Impact of vertebrate probiotics on honeybee yeast microbiota and on the course of nosemosis1)

Vital pollinators whose role in ecosystems can hardly be overestimated, honeybees suffer from numerous illnesses, among which varroatosis and nosemosis seem most dangerous. Unfortunately, there is no cure that could resolve these grave honeybee health problems. Therefore, a great number of various kinds of diet supplements to help combat these illnesses are recommended for honeybee feeding. These include commercial probiotics whose primarily composition is based on the bacteria from the Lactobacillus genus. Symbiotic microbiota prevent the growth of pathogenic species by competing for nutrition and attachment sites to the epithelium of the intestine. The microorganisms associated with the honeybee come from pollen consumption or through contact with older workers (e.g. trophallaxis). Bacteria from the Lactobacillus (LAB) genus are some of the most important intestinal symbionts, and the LAB members most frequently isolated from honeybees are: Lactobacillus kunkeei, L. plantarum, L. pentosus, L. fermentum, L. floricola, L. acidophilus and L. johnsonii (4, 12, 27, 41, 42, 44). Honeybee Lactobacillus bacteria, as all members of this genus, produce a short chain fatty acids which can be absorbed through the rectal wall and provide additional nutrition. Furthermore, bacteria from the Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium genera which inhabit honeybees’ crop play a very important role in the production of honey and beebread (8-11, 13, 24, 25, 43, 44). Impact of vertebrate probiotics on honeybee yeast microbiota and on the course of nosemosis1)