Is there a relation between cell immunity and phenoloxidase activity in bees exposed to stress conditions?

By Francesca Millanta, Universidade de Pisa, Professor of the Department of Veterinary Sciences, Itália

Phenoloxidase activity and haemocyte counts can be used as two important tools of stress indicators of honeybees. The results were pointed out by an investigation of the immune response of honeybeed to immune stressors conducted by researchers of the University of Pisa published in the paper “Phenoloxidase activity and haemolymph cytology in honeybee challenged with a virus suspension (deformed wings virus DWV) or phosphate buffered suspension (PBS)”, on Ciência Rural journal, volume 49, issue 2.

In order to test immune response of bees, researchers collected bees naturally DWV-infected from a Varroa mite-free apiary, dividing them into three experimental groups: naturally DWV infected bees, PBS injected bees and artificially DWV super infected bees. The analysis of these groups made them realize that DWV-superinfected bees presented the highest rates of phenoloxidase activity.

Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a widespreed pathogen of bees transmitted by Varooa destructor. High titer infection in bees cause deformed wings, inability to fly and leads to prematurely death. Low DWV titers lead to a asymptomatic condition on bees difficult to track. This study may help in this sense, by showing phenoloxidase activity as a stress indicator. The study sheds light on the relation between cell immunity and phenoloxidase activity in bees exposed to different stress conditions. Researchers used studies of Alaux, et al. (2010), Dubovskiy, et al. (2016) e Şapcaliu et al. (2010), on biochemical and cytological investigations of Apis melífera Carpathica Bee, as references.

Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a widespreed pathogen of bees transmitted by Varooa destructor. High titer infection in bees cause deformed wings, inability to fly and leads to prematurely death. Low DWV titers lead to a asymptomatic condition on bees difficult to track. This study may help in this sense, by showing phenoloxidase activity as a stress indicator. The study sheds light on the relation between cell immunity and phenoloxidase activity in bees exposed to different stress conditions. Researchers used studies of Alaux, et al. (2010), Dubovskiy, et al. (2016) e Şapcaliu et al. (2010), on biochemical and cytological investigations of Apis melífera Carpathica Bee, as references.

References

ALAUX, C., et al. Diet effects on honeybee immunocompetence. Biology letters [online]. 2010, vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 562-565, e-ISSN: 1744-957X [viewed 28 March 2019]. DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2009.0986. Available from: https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rsbl.2009.0986

DUBOVSKIY, I.M., et al. Encapsulation and nodulation in insects. Invertebrate Survival Journal. 2016, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 229-246, ISSN: 1824-307X [viewed 28 March 2019]. Available from: http://www.isj.unimore.it/index.php/ISJ/article/view/397

ŞAPCALIU, A., et al. Biochemical and cytological Investigations haemolymph of Apis mellifera Carpathica Bee in stressful conditions. Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca. Animal Science and Biotechnologies [online]. 2010, vol. 67, no. 1/2, pp. 313-320, e-ISSN: 1843-536X [viewed 28 March 2019]. DOI: 10.15835/buasvmcn-asb:67:1-2:5317. Available from: http://journals.usamvcluj.ro/index.php/zootehnie/article/view/5317/4744

To read the article, access it

MILLANTA, F., et al. Phenoloxidase activity and haemolymph cytology in honeybees challenged with a virus suspension (deformed wings virus DWV) or phosphate buffered suspension (PBS). Cienc. Rural [online]. 2019, vol. 49, no. 2, e20180726, ISSN: 0103-8478 [viewed 28 March 2019]. DOI: 10.1590/0103-8478cr20180726. Available from: http://ref.scielo.org/j2djrz

External link

Ciência Rural – CR: <http://www.scielo.br/cr>

Francesca Millanta <https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Francesca_Millanta>