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García-Vicente EJ, Benito-Murcia M, Martín M, Rey-Casero I, Pérez A, González M, Alonso JM, Risco D. Evaluation of the Potential Effect of Postbiotics Obtained from Honey Bees against Varroa destructor and Their Combination with Other Organic Products. INSECTS 2024; 15:67. [PMID: 38249073 PMCID: PMC10816111 DOI: 10.3390/insects15010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The Varroa destructor mite infests Apis mellifera colonies and causes significant harm. Traditional treatments have become less effective because of mite resistance development and can also generate residues inside beehives. This study aimed to gauge the efficacy of a beehive-derived postbiotic in reducing V. destructor viability and to explore its synergies with organic compounds. Four lactic acid bacteria (LAB) species, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactobacillus helsingborgensis, Bacillus velezensis, and Apilactobacillus kunkeei, were isolated and tested in a postbiotic form (preparations of inanimate microorganisms and/or their components) via bioassays. L. mesenteroides, L. helsingborgensis, and B. velezensis notably reduced the mite viability compared to the control, and they were further tested together as a single postbiotic product (POS). Further bioassays were performed to assess the impact of the POS and its combinations with oxalic acid and oregano essential oil. The simple products and combinations (POS/Oregano, POS/Oxalic, Oregano/Oxalic, and POS/Oregano/Oxalic) decreased the mite viability. The most effective were the oxalic acid combinations (POS/Oregano/Oxalic, Oxalic/Oregano, POS/Oxalic), showing significant improvements compared to the individual products. These findings highlight the potential of combining organic products as a vital strategy for controlling V. destructor infection. This study suggests that these combinations could serve as essential tools for combating the impact of mites on bee colonies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo José García-Vicente
- Neobéitar S.L., Av. de Alemania, 6 1ºB, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.M.); (I.R.-C.); (A.P.); (M.G.)
- Department of Animal Medicine, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 10001 Cáceres, Spain;
| | - María Benito-Murcia
- Neobéitar S.L., Av. de Alemania, 6 1ºB, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.M.); (I.R.-C.); (A.P.); (M.G.)
| | - María Martín
- Neobéitar S.L., Av. de Alemania, 6 1ºB, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.M.); (I.R.-C.); (A.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Ismael Rey-Casero
- Neobéitar S.L., Av. de Alemania, 6 1ºB, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.M.); (I.R.-C.); (A.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Ana Pérez
- Neobéitar S.L., Av. de Alemania, 6 1ºB, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.M.); (I.R.-C.); (A.P.); (M.G.)
| | - María González
- Neobéitar S.L., Av. de Alemania, 6 1ºB, 10003 Cáceres, Spain; (M.B.-M.); (M.M.); (I.R.-C.); (A.P.); (M.G.)
| | - Juan Manuel Alonso
- Department of Animal Health, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 10001 Cáceres, Spain;
| | - David Risco
- Department of Animal Medicine, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de la Universidad s/n, 10001 Cáceres, Spain;
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