Factors of non-specific resistance of bee hemolymph when feeding probiotic drug ‘Bilakt’

Abstract

The paper presents the results of the feeding the ‘Bilakt’ probiotic on factors of non-specific resistance in bees. Hemolymph samples were taken on the 7th, 14th, and 21st days, and the activity of lysozyme and phagocytosis, bactericidal activity were determined. According to the research results, the lysozyme activity in the hemolymph of 3–5-day-old larvae and nurse bees of the experimental groups after 21 days was reliably 1.5 times higher than the control group and before feeding. The increase in the hemolymph bactericidal factor in 3–5-day-old larvae, and in nurse bees — threefold on the 21st day after the end of feeding with ‘Bilakt’ drug. Phagocytic activity before the beginning of the experiment in the hemolymph of 3–5-day-old larvae was 39.5%, on the 1st day after the end of feeding with ‘Bilakt’ it increased and exceeded this indicator by 29%. The phagocytic index before feeding was 2.04 ± 0.11. On the 1st day after the end of feeding, it increased by 18.4%, respectively. The phagocytic activity of hemolymph of nurse bees was 45.8%. Accordingly, the phagocytic index was 2.2 ± 0.12. On the 1st day after the end of ‘Bilakt’ feeding, phagocytic activity increased by 40.9%, the phagocytic index was 3.24 ± 0.1, which was 32.1% higher than the initial level. Research results indicate that the use of ‘Bilakt’ helps to improve the general physiological condition of sick bees by stimulating the cellular and humoral mechanisms of protection of insects from pathogens, i.e. increasing the non-specific protective properties of both the body of 3–5-day-old larvae and bee adults