Volume 60 (2010) Issue: 2010 No#1

Pathogenicity of some bacterial species isolated from the bee digestive tract

Author(s): Dugalić Vrndić Nada, Vuković V, Nedić N

Keywords:honey bee, intestines, bacteria, pathogenicity, chicken embryos, MDBK cells INTRODUCTION

The aim of this paper was to examine the pathogenicity of most commonly isolated bacteria from the digestive tract of bees. Bees from 150 colonies (n=3000) were examined and 19 bacterial species were isolated, which are either permanent or temporary inhabitants of the digestive tract. Pathogenic activity of the most commonly isolated species (Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella ozaenae, Klebsiella pneumonie, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter agglomerans) was examined on seven-day-old chicken embryos and tissue of MDBK cells. Bacterial inoculation of the examined bacteria was conducted in the alantoic cavity of chicken embryos in the quantity of 0.5 mL. Control noninoculated and inoculated embryos were incubated at 38oC with about 60% relative humidity. All six bacterial species manifested pathogenic activity on chicken embryos and caused their death within 2-4 days and changes such as lagging in embryo development, bleeding and unpleasant smell. The bacteria examined in MDBK cell lines of bovine kidney tissue did not manifest cytopathogenic effect and the structure of control tissue was normal.