EVALUATION OF LACTIC STRAINS ISOLATED FROM PERSERVED POLLEN AGAINST Varroa destructor AND Nosema spp. IN COLONIES OF Apis mellifera L

Abstract

Bees (Apis mellifera L.) are affected by Nosema spp. and Varroa destructor. One alternative for controlling these pathogens is the use of lactic acid bacteria. Three lactic acid bacteria strains were isolated from preserved pollen, identified as Apilactobacillus kunkeei (LSAJ), Lactobacillus helsingborgensis (LSAI), and Lactobacillus melliventris (LSAM). The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of these strains on the incidence of V. destructor and N. spp. in A. mellifera. A total of 12 hives were used; three were assigned to each Lactobacillus treatment, while the remaining hives served as the control group for each treatment. The trials were conducted at an apiary on the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences farm (Jujuy, Argentina). Over an 11-month period, each hive was supplied with a bacterial suspension of 1 × 10? CFU mL?¹ in sucrose syrup containing 1 L of water with 125 g of sucrose, administered via Doolittle feeders for the bees to consume, while the control received the same syrup at the same concentration but without the bacteria. The strains A. kunkeei and L. helsingborgensis reduced V. destructor by 100% and L. melliventris by 90%. Regarding N. spp., statistical analysis revealed significant differences among the strains (p < 0.0001). N. spp. abundance was reduced by 97% by A. kunkeei, 75% by L. helsingborgensis, and 45% by L. melliventris. A. kunkeei demonstrated a biocontrol effect against V. destructor and N. spp. in A. mellifera hives.