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Mushroom extracts have been shown to contain bioactive compounds that confer health benefits to humans and animals, including honey bees. Honey bees are often challenged simultaneously with several abiotic (e.g., pesticides and poor nutrition) and biotic (e.g., parasites and pathogens) stressors. Mushroom extracts, for example, those made from Agaricus bisporus, may hold the potential to mitigate the negative effects of these stressors through actions on the honey bee's immune system, metabolism, and other physiological processes. Exploring the health benefits of mushroom extracts for honey bees requires a basic understanding of their bioactive properties at the cellular level. The aim of the present study was to evaluate, for the first time, the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of A. bisporus on the honey bee cell line AmE-711 using the comet assay. Three increasing concentrations of A. bisporus water extract (100, 200, and 400 µg/mL) were tested. The cells in the negative control group were not treated either with A. bisporus extract or with H2O2. In the positive control group, DNA damage was induced with 100 µM H2O2. For antigenotoxic effect, tested extracts were mixed and incubated with H2O2. None of the tested concentrations exerted genotoxic potential, but all showed antigenotoxic effects against H2O2-induced DNA damage. The concentration of 200 μg/mL A. bisporus extract was the most effective in its action against DNA damage. To conclude, A. bisporus extract did not demonstrate genotoxic effects but showed promising antigenotoxic properties. AmE-711 cell line may serve as a cell culture system for genotoxicity investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the “one health” principle, we have conducted optimization of a protocol for β-casein genotyping in cattle in order to select cows with exclusively the A2A2 genotype. Gastrointestinal proteolysis of A1 β-casein in humans releases beta-casomorphin 7, which is believed to cause a number of diseases/conditions (diabetes mellitus type 1, ischemic heart disease, atherosclerosis, sudden infant death syndrome, autism, schizophrenia, gastrointestinal discomfort, and prolonged gastrointestinal passage time). On the contrary, A2 β-casein does not cause similar effects on human health, due to its different metabolism. DNA extraction was conducted from blood samples belonging to the laboratory archive of the Department of Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade. Determination of genotypes was performed using the Allele Specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (AS-PCR) method. The amplification was preceded by determination of proper primer annealing temperature (65.50 °C), in order to ensure optimal genotyping results. The results obtained indicated a higher frequency of the A2 allele (0.56) compared to the A1 allele (0.44). Furthermore, in 7 out of 35 tested samples, the A1A1 genotype (20.00%) was found, in 17 samples, the A1A2 genotype (48.60%) was found, and in 11 samples, the A2A2 genotype (31.40%) was found. The molecular methods used ensured reliable β-casein genotyping that would enable selection of cows with the A2A2 β-casein genotype, implying production of.

Nowadays, illegal trafficking and smuggling of animals are among the greatest threats to many avian species. Most commonly smuggled birds belong to parrots, song birds, raptor species and owls. All of these species are protected by national and international legislations. In order to prevent and reduce wildlife trafficking, DNA methods have become an important forensic tool in species and sex identification. In this study, CHD1R/CHD1F primer pair was used to amplify a part of the CHD1 gene from 65 birds that belong to 43 species. For 36 species this is the first time that the length of CHD1 amplicons was measured for the purpose of species determination. The results were visualized using capillary electrophoresis and enabled simultaneous determination of sex and species. Based on the number of amplicons (two in females, one in males) sex was successfully determined in all species, even in cases where gel electrophoresis failed to give results. Moreover, the species was successfully determined in most bird species based on the species-specific sizes of CHD1 amplicon. The method used in this study is of great importance for veterinary forensic medicine and the prevention of wildlife smuggling. Still, further work is necessary to confirm the effectiveness of the method in all bird species.

Apart from the efficiency of coumaphos against Varroa mites, its impact on the oxidative status and survival of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) was assessed. The research was conducted on hives from the same apiary, equalised regarding the number of bees, brood area and food storage. Based on Varroa infestation the hives were allotted to two groups: non-infested (N) and infested (I). Both groups were either treated (T) – NT and IT, or untreated (U) – NU and IU. The treatment of infested bees was controlled with a follow-up treatment with amitraz. The efficiency of coumaphos was 96-97%. This organophosphate had a negligible effect on bee survival, but it significantly affected their oxidative status: superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, and the concentrations of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA). Coumaphos significantly (p˂0.0001) decreased SOD activity in non-infested bees, but increased it in those infested. By contrast, both CAT and GST activities, as well as MDA concentrations significantly increased (from p˂0.05 to p˂0.0001) after treatment in all groups, with the exception of IT, where it declined. Coumaphos in non-infested hives caused oxidative stress per se, not unlike varroa in infested colonies. However, in infested colonies it decreased oxidative stress, owing to its efficacy against Varroa mites and contributed to the recovery of bee colonies. In spite of its certain downsides, coumaphos remains an effective anti-varroa substance, but should be used with precaution, not to add to the effects of environmental factors which may cause red-ox misbalance.

In a cage experiment, lithium chloride (LiCl) and lithium citrate hydrate (Li-cit) were tested for varroacidal efficacy and impact on bees. Treatment with Li-cit (4, 7.5, 10, and 25 mM) resulted in 100% varroacidal efficacy and 100% bee survival. Due to better results in the cage experiment, Li-cit was further tested in field experiments on full-sized free-flying colonies treated three times in 6-day intervals. All the concentrations of Li-cit in the field experiment (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mM) expressed high varroacidal efficacy: 93.2–95.5%, significantly (p < 0.01) greater than in the negative and positive (amitraz-treated) controls. Lithium residues in honey from brood chambers were much higher nine months after the last treatment (169.3–1756.0 μg/kg) than seven days post-treatment (19.2–27.8 μg/kg). In honey from honey chambers (eligible for human consumption), the average lithium residues were 26.9 μg/kg and 33.7 μg/kg seven days after the last treatment. In wax combs taken from the brood chamber nine months post-treatment, lithium residues ranged from 410 μg/kg to 2314 µg/kg, without significant differences from the negative control. Lithium residues in wax matrices seven days after the last treatment were in a narrow range of 234.3–300 µg/kg, in wax combs and cappings being significantly lower than in commercial wax foundations. For the first time, Li-cit proved to be effective against Varroa destructor under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of various diets on the quality of Apis mellifera queens was assessed. Colonies intended for queen cell production were assigned to four groups fed on (1) sugar-only, (2) mix of sugar, honey and fresh pollen, (3) sugar and pollen substitute (FeedBee®), and (4) natural sources. In addition, a fifth group had queen cells obtained naturally, by swarming. Sugar-only diet exerted a significant (p < 0.05) stimulating effect on the acceptance of queen cells and the weight of newly emerged queens, not affecting mated queens. Among mated queens those raised by bees fed on the mix of sugar, honey and fresh pollen had significantly (p < 0.05) larger numbers of ovarioles in comparison with all the others. Their weight was significantly higher than that of the queens from groups given FeedBee® and swarming queens. Compared to the latter, they had significantly wider spermatheca. Given the parameters monitored, FeedBee® proved not to be advantageous for queens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]