Contamination of honey by oxytetracycline from pig manure
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1033.5510.4Keywords:
Bees, Honey, Oxytetracycline, Manure, Water harvestingAbstract
Although the use of antimicrobial is not allowed in bee industry according to current EU legislation, antimicrobial residues are often detected in honey doomed to human consumption. This study aims to investigate if bees living in hives located nearby tanks filled with pig manure containing residues of oxytetracycline, would naturally harvest water from it, thus contaminating their honey. Data from this experiment were compared with those originating from direct contamination with oxytetracycline through the beehive feeders. Bees did not harvest water from manure, even during the warmest days of summer. Instead, antimicrobial residues were evidenced and quantified in honey from hives directly contaminated with oxytetracycline. Interestingly, antimicrobial residues were also observed in honey from untreated hives thus suggesting that illegal treatments can cause contamination, albeit at low levels, of honey produced in legally-untreated neighboring hives.
References
Accorti M. 1985. Valutazione numerica degli adulti di Apis mellifera L.: variazioni e modifiche al metodo dei sesti. Apicoltura, 1, 63-73.
Altincicek B. & Vilcinskas. A. 2007. Analysis of the immune-inducible transcriptome from microbial stress resistant, rat-tailed maggots of the drone fly Eristalis tenax. BMC Genomics, 8, 326.
Balfour N.J., Garbuzov M. & Ratnieks F.L.W. 2013. Longer tongues and swifter handling: why do more bumble bees (Bombus spp.) than honey bees (Apis mellifera) forage on lavender (Lavandula spp.)? Ecol Entomol, 38, 323-329.
Bogdanov S. 2009. Harmonised methods of the International Honey Commission. International Honey Commission. http://www.ihc-platform.net/ihcmethods2009.pdf.
Corradini C., Cavazza A. & Bignardi C. 2012. High-performance anion-exchange chromatography coupled with pulsed electrochemical detection as a powerful tool to evaluate carbohydrates of food interest: principles and applications. Int J Carbohydrate Chem, ID: 487564, 1-13.
Cristofani E., Antonini C., Tovo G., Fioroni L., Piersanti A. & Galarini R. 2009. A confirmatory method for the determination of tetracyclines in muscle using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. Anal Chimica Acta, 637, 40-46.
Danka R.G. & Beaman L.D. 2007. Flight activity of USDA-ARS Russian honey bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) during pollination of lowbush blueberries in Maine. J Econ Entomol, 100, 267-272.
European Commission (EC). 2001. Council Directive 2001/110/EC of 20 December 2001 relating to honey. Off J, L 010, 12/1/2002, 47.
European Commission (EC). 2010. Commision Regulation 37/2010 of 22 December 2009 on pharmacologically active substances and their classification regarding maximum residue limits in foodstuffs of animal origin. Off J, L 015, 20/01/2010, 1-72.
Hamilton W.D. 1964a. The genetical evolution of social behaviour I. J Theoretical Biol, 7, 1-16.
Hamilton W.D. 1964b. The genetical evolution of social behaviour II. J Theoretical Biol, 7, 17-52.
Hegić G. & Bubalo D. 2006. Hygienic water supply for the bees. J Central Eur Agr, 7, 743-751.
Ilari M. 2011. Allevamenti zootecnici e inquinamento da antibiotici per le api. Apitalia, 5, 8-11.
Kiihnholz S. & Seeley T.D. 1997. The control of water collection in honey bee colonies. Behavioural Ecol Sociobiol, 41, 407-422.
Lindauer M. 1954. Temperaturregulierung und Wasserhaushalt im Bienenstaat. Zeitschrift für vergleichende Physiologie, 36, 391-432.
Louveaux J., Maurizio A. & Vorwohl G. 1978. Methods of Melissopalynology. Bee World, 59, 139-157.
Mantovi P., Bonazzi G., Brambilla G., Migliore L. & Barchi D. 2008. Tetracicline nei liquami, il prosciutto non rischia. Suinicoltura, 4, 52-55.
Mantovi P., Soldano M. & Fabbri C. 2009. Tetracicline nei liquami. Nessun effetto sul biogas. Suinicoltura, 8, 73-77.
Marchetti S. 1985. Il “metodo dei sesti” per la valutazione numerica degli adulti in famiglie di Apis mellifera L. Apicoltura, 1, 41-61.
Ouchemoukh S., Schweitzer P., Bachir Bey M., Djoudad-Kadji H. & Louaileche H. 2010. HPLC sugar profiles of Algerian honeys. Food Chem, 121 (2), 561-568.
Persano Oddo L., Piana M.L. & Sabatini A.G. 1995. Conoscere il miele. Guida all'analisi sensoriale. Bologna, Avenue Media.
Pfeiffer K.J. & Crailsheim. K. 1988. Drifting of honeybees. Insectes Sociaux, 45, 151-167.
Richter D., Bogdanov S. & Edder P. 2005. Résidus d'antibiotiques - de la fosse à lisier au miel? Rev Suisse Apiculture, 3, 20-24.
Seeley T.D. 1995. The wisdom of the hive. The social physiology of honey bee colony. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 65-66.
Von Der Ohe W., Persano Oddo L., Piana M.L. & Martin P. 2004. Harmonized methods of Melissopalynology. Apidologie, 35, 18-25.
Winston M.L. 1991. The biology of honey bee. Harvard University Press Academic Press Cambridge, MA.