Influence of the Sumerian silver on the viability of honey bees and the content of specific microelements in their bodies

Abstract

The article presents the research findings of the influence of adding into the feeding of honey bees sugar syrup and Sumerian silver preparation on the basis of micronutrient citrates. The preparation was added into the syrup in different dilutions (1:100, 1:200 and 1:500) under conditions of isolation of bees (for 10 days) in the gardens of the thermostat, following the standard parameters of the microclimate at t=+300 С and the relative humidity 60-80%. The effectiveness of feeding different doses of the preparation was determined by the viability and lifespan of the bees on the daily basis.

According to the research findings, the highest preservation (93.67% within the range of 100-93.67%) during 10 days of the experiment was observed among the bees of group IV which were taking the Sumerian silver preparation in dilution 1:200. The lower levels of preservation (89.65 within the range of 100-89.65% and 86.25% within the range of 100-86.25%) were shown by bees of the experimental groups III-V receiving the preparation in dilution 1:100 and 1:500. Feeding with the high concentrated preparation in dilution 1:10 (group II) resulted in the lowest (56.1%) preservation of bees in this group, fluctuating from 1 to 10 days within the range from 92.42% to 56.06%, and higher death - 43.94% versus 21.82% among the bees of the control group (I).

Feeding honey bees with sugar syrup and Sumerian silver preparation in different dilutions (1:10-1:500) caused a significant difference in the content of Ag, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Co in the tissues of honey bees of all experimental groups and the control group. Namely, the increase of the content of Ag, Cu, in the bodies of bees of experimental groups on the background of reducing the content of Fe and Zn.

Thus, the application of Sumerian silver preparation to honey bees in dilutions of 1:100, 1:200, 1:500 indicates that there have been no toxic effects on their bodies during 10 days of feeding, as well as corrective, synergistic and antagonistic effects on the content of such microelements as Ag, Cu, Fе, Zn and Co in the tissues of their organisms.

Topicality. As it is known, microelements play an important role in the functioning of a living organism. They take part in protein, lipid, carbohydrate, mineral and other metabolisms, activate enzyme systems, etc. [1].

Literary data testify the possibility of using chelates of biogenic microorganisms in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine made as highly active compounds by means of nanotechnology method [2]. The results of earlier studies of the influence of mineral and organic compounds of chromium, selenium, zinc and iodine on the physiological and biochemical processes in the organisms of farm animals and their productivity confirm the positive effect of these elements [3]. It has been fixed that the organic form of the studied elements stimulates the activity of antioxidant and immune systems, improves the protein, mineral and vitamin profile of the blood, and enhances the detoxification processes in the animal organism [4]. Citrates of microelements show high bioavailability and act as powerful stimulants, providing all types of metabolic processes [5].

Analysis of recent research and publications. At the present stage of beekeeping development, new effective methods and means of correction of physiological and biochemical processes in the bodies of honey bees are being sought to increase their viability, resistance, and as a consequence, safety and quality of beekeeping products [6]. One of the most promising and effective methods for increasing the resistance of bee families to negative external factors is the use of microelements, namely, citrates of biogenic microelements, obtained by the nanotechnology method [7].

An eco-friendly preparation Sumerian silver (SS) deserves particular attention: it is a solution of Argentum and Cuprum citrates with a 250 mg/l concentration of active silver and 250 mg/l concentration of copper - synthesized by means of the nanotechnology method by Nanomaterials and nanotechnology Ltd., Kyiv [8]. The research has found out that the citrates of the microelements are not toxic, metal ions from such complexes are quickly and effectively assimilated by a living organism as essential micronutrients and powerful disinfectants, since Argentum and Cuprum have high bactericidal, fungicidal and immune stimulating properties [9, 10, 11]. The complex use of these elements contributes to the expansion of the action spectrum of the preparation due to the mutual synergistic enhancement of the effect of silver and copper, which indicates the catalytic properties of their joint use [12].

The purpose of the research: to study the effect of the Sumerian silver preparation on the viability and mineral composition of the bodies of honey bees.

Materials and methods of the research. The research was conducted on 5 groups, each of which included 50-88 honey bees of the Carpathian breed, selected for the experiment from the laboratory apiary-vivarium at the Institute of animal biology of NAAS. The bees of the control group (I), isolated in the gardens, received daily feeding of 1 ml of 50% sugar syrup (SS) and 1 ml of H2O; group II (experimental) - 1 ml of 50% sugar syrup with the addition of 1 ml of Sumerian silver (SS) in dilution 1:10, group III (experimental) - under similar conditions with the addition of 1:100 Sumerian silver dilution, group IV (experimental) - under similar conditions with the addition of 1:200 Sumerian silver dilution, group V (experimental) - under similar conditions with the addition of 1:500 Sumerian silver dilution.

The bees of the control and experimental groups were kept in the gardens under similar conditions of a laboratory thermostat with micro ventilation at a temperature of 30.00 C for 10 days of research. In the period of research daily control of the number of live and dead bees was conducted as well as their motor and fodder activity. On the 10^th day journal entries with the actual number of live and dead bees was checked and a daily bee’s preservation dynamics was determined; 50 bees were selected to specify the content of Ag, Cu, Fe, Zn, Co in the tissues of the body on the atomic absorption spectrophotometer SF-115 PK. The digital data is processed statistically using the Microsoft Excel program, with the definition of the average values of M, their deviations ± m and the degree of probability of intergroup differences using Student's coefficient (p).

Research findings and their discussion.

