The ectoparasitic bee mite Varroa destructor (Anderson 2000) represents the most serious problem in beekeeping. V. destructor is a highly destructive pest, attacking larvae and adult bees. It is responsible for reduced honey and brood production. The invasion can contribute to malformation of wings and limbs, decrease of body weight. Infection of many viruses and bacteria are invariably associated with infestation by varroosis. Non-treated disease leads to damage of bee colony in 4-5 years. The investigations shown that the infestation goes along with disorders in antioxidant system- changes in antioxidant enzymes activity and antioxidant level were observed.The aim of this study was checking the assumption, that additive of antioxidants to the honeybee feed may eliminate of the disadvantageous biochemical changes in bee workers organisms which are caused by presence of the parasites. We tested the activity of principal oxidative stress enzymes - superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GP), as well the total antioxidants status (TAS). Research was performed on workers of Apis mellifera development stages (Z1, Z2 – larvae in covered cells of comb, W – prepupe, P1-P5 – pupae stages, D – imago) in two groups: A - non-feeded and B - feeded with ascorbic acid. Results: 1. Peroxide dismutase. Activity of enzyme decreases during honey bee brood development. Feeding the workers with ascorbic acid-rich feed causes increasing of activity (except for Z1 and Z2 stages). Addition of ascorbic acid causes a tendency to moderate increase of activity of enzyme in all stages. 2. Glutathione peroxidase. The activity of GP in Z1 and Z2 of A group stages is low, then increases significantly in W and P1 stages, and decreases gradually in older stages right to the imago. The results of our study shown, that ascorbic acid does not affect changes in enzyme activity, except for imago stage (activity is statistically significant lower than in A group). 3. Total antioxidant status. TAS was correlated to GP activity in both A and B groups. The level of antioxidants increases from Z1 to W stages, and then gradually decreases. In group A, TAS was significantly lower than in B group. This study shown, that the addition of ascorbic acid to honey bee feed may cause changes in antioxidant system. It seems to be important to investigate the influence of the antioxidants on antioxidant system markers in varroosis infestation.

• Legal notice:
  

  Copyright (c) Pielaszek Research, all rights reserved.
  The above materials, including auxiliary resources, are subject to Publisher's copyright and the Author(s) intellectual rights. Without limiting Author(s) rights under respective Copyright Transfer Agreement, no part of the above documents may be reproduced without the express written permission of Pielaszek Research, the Publisher. Express permission from the Author(s) is required to use the above materials for academic purposes, such as lectures or scientific presentations.
  In every case, proper references including Author(s) name(s) and URL of this webpage: https://science24.com/paper/10819 must be provided.