Comparative effect of probiotic and antibiotic on honey bees colony functional traits

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of probiotic on colony functional traits, honey quantitative and qualitative parameters and gut microbial flora in honey bees. A total of 56 hives were randomly allocated to 8 treatments with 7 replicates in the city of Firouzkoh (Iran) for about 60 days. Experimental treatments that were included: control, 2 g antibiotic, 1 g probiotic, 2 g probiotic, 3 g probiotic, 1 g antibiotic + 1 g probiotic, all per liter of syrup for each hive. The results showed that hives fed with treatments 2 g or 3 g probiotic per liter of syrup had higher hive population and honey production than the other treatments (p<0.05). Adding 2 g or 3 g probiotic per liter of syrup increased lactobacillus counts in bees’ intestines compared to the other treatments (p<0.05). Also, supplementation of 1 g or 2 g probiotic and 2 g antibiotic per liter of syrup for each hive decreased Escherichia coli counts in the intestine compared to the other treatments (p<0.05). The adding 1 g or 2 g probiotic per liter of syrup for each hive increased the levels of fructose and glucose in honey compared to the other treatments (p<0.05). The supplementation of 1 g or 2 g probiotic per liter of syrup decreased sucrose in honey compared to the other treatments (p<0.05). The results of the present study suggest that probiotic might be used as a feed additive for increased honey quality and gut microbial flora improvement in honey bees.