Abstract Antimicrobial activity of honey has lately drawn researchers’ attention, especially due to the fact that its antimicrobial capacity has been proven. The aim of this study was analyzing bactericidal and bacteriostatic action in the pathogenic microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans of honey samples from five regions of the state of Paraná. Candida albicans yeast showed to be more resistant to honey than the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The minimal inhibitory concentration found for the three microorganisms tested was 12.5% to 25%. The minimal bactericidal concentration, in its turn, was 25% for bacteria and 25% to 50% for yeast. The samples from the Southern area had the best results for both the minimal inhibitory and the bactericidal concentrations. Through physicochemical and phyto-chemical analysis, we observed that several factors are associated to the bactericidal capacity of honey. In conclusion, honey is an excellent bactericidal agent with a great biotechnological potential. Its properties are directly related to its geographic origin, which gives each type of honey its own characteristics.

ABSTRACT. Characteristics correlated with beekeeping production, less influenced by the environment and that can be controlled by management techniques, can help in the selection of colonies with higher production capacity, aiming to improve breeding programs. This research was carried out to evaluate the production of Africanized Apis mellifera drones and the longevity of spermatozoa from different genetic groups when supplemented with protein or not. Two genetic groups were used: one selected for royal jelly production from the Africanized honeybee breeding program and another without genetic selection. In both groups, the number of drone brood and the quality of semen were evaluated every 30 days, for five months. Statistical analysis was performed using Bayesian Inference. Statistical difference was found for the drone production among the treatments, and colonies without genetic selection produced more males (187.80 ± 11.15) than the selected colonies (93.07 ± 8.88). The selected colonies for royal jelly production presented greater efficiency in the reproductive cycle of males, because they produced fewer drones than colonies without genetic selection, however, with 31% greater semen viability.

O objetivo foi analisar o nível de invasão do ácaro nas pupas, a taxa de infestação do ácaro nas abelhas adultas, as taxas de reprodução total e efetiva do ácaro em colônias de abelhas africanizadas e se esses níveis são influenciados pela produção de geleia real ou mel. As taxas de invasão nas pupas e infestação nas abelhas adultas não apresentaram diferença estatística entre os tratamentos, as médias para esses parâmetros foram 5,79 e 8,54%, respectivamente. As colônias submetidas à produção de mel apresentaram maior nível de reprodução total e efetiva (p < 0,05) do ácaro em relação às colônias produtoras de geleia real. Houve correlação negativa dos níveis de invasão nas pupas e infestação nas abelhas adultas com a temperatura externa mínima, umidade relativa do ar e precipitação. As variáveis mês e o período do ano influenciaram o desenvolvimento do parasita, entretanto, as taxas obtidas foram baixas e dentro dos valores normalmente encontrados no Brasil para abelhas africanizadas.

This study evaluated the level of invasion of Varroa mite into worker brood cells, the infestation rate on adult worker honeybees, total and effective reproduction rates of the mite in Africanized honeybee colonies under royal jelly or honey production. Invasion and infestation rates were not statistically different between honeybee colonies producing honey or royal jelly and the averages for these parameters were 5.79 and 8.54%, respectively. Colonies producing honey presented a higher (p < 0.05) total and effective reproduction of Varroathan colonies producing royal jelly. There was a negative correlation between levels of invasion and infestation with minimum external temperature, relative humidity and rainfall. The variables month and season influenced the development of the mite, but rates were low and within the range normally found in Brazil for Africanized honeybee colonies, which confirm the greater resistance of these honeybees to Varroa destructor than European honeybees.

Este estudo foi realizado para avaliar o efeito de suplementos elaborados com proteína isolada de soja, levedo de cerveja, mistura de proteína isolada de soja com levedo de cerveja, óleo de linhaça, óleo de palma e mistura de óleo de linhaça com óleo de palma na produção de geleia real por colônias de abelhas africanizadas. O total de geleia real produzida foi superior (p < 0,05) nos tratamentos com proteína isolada de soja e levedo de cerveja (11,68 g colônia-1), seguido do suplemento óleo de linhaça e palma (11,30 g colônia-1) e suplemento palma (9,61 g colônia-1), sendo estes superiores aos tratamentos-controle I (6,35 g colônia-1) e II (6,95 g colônia-1). Essas observações demonstraram que a suplementação feita com uma mistura de óleo de linhaça e de palma, e proteína isolada de soja e levedo de cerveja poderiam ser recomendadas para aumentar a produção de geleia real em escala comercial, além de se tornar uma importante ferramenta para os apicultores, por aumentar a produção, contribuir para aumentar a taxa de aceitação das larvas transferidas.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of supplements with isolated soy protein, brewer's yeast, a mixture of isolated soy protein with brewer's yeast, linseed oil, palm oil and mixture of linseed oil with palm oil in the production of royal jelly by Africanized honeybee colonies. Total royal jelly production was higher (p < 0.05) in colonies fed with isolated soy protein and brewer's yeast (11.68 g colony-1), followed by linseed oil and palm oil (11.30 g colony-1) and palm oil (9.61 g colony-1), being higher than control I (6.35 g colony-1), and II (6.95 g colony-1). The results demonstrated that the supplementation with a mixture of linseed oil plus palm oil, and isolated soy protein plus brewer's yeast is recommended to increase the royal jelly production on a commercial scale. Besides becoming an important tool for beekeepers by increasing the production, it also contributes to improve the acceptance rate of grafted larvae.

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar e comparar as principais fontes de contaminação e as condições higiênico-sanitárias de amostras de mel orgânico de Apis mellifera proveniente das Ilhas do rio Paraná. Foram analisadas 33 amostras, de janeiro de 2005 a agosto de 2006, sendo que, 11 foram coletadas por apicultores e 22 foram colhidas e processadas de acordo com as normas de higiene pessoal e práticas corretas de manipulação de alimentos. As amostras foram analisadas para a presença de coliformes a 35 ºC, 45 ºC e enumeração de bolores e leveduras. Todas as amostras apresentaram ausência total de coliformes a 35 ºC e 45 ºC (44,5 ± 1 ºC). Para contagem de bolores e leveduras, as amostras colhidas pelos apicultores apresentaram valores acima do máximo estabelecido pela Resolução Mercosul Grupo de Mercado Comum, Nº 15/94. Os resultados indicam que as fontes de contaminação secundárias são as responsáveis pela redução da qualidade do mel orgânico.

The purpose of this study was to verify and compare the main contamination sources and the hygienic/sanitary conditions of organic honey samples of Apis mellifera from Parana River islands. Thirty-three (33) samples were analyzed between January 2005 and August 2006. Eleven (11) samples were collected by beekeepers and twenty-two (22) samples were collected and processed in accordance with ideal personal hygiene norms and good manufacturing practices. The samples underwent microbiological analysis in search of coliforms at 35 ºC and 45 ºC, as well as fungi enumeration analysis. As for fungi counting, the samples harvested by beekeepers showed values above the maximum established by Resolution nº 15/94 of Common Market Group - Mercosul. The results showed that secondary contamination sources are responsible for the reduction of organic honey quality.