Feeding of honey bees with the Sumerian silver preparation in dilution 1:100, 1:200, 1:500 (in groups III, IV and V) does not positively influence the dynamics of their survival with 100% preservation in these experimental groups during the first 4 days of research and is maintained at the level with the control group (Fig. 1).

 However, in the highest concentration of the preparation (1:10), the 7.6% higher death was observed in group II (92.4% of their preservation in the gardens) for 1 day of feeding, whereas in the control group (I) death and survival rates for this period were 0% and 100% respectively.

 The highest preservation (93.67% within the range of 100-93.67%) for 10 days of experiment was fixed among bees in group IV receiving Sumerian silver in dilution 1:200 (Table 1). The lower indicators of preservation (89.65 within the range of 100-89.65% and 86.25 within the range of 100-86.25%) compared to group IV were shown among bees of experimental groups III and V which received the preparation in dilution 1:100 and 1:500. Feeding the high concentration of the preparation in dilution 1:10 (II-D group) resulted in the lowest (56.1%) preservation of bees in this group, ranging from 1 and 10 days from 92.42 to 56.06%, and higher death - 43, 94% versus 21.82% of bees in the control group (I).

Consequently, the results indicate that there is no toxic effect of the Sumerian silver preparation in dilutions of 1:100; 1:200, 1:500 on the bees isolated in the gardens during the first 4 days with a stimulating effect on their viability in 1:200 dilutions from 6 to 10 days, and 1:100 - for 9-10 days of feeding. Such stimulating effect is less pronounced in bees from group V, which can be caused by a less concentrated dilution (1:500) of the preparation. The high concentration of Sumerian silver in the syrup of bees from group II has a pronounced toxic effect already in a day (7.6% death rate) with the preservation of this dynamics for 10 days at a level of 43.9%, which may indicate cumulation of Cuprum and Argentum in the tissues of the body and increase of their toxic effects.

 As the research findings on the effect of enrichment of sugar syrup with Sumerian silver on honey bees under conditions of a thermostat, probable differences have been observed in the content of Ag, Cu and Co in the tissues of their bodies, which can be caused by synergistic and antagonistic bonds of these elements with Cu and Ag (Table .2). It is known that the bodies of honey bees can actively deposit metals such as Cu, Ag, Zn, Fe and the content of Fe and Zn is the highest in relation to other microelements.

A determined improbable decrease in Fe content in the tissues of all experimental groups compared to the control group may be caused by the antagonistic effects of Cu which was received from the preparation. Along with this, a probable increase in Co content has been found in the tissues of bees from groups IV and V (p <0,01-0,001) in comparison with its indices in the specimens of tissues of the control group bees, which may be a manifestation of synergistic action of Cu with increased vitality of the organism. It is known that Co increases the biosynthesis of proteins and the concentration of γ-globulins in the fractions of total protein of hemolymph, as well as lipids, hemolymph genesis and Fe assimilation. Absorption of Co in the body goes at the highest level in animals with symptoms of Fe deficiency [14].

Equally important for vital activity of the organism is zinc, which is necessary for the functioning of more than 100 enzymes, including DNA and RNA polymerases, carboxypeptidases, oxidoreductases, and transferases which are associated with the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, synthesis of nucleic acids and heme, and CO2 transportation [15]. However, the effect of Ag and Cu citrate on the content of Zn in the tissues of the body is pronounced weakly, indicating a distant metabolic relationship between these elements. A slight decrease in the content of Zn was observed in the tissues of the bees of groups II and III, while in the tissues of the bees from group V, its content increased by 5.6%, compared to the control group, but the differences were not feasible. Zinc is a competitor of Cuprum in the processes of absorption in the intestine, and with its high concentration, Cuprum deficiency may develop in the body [16].

It is known that Cu takes an active part in biochemical processes as an integral part of proteins transferring electronы, which carry out oxidation reactions of organic substrates with molecular oxygen, and also enter active centers of amine oxidases. The higher level of Cuprum should be noted in tissues of bees of experimental groups II - V fed with sugar syrup and Sumerian silver preparation in dilutions 1:10, 1:100, 1:200 and 1:500 at 10.5; 8.7; 7.55 and 5.2 times, respectively (p <0.001) compared to control. Under these conditions, similarly, the content of Argentum increased in the tissues of the bodies of bees. In particular, in the tissues of all experimental groups, the content of Argentum increased 15.6-5.28 times (p<0.001).

Conclusions and perspectives.

Feeding of honey bees with sugar syrup and Sumerian silver preparation containing Ag and Cu citrate, under the conditions of the thermostat, indicate the absence of toxic effects of Sumerian silver preparation on isolated bees in dilutions of 1:100, 1:200, 1:500 during the first 4 days with a stimulating effect on their viability in dilution 1:200 from 6 to 10 days, and 1:100 - for 9-10 days of feeding. Less pronounced stimulating effect is noted in bees from group V, which can be caused by a less concentrated dilution (1: 500) of Sumerian silver preparation. The high concentration of Sumerian silver in the syrup of group II had a pronounced toxic effect after 1 day (7.6% of death), with the preservation of this dynamics for 10 days at a level of 43.9%.

Feeding with sugar syrup of various concentrations of Sumerian silver caused a corrective synergistic and antagonistic effect on the content of Fe, Cu, Zn, Co, Ag in the bodies of honey bees. The use of modern technologies and the creation of new biostimulants based on a combination of citrates of biogenic elements is a promising direction in the enrichment of mineral fertilizers for honey bees.