Screening of Bacterial Microflora Associated with Healthy and Non-healthy Honeybees (Apis mellifera)

Aims: To isolate bacterial microflora from the guts of healthy and non-healthy honeybee samples collected in Summer and Winter seasons from the local apiaries of Jhunsi, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Study Design: Experimental design. Place and Duration of Study: Study was caried out in the Department of Biological sciences, SHUATS, Naini, Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. Methodology: 45 healthy and 45 non-healthy honeybee (Apis mellifera) samples were collected from the apiary located at Jhunsi, Prayagraj. Serial dilution pour plate technique was used to isolate the bacteria. The samples of both seasons were statistically analysed and compared by Two-way analysis of Variance. Results: Seventeen and twelve different types of bacteria were isolated from summer season and winter season samples. Total number of bacterial counts obtained from summer season bee samples was significantly high than the bacterial counts obtained from winter season samples. Out of these bacteria few were found to be beneficial viz., Bacillus, Bifidobacterium, Snodgrassella, Lactobacillus, Gilliamella, Lysinibacillus and Brevibacillus are known to possess probiotic activity in the gut of the host, while others were harmful or opportunistic in nature. Moreover, the bacteria, Brevibacillus, Kocuria and Burkholderia isolated from winter season bee samples are rarely reported from Apis mellifera in Indian climatic conditions. Conclusion: Findings from the present study highlights the presence of bacteria in the gut had both positive and negative aspects. Where, studies on microbes provide an insight as to how these may affect bee health, where a healthy bee will affect improved honey quality thus ensuring a healthy environment. Findings on Brevibacillus, Kocuria and Burkholderiaare reported to have industrial value which can be further investigated in Indian climatic conditions for their specific identification and exploited in the fields of agriculture and industrial level.