Probiotic Application in Dietary Supplements for 𝘼𝙥𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙖

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Currently, the honey bee (Apis mellifera) industry, including Thailand’s, is experiencing a critical decline known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), which poses an immediate threat to global ecosystems and food security. The primary causes of this crisis stem from combined threats, including fluctuating climate change, pesticide contamination in the environment, and the outbreak of American Foulbrood (AFB) caused by Paenibacillus larvae. These factors result in stress for the bees and a loss of balance in the gut microbiota (gut dysbiosis), which weakens the natural immune system. Although the use of supplementary diets is a primary approach to sustain bee populations during periods of natural pollen scarcity, general supplements lack essential biological components. Therefore, this academic article aims to analyze and present guidelines for the use of probiotics mixed into supplementary diets as a biological innovation to mitigate the impacts of such crises and sustainably enhance the well-being of honey bees in Thailand.

Methodology: The study was conducted by collecting, analyzing, and synthesizing knowledge from experimental research reports and academic documents on the application of probiotics in honey bees. The focus was specifically on autochthonous probiotic strains in Thailand, such as Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Priestia, which possess outstanding properties in enduring hot and humid climates. The study also covers management methods for supplementary diets, both in the form of mixing in pollen substitute and dissolving in sugar syrup for spray application. Furthermore, key biological indicators were evaluated, including survival rates, changes in body weight, and the quality of reproductive cells in drones, under the specific tropical environmental conditions of Thailand.

Key findings: Traditional supplementary diets lacking probiotics result in an imbalance of the core microbiota in the bee gut, causing bees to lose their biological barriers for disease prevention. However, when autochthonous probiotic strains are added to the supplements, it was found that these microorganisms effectively perform the functions of natural microbiota through the mechanism of competitive exclusion to compete for attachment space on the intestinal wall and produce antimicrobial substances in the bacteriocin group, as well as organic acids that inhibit P. larvae. In terms of physiology, bees receiving probiotic supplements showed an average weight increase of 10-15% and a longer average lifespan compared to the group receiving only supplementary diets. This is because probiotics assist in the digestion of complex nutrients and stimulate signaling through insulin-like peptides. Additionally, significant results were found in drones, where probiotics helped promote spermatogenesis, increasing the concentration and strength of sperm, which is an important factor for reproductive success. At the molecular level, probiotics also help stimulate the expression of immune genes to secrete antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), such as apidaecin and defensin, to protect against environmental threats.

Implications: The development of bee supplements mixed with autochthonous probiotics is a high-potential strategy for addressing the shortage of natural food plants, as local microorganisms adapt well to hot and humid climates. This approach helps beekeepers reduce costs from the loss of bee populations during the off-season of floral blooms and helps elevate honey standards to be antibiotic-free, aligning with export requirements. Furthermore, it serves as a model for producing high-quality supplementary diets that mimic the characteristics of natural food to maintain the strength of the beehive in performing pollination for economic crops and preserving the balance of the ecosystem.

Conclusions: The application of probiotics in supplementary diets for honey bees is an innovation that closes the gap between supplements and natural food. These microorganisms not only function as immunostimulants and pathogen inhibitors but also help improve the metabolism and reproductive systems of bees to a level of integrity comparable to receiving natural food, resulting in healthier beehives that can effectively resist diseases and fluctuating environmental conditions.