Changes in the bioelement content of summer and winter western honeybees (Apis mellifera) induced by Nosema ceranae infection

Abstract

Proper bioelement content is crucial for the health and wellness of all organisms, including honeybees. However, the situation is more complicated in these important pollinators due to the fact that they change their physiology during winter in order to survive the relatively harsh climatic conditions. Additionally, honeybees are susceptible to many diseases such as nosemosis, which during winter can depopulate an entire colony. Here we show that summer bees have a markedly higher content of important bioelements such as: Al, Cu, P, V, (physiologically essential); Ca, K, Mg, (electrolytic); Cr, Se, Zn, (enzymatic); As, Hg, (toxic). In contrast, a markedly higher content of: Fe (physiologically essential); Mn, Ni, (enzymatic); Cd (exclusively toxic) were present in winter bees. Importantly, N. ceranae infection resulted in an increased honeybee bioelement content of: S, Sr (physiologically essential) and Pb (exclusively toxic), whereas the Nosema-free worker-bees had higher amounts of B and Si (physiologically essential). We propose that the shortages of Fe, Mn, Ni, and Na observed in Nosema-infected bees, could be the reason for the higher mortality of Nosema-infected bees throughout overwintering. In addition, a shortage of bioelements such as B and Si may be a reason for accelerated aging in foragers that is observed following N. ceranae infection. Therefore, in winter, bioelement content was more strongly affected by N. ceranae infection than during summer. We found a strong correlation between the bioelement content of bees and seasons (summer or winter) and also with Nosema infection. We conclude that the balance of bioelements in the honeybee is altered by both seasonal affects and by Nosema infection.

Extracts from Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim. Roots: A New Hope Against Honeybee Death Caused by Nosemosis

“…The pollinator fidelity hypothesis suggested that so-called “toxic nectar” is analogous to other floral structures that require specialisation of pollinators [ 24 , 73 , 74 ]. Honeybees taking such herb nectar might self-heal slightly or weakly infected colonies [ 15 , 17 ]. We bring out this hypothesis here because nectars rich in specific secondary compounds can decidedly benefit honeybees.…”

“…neumanni, was described in 2017 [ 12 ]. Nosemosis negatively alters the gut epithelium renewal rate [ 13 ] and creates a layer of mature spores on the intestine surface [ 14 ], which leads to bee malnutrition and changes in the composition of microelements [ 15 ]. Nosemosis also changed honeybee intestinal microbiome contents, both on bacterial [ 16 ] and yeast [ 17 ] levels.…”

“…Furthermore, it causes impairments of many gland functions [ 18 , 19 , 20 ], accelerates age polyethism in young honeybees [ 19 ], decreases the level of hormone secretion and causes anatomical changes in bee queens’ ovaries, and finally, it affects fertility and the survival rate in older honeybee males [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. All these factors affect both individual honeybees and the whole bee colony, decreasing its survival rate [ 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

Gas Sensor Array and Classifiers as a Means of Varroosis Detection

“…Chambers were located inside the aluminum block. The volume of chambers designed for TGS8xx sensors was about 12 cm 3 and volume of chambers for TGS2xxx sensors was about 4 cm 3 .…”

“…The honey bee population has strongly declined in recent years [1] due to a combination of multiple stresses, including diseases, pathogens and pesticides. Bees, like all animals including humans, are susceptible to viruses (e.g., deformed wing virus, Israeli acute paralysis virus, Kashmir bee virus, Black Queen cell virus and Sacbrood); bacteria (e.g., American foulbrood and European foulbrood); fungi (e.g., Chalkbrood and Stonebrood); microsporidian parasite (e.g., Nosema apis and Nosema cearanae); parasitic mites (e.g., Tracheal mites (Acarapis woodi), Varroa mites, and Varroa mites resistant to fluvalinate and coumaphos); and insect pests (e.g., wax moth, and small hive beetle) [2][3][4][5].…”