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. 2024 Jul 26;14(15):2183.
doi: 10.3390/ani14152183.

Field Application of an Innovative Approach to Assess Honeybee Health and Nutritional Status

Cecilia Rudelli  1 , Roberta Galuppi  1 , Riccardo Cabbri  1 , Thomas Dalmonte  1 , Luca Fontanesi  2 , Giulia Andreani  1 , Gloria Isani  1
Affiliations

Field Application of an Innovative Approach to Assess Honeybee Health and Nutritional Status

Cecilia Rudelli et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

Environment, forage quality, management practices, pathogens, and pesticides influence honeybee responses to stressors. This study proposes an innovative approach to assess colony health and performance using molecular diagnostic tools by correlating hemolymph proteins with common measures of colony strength, prevalent honeybee pathogens (Varroa destructor and Nosema spp.), and essential trace elements (iron, zinc and copper). Colonies were selected from four apiaries located in different environmental and foraging conditions in the province of Bologna (Italy). Hemolymph samples were taken from June to October 2019. The Varroa infestation of the colonies was estimated by assessing the natural mortality of the mites, while the bees were tested for Nosema spp. spores using a microscopic method. Hemolymph proteins were quantified and separated using SDS-PAGE, and colony performance was assessed by determining adult bees, total brood, honey, and pollen reserves. The biomarkers measured proved to be useful for monitoring changes in performance and trophic conditions during summer and early autumn. Significant correlations were found between hemolymph proteins and colony performance measures. A positive correlation between pollen reserves, vitellogenin, and hexamerin 70a highlights the importance of these proteins for successful overwintering. In October, Varroa infestation was negatively correlated with total proteins, vitellogenin, apolipophorin II, transferrin, and hexamerin 70a, with negative implications for overwintering; furthermore, Varroa infestation was also negatively correlated with iron content, potentially affecting iron homeostasis.

Keywords: Nosema spp.; Varroa destructor; essential trace elements; hemolymph proteins; honeybees; vitellogenin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Adult bee population and brood cells measured at different time points from June to October in the hives of the four groups (A, B, C, and D) studied in the province of Bologna. The data are expressed as mean ± SD.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Cells of honey and pollen stores measured at different time points from June to October in the hives of the four groups (A, B, C, and D) studied in the province of Bologna. The data are expressed as mean ± SD.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Total protein concentration in the hemolymph of honeybees sampled at different time points from June to October in hives of the four groups (A, B, C, and D) in the province of Bologna. Data are expressed in in mg/mL and reported as mean ± SD.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Concentrations of apolipophorin I and II, vitellogenin, transferrin, and hexamerin 70a in the hemolymph of honeybees sampled at different time points from June to October in hives of the four groups (A, B, C, and D) in the province of Bologna. Data are expressed in mg/mL and reported as mean ± SD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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