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

Jovanović, Nemanja M.; Glavinić, Uroš; Delic, Biljana; Vejnović, Branislav; Aleksić, Nevenka; Mladjan, V.J.; Stanimirović, Zoran

doi:10.1016/j.prevetmed.2021.105322

Cited by 19 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…This has been expected, bearing in mind already reported beneficial effects of other Agaricus spp. extracts on bees [5,38] as well as of other natural-based dietary supplements [21,48,[64][65][66][67]. Despite the absence of significant differences among groups, the lowest number of dead bees was in the group fed with 200 µg/g of A. bisporus extract.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, its effectiveness has been questioned [28], imposing a constant effort of scientists to discover alternative substances, which would be effective against Nosema spp. Among many natural compounds tested [5,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47], some of them showed promising anti-Nosema effects such as algae and fungus extracts [5,22,[36][37][38][39], chitosan and peptidoglycan [40], naringenin, sulforaphane and carvacrol [41], probiotics [42,46], natural substances from Brassicaceae defatted seed meals [43], and natural-based commercial formulations [5,44,47,48]. Diet with the addition of plant-based, amino acid and vitamin supplements, led to reduction of N. ceranae spore number [5,48], immunostimulation, and reduction of oxidative stress in N. ceranae-infected bees [5], and consequently to the improved condition of bees.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among many natural compounds tested [5,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47], some of them showed promising anti-Nosema effects such as algae and fungus extracts [5,22,[36][37][38][39], chitosan and peptidoglycan [40], naringenin, sulforaphane and carvacrol [41], probiotics [42,46], natural substances from Brassicaceae defatted seed meals [43], and natural-based commercial formulations [5,44,47,48]. Diet with the addition of plant-based, amino acid and vitamin supplements, led to reduction of N. ceranae spore number [5,48], immunostimulation, and reduction of oxidative stress in N. ceranae-infected bees [5], and consequently to the improved condition of bees. Interest in mushrooms has been increasing among researchers due to their nutritional and medicinal properties; mushrooms of the genus Agaricus contain numerous biologically-active substances (such as glucans, mannan, lentinan, schizophyllan, scleroglucan) with certain antitumor, antidiabetic, and immunostimulatory effects [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of Agaricus bisporus Mushroom Extract on Honey Bees Infected with Nosema ceranae

Glavinić

Rajković

Vunduk

et al. 2021

Insects

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Agaricus bisporus water crude extract was tested on honey bees for the first time. The first part of the cage experiment was set for selecting one concentration of the A. bisporus extract. Concentration of 200 µg/g was further tested in the second part of the experiment where bee survival and food consumption were monitored together with Nosema infection level and expression of five genes (abaecin, hymenoptaecin, defensin, apidaecin, and vitellogenin) that were evaluated in bees sampled on days 7 and 15. Survival rate of Nosema-infected bees was significantly greater in groups fed with A. bisporus-enriched syrup compared to those fed with a pure sucrose syrup. Besides, the anti-Nosema effect of A. bisporus extract was greatest when applied from the third day which coincides with the time of infection with N. ceranae. Daily food consumption did not differ between the groups indicating good acceptability and palatability of the extract. A. bisporus extract showed a stimulative effect on four out of five monitored genes. Both anti-Nosema and nutrigenomic effects of A. bisporus extract were observed when supplementation started at the moment of N. ceranae infection or preventively (before or simultaneously with the infection).

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Effects of Agaricus bisporus Mushroom Extract on Honey Bees Infected with Nosema ceranae

Glavinić

Rajković

Vunduk

et al. 2021

Insects

Self Cite

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“…Non-protein amino acids such as gamma-aminobutyric acid and beta-alanine were used to reduce the possibility of beneficial microbiota imbalance following antivarroa and antinosemosis therapy [ 160 ]. Artificial protein supplements such as Beewell Aminoplus boosted bee survivability, decreased Nosema spore levels, had an immunostimulatory impact, and increased the antioxidative protection of the bees against N. ceranae [ 161 , 162 ]. Another study estimated that colonies fed on pollen had lower titers of BQCV and Nosema compared with colonies fed on protein supplements, such as Bee-ProV [ 163 ].…”

Section: Strategies To Enhance Honeybee Immunitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Bee Stressors from an Immunological Perspective and Strategies to Improve Bee Health

El-Seedi

Ahmed

El-Wahed

et al. 2022

Veterinary Sciences

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Honeybees are the most prevalent insect pollinator species; they pollinate a wide range of crops. Colony collapse disorder (CCD), which is caused by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors, incurs high economic/ecological loss. Despite extensive research to identify and study the various ecological stressors such as microbial infections, exposure to pesticides, loss of habitat, and improper beekeeping practices that are claimed to cause these declines, the deep understanding of the observed losses of these important insects is still missing. Honeybees have an innate immune system, which includes physical barriers and cellular and humeral responses to defend against pathogens and parasites. Exposure to various stressors may affect this system and the health of individual bees and colonies. This review summarizes and discusses the composition of the honeybee immune system and the consequences of exposure to stressors, individually or in combinations, on honeybee immune competence. In addition, we discuss the relationship between bee nutrition and immunity. Nutrition and phytochemicals were highlighted as the factors with a high impact on honeybee immunity.

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“…Having in mind the increasing use of sugar syrup [67,68] which provides only energy, it is important to also provide mineral, vitamin and protein feed components. Thus, various dietary supplements have been tested for the ability to improve bee health, colony strength, food reserves and productivity [reviewed in 69] including pollen-substitute diets (protein supplements) and protein/vitamin supplements [70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diet Supplementation Helps Honey Bee Colonies in Combat Infections by Enhancing their Hygienic Behaviour

et al. 2022

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The hygienic behavior in honey bees is a complex polygenic trait that serves as a natural defense mechanism against bacterial and fungal brood diseases and Varroa destructor mites infesting brood cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a dietary amino acids and vitamins supplement “BEEWELL AminoPlus” on hygienic behavior of Apis mellifera colonies combating microsporidial and viral infections. The experiment was performed during a one-year period on 40 colonies alloted to five groups: one supplemented and infected with Nosema ceranae and four viruses (Deformed wing virus - DWV, Acute bee paralysis virus - ABPV, Chronic bee paralysis virus - CBPV and Sacbrood virus – SBV), three not supplemented, but infected with N. ceranae and/ or viruses, and one negative control group. Beside the l isted pathogens, honey bee trypanosomatids were also monitored in all groups. The supplement “BEEWELL AminoPlus” induced a significant and consistent increase of the hygienic behavior in spite of the negative effects of N. ceranae and viral infections. N. ceranae and viruses significantly and consistently decreased hygienic behavior, but also threatened the survival of bee colonies. The tested supplement showed anti-Nosema effect, since the N. ceranae infection level significantly and consistently declined only in the supplemented group. Among infected groups, only the supplemented one remained Lotmaria passim-free throughout the study. In conclusion, diet supplementation enhances hygienic behavior of honey bee colonies and helps them fight the most common infections of honey bees.

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

Cited by 19 publications

References 52 publications

Effects of Agaricus bisporus Mushroom Extract on Honey Bees Infected with Nosema ceranae

Effects of Agaricus bisporus Mushroom Extract on Honey Bees Infected with Nosema ceranae

Bee Stressors from an Immunological Perspective and Strategies to Improve Bee Health

Diet Supplementation Helps Honey Bee Colonies in Combat Infections by Enhancing their Hygienic Behaviour

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