Science updates: Honey bee pollen in meagre: Effects on honey bees

 

Science updates:

Honey bee pollen in meagre: Effects on honey bees

 


The study involved 360 meagre juveniles, which were divided into four groups and fed diets containing different levels of HBP (0%, 1%, 2.5%, and 4%). The growth performance, diet digestibility, intestinal morphology, and biochemical blood profiles of the fish were assessed. Additionally, the concentration of mineral trace and toxic elements in the pollen and diets was determined.

 

The results indicated that the inclusion of HBP in the diet negatively affected growth performance and diet digestibility in a dose-dependent manner. Fish fed diets with higher levels of HBP showed reduced growth, lower feed conversion ratios, and decreased protein efficiency ratios. Histological analysis revealed intestinal alterations, particularly in the group fed the diet with the highest HBP inclusion (4%), suggesting an inflammatory response. Immunohistochemical detection of TNF-α and increased levels of HSP70 in the liver further supported the presence of an inflammatory and stress response.

 


The study also found that the ultrastructure of bee pollen grain walls, which are indigestible for monogastric animals, may have contributed to the observed negative effects. The presence of bioactive substances that are not accessible to the fish, along with the irritation caused by the pollen's chemical composition, may have led to the observed intestinal inflammation.

 


In conclusion, the study demonstrated that the addition of HBP to the diet of meagre juveniles did not yield the positive effects reported for other fish species. Instead, it had adverse effects on growth and health, which could be related to the indigestibility of the pollen's complex structure and its potential irritation to the intestinal mucosa. The authors suggest that further research into extraction methods that concentrate bioactive substances while eliminating indigestible fractions could be beneficial. They also emphasize the importance of testing nutraceutical additives in specific species to ensure positive actions and exclude negative repercussions on animal health.

 


Reference:

Panettieri, V., Chatzifotis, S., Messina, C. M., Olivotto, I., Manuguerra, S., Randazzo, B., ... & Piccolo, G. (2020). Honey bee pollen in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) juvenile diets: Effects on growth, diet digestibility, intestinal traits, and biochemical markers related to health and stress. Animals, 10(2), 231.

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