Effect of Lactobacillus johnsonii CRL1647 on different parameters of honeybee colonies and bacterial populations of the bee gut.
- 2015-10-15
- Beneficial Microbes 6(5)
- M. Audisio
- D. Sabaté
- M. R. Benítez-Ahrendts
- PubMed: 25809216
- DOI: 10.3920/BM2014.0155
Abstract
Lactobacillus johnsonii CRL1647, isolated from the intestinal tract of a worker-bee in Salta, Argentina, was delivered to Apis mellifera L. honey bee colonies according to two different administration schedules: 1×10(5) cfu/ml every 15 days (2011) or monthly (2012). The effect of each treatment on the bee-colony performance was monitored by measuring honey production, and the prevalence of varroasis and nosemosis. Worker bees from each assay were randomly captured 3 days after administration and assayed for the following intestinal culturable and defined bacterial populations: total aerobic microorganisms, Bacillus spp. spores, Lactobacillus spp., Enterococcus spp. and enterobacteria. Interestingly, both treatments generated a similar increase in honey production in treated colonies compared to controls: 36.8% (every 15 days) and 36.3% (monthly). Nosema index always exhibited a reduction when lactobacilli were administered; in turn, Varroa incidence was lower when the lactobacilli were administered once a month. Moreover, the administration of L. johnsonii CRL1647 every 15 days produced an increase in the total number of aerobic microorganisms and in bacteria belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Enterococcus; at the same time, a decrease was observed in the number of total spores at the end of the treatment. The number of enterobacteria was constant and remained below that of control hives at the end of the assay. On the other hand, the delivery of lactobacilli once a month only showed an increase in the number of bacteria belonging to the genus Lactobacillus; meanwhile, viable counts of the remaining microorganisms assayed were reduced. Even though it seems that both treatments were similar, those bee colonies that received L. johnsonii CRL1647 every 15 days became so strong that they swarmed.
Keywords: Lactobacillus johnsonii; apiculture; culturable microorganisms; honeybee; probiotic.
Research Insights
| Supplement | Health Outcome | Effect Type | Effect Size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ09 | Enhanced Honey Production | Beneficial | Large |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ09 | Increased Aerobic Microorganism Count Over 15 Days | Neutral | Small |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ09 | Increased Enterococcus Populations | Neutral | Small |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ09 | Increased Lactobacilli Populations | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ09 | Reduced Bacillus spp. Spore Count | Beneficial | Small |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ09 | Reduced Enterobacteria Levels | Neutral | Small |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ09 | Reduced Nosema Incidence | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ09 | Reduced Swarming Behavior | Neutral | Small |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii LJ09 | Reduced Varroa Mite Incidence | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii VPro 33 | Enhanced Honey Production | Beneficial | Large |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii VPro 33 | Increased Aerobic Microorganism Count Over 15 Days | Neutral | Small |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii VPro 33 | Increased Frequency of Bee Colony Swarming Events | Neutral | Large |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii VPro 33 | Increased Lactobacillus Population | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii VPro 33 | Reduced Bacillus spp. Spore Count | Beneficial | Small |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii VPro 33 | Reduced Nosema Index | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii VPro 33 | Reduced Varroa Incidence | Beneficial | Moderate |
| Lactobacillus johnsonii VPro 33 | Reduced Viable Counts of Non-Lactobacillus Microorganisms | Neutral | Small |