, because of their presence in the environment that could cause honey bees exposure and adverse effects. Studies on trace elements underlined that pollutants, like aluminum, cadmium, selenium, lead, and copper, are able to influence foraging behavior [63,70] and the development time [51,66], to cause histopathological alterations [57], to alter AChE, ALP, GST [43,54], CAT and SOD [107,140] activities. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) pointed out that the study of the impact of mixtures of chemicals also compared to non-chemical stressors, like Varroa destructor and viruses, on honey bee health are of great relevance, in view to support the implementation of a holistic risk assessment method [147,148].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among these beneficial insects, the focus was on social bees, with a particular interest in neonicotinoid insecticides and their lethal and sublethal effects at colony and population levels. Nonetheless, other PPPs used in modern agriculture, such as fungicides and herbicides, were demonstrated to affect honey bee's health status [43][44][45][46].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, studies concerning the general fitness of honey bees, which examined their behaviour, flight activity, and sensory ability, were conducted over the years to observe the macroscopic effects of contaminants [48,[50][51][52]. To a lesser extent, enzymatic and molecular responses have also been studied, using genomic, metabolomic, and transcriptomic techniques and biomarkers [43,[53][54][55][56], in order to increase understanding of the anthropogenic impact on these insects.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Review on Sublethal Effects of Environmental Contaminants in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Knowledge Gaps and Future Perspectives

Noi

Casini

Campani

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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Honey bees and the pollination services they provide are fundamental for agriculture and biodiversity. Agrochemical products and other classes of contaminants, such as trace elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, contribute to the general decline of bees’ populations. For this reason, effects, and particularly sublethal effects of contaminants need to be investigated. We conducted a review of the existing literature regarding the type of effects evaluated in Apis mellifera, collecting information about regions, methodological approaches, the type of contaminants, and honey bees’ life stages. Europe and North America are the regions in which A. mellifera biological responses were mostly studied and the most investigated compounds are insecticides. A. mellifera was studied more in the laboratory than in field conditions. Through the observation of the different responses examined, we found that there were several knowledge gaps that should be addressed, particularly within enzymatic and molecular responses, such as those regarding the immune system and genotoxicity. The importance of developing an integrated approach that combines responses at different levels, from molecular to organism and population, needs to be highlighted in order to evaluate the impact of anthropogenic contamination on this pollinator species.

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Increasing road cover in urban areas is associated with greater midgut histological damage in a primitively eusocial bee

Ferrari,

Polidori,

Trisoglio

et al. 2024

Insect. Soc.

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Urbanisation is associated with air and soil pollution, particularly from heavy metals. One of the tissues most exposed to such pollutants is the midgut epithelium as insects may ingest these pollutants with food. Bees are one of the most important urban insects, providing important ecosystem services such as pollination. However, to the best of our knowledge, no studies have investigated the possible histological alterations to the midgut epithelium of bees caused by urbanisation. We sampled workers of the ground-nesting, primitively eusocial bee Halictus scabiosae in a large metropolis (Milan), with the aim to test if individuals from areas characterised by higher urbanisation and consequently higher pollution levels—defined here by a greater proportion of roads—exhibit greater histological tissue and cellular alterations in the midgut epithelium. We obtained semi-thin sections of the midgut through histological techniques, and then adopted a semi-quantitative approach to assess morphological damage. The midgut presented a range of histological alterations including epithelium disorganisation, vacuolisation, and nucleus karyorrhexis (one of the stages of cellular death). We found higher histological damage score (calculated taking into account all found alterations) and frequency of karyorrhectic nuclei in sites with a higher proportion of roads (i.e. more urbanised). The observed alterations may underline a potential impairment of the digestive function in highly urbanised areas.

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Multi-biomarker approach and IBR index to evaluate the effects of different contaminants on the ecotoxicological status of Apis mellifera

Cited by 41 publications

References 90 publications

First application of an Integrated Biological Response index to assess the ecotoxicological status of honeybees from rural and urban areas

First application of an Integrated Biological Response index to assess the ecotoxicological status of honeybees from rural and urban areas

Review on Sublethal Effects of Environmental Contaminants in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), Knowledge Gaps and Future Perspectives

Increasing road cover in urban areas is associated with greater midgut histological damage in a primitively eusocial bee

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