Mecanismos de defesa comportamental e anatômico contra doenças e ectoparasitas em abelhas africanizadas (Apis mellifera) / Behavioural and anatomic defense mechanisms against diseases and ectoparasites in Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera)

AUTOR(ES)
DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

2008

RESUMO

This study was conducted to select Apis mellifera colonies for diseases and ectoparasites tolerance and to investigate characters of proventriculus that confer protection against pathogens. Colonies in the region of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were evaluated for hygienic behavior using pin-killer brood and levels of infestation by Varroa destructor on brood and adults bees. The presence of Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae spores in honey samples and observation of clinical signs of brood diseases were also investigated. The filiform-hairs length of the workers proventriculus was compared between temporal caste (newly-emerged, nurse and forager) and among colonies by scanning electro microscopy. Colonies in State of Piauí, Brazil, were evaluated for efficiency of filtration of pollen grains per unit time by foragers proventriculus. No difference was found between pin-killer brood and freezerkiller brood methods (F=2,23; P>0,05). Significant correlation was found between the removal time of brood (24 and 48 hours) (r=0,70755; P<0,001). Hygienic behavior occurred in approximately 36% of population (F=8,94; P<0,01). The infestation levels by Varroa destructor were 3.923.23% on brood and 3,041,43% on adults bees were considered lows. No Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae spores were detected in fourteen samples of honey made from seventy colonies. Only in two colonies was visualized chalkbrood. No significant correlation was found between hygienic behavior and infestation levels by Varroa destructor on brood (r=-0,07589; P>0,05), hygienic behavior and levels of infestation by Varroa destructor on adults bees (r=0,11133; P>0,05) and infestation levels by Varroa destructor on brood and adults bees (r=0,03986; P>0,05). Only nineteen between seventy seven colonies were selected regarding hygienic behavior and infestation levels by Varroa destructor on brood and adults bees. Significant differences were verified for filiform-hairs length of the workers proventriculus between colonies (F=6,84; P<0,0001), but no differences were found between temporal caste (F=0,42; P>0,05). In relation the filtration efficiency of the proventriculus was verified significant difference between colonies (P<0,0001). The results confirm that hygienic behavior, infestation levels of Varroa destructor on brood/adults bees and proventriculus filtration efficiency may be used as desirable trait for breeding diseases and ectoparasites resistant honeybees.

ASSUNTO(S)

patologia animal apis mellifera comportamento higiênico apis mellifera doença disease defesa defense proventrículo hygienic behavior proventriculus

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