Effect of some antimicrobial drugs on the fitness of honeybee Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Abstract

Antimicrobial drugs are used by beekeepers to control bacterial and microsporidian infections. This raises concerns among individuals all over the world. The current work aims to determine the residue concentrations of three commonly used antibiotics (tylosin, sodium sulfademedin, and septazol) used to control honeybee infections, as well as to investigate the effects of antibiotics on bee biology. Honey was collected 42 days (2 generations of the worker development) posttreatment for HPLC analysis; honeybee activities (brood-rearing and pollen areas) were evaluated at 5 intervals every 12 days (0, 12, 24, 36, and 48 days) post-treatment. Hygienic behavior and metabolic reserves (body proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) were assessed at two intervals (0and 42-day) post-treatment. Results showed that residues of antimicrobial drugs in honey samples were significantly higher than those in the controls. Results indicated that no negative effect was observed on the brood rearing and pollen gathering as well as hygienic behavior of honeybee workers due to the doses of the antibiotics. Meanwhile, the colonies treated with tylosin showed lower hygienic behavior than the control at 0-day. The time progress did not affect the broodrearing area in all tested conditions. The metabolic reserves showed non-significant differences post-treatment compared with the controls. However, the body proteins and lipids exhibited lower contents at 42 days compared to those at 0-day. This study found a significant contamination risk for bee products as a result of inadequate apiculture techniques, as well as a possible risk to honeybees.