Pollen microbial colonization and food safety

Pollen samples collected in the spring of 2002 in 8 south-western Slovakia localities and 40 live individuals of bumblebee were analyzed for the presence of bacteria and microscopic fungi. Microorganisms occurring on pollen and bumblebees were identified using cultivation and microscopic methods supplemented with biochemical tests. In the pollen were found fermenting and non-fermenting Gram-negative rods, Gram-positive sporulating cocci and non-haemolytic Gram-positive cocci. Analyses of microscopic fungi on bumblebee bodies showed the presence of only four species Acremonium murorum, Aspergillus penicilloides, Fusarium oxysporum, Harpografium fasciculatum representing Fungi imperfecti. The highest amount of microscopic fungi occurred on drone, lower numbers on queen and worker bees. In the pollen samples 21 fungal species forming 13 genera of microscopic fungi were detected. The highest number of mould species was classified in the genera of Mucor, Rhizopus, Aspergillus, Alternaria and Paecilomyces, the species of other genera occurred in lower frequency. As the majority of the identified micromycetes represent the mitosporic fungal group of saprophytic microorganisms inhabiting soil or the organic residues of plants lacking pathogenic effects, it could be concluded, the tested pollen samples may be declared for safe resource of food and/or feed.