Routine checks of the bacteriological quality of drone semen is necessary in instrumental insemination of queens

ANDERE,C.I.; MONTEAVARO C.; TRAVERSO, F.; RODRIGUEZ, E. M.; CATENA, M.C.; LOEZA, H; PALACIO, M.A.

Murcia

Congreso; Sixth EurBee Congress; 2014

European Association for Bee Research (EURBEE)

Checking bacteriological quality of semen is a routine procedure in many species but there are few records associated with Apis mellifera L. This study was carried out to assess the bacteriological quality of semen. Mesophilic aerobic and microaerophilic bacteria were characterized and the number of total viable bacteria per milliliter was determined in semen samples from hives, from the apiary of INTA-FCA Balcarce, PROAPI ? Argentina. Semen collection was performed according to the Laidlaw technique following good practices laboratory. Identification was carried out by routine biochemical tests and standard disk diffusion method based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Samples were treated with different antibiotics. Spermatozoa viability was estimated at room temperature (21°C) at initial time, one and two hours later, in pure semen (PS), diluted semen with kiev buffer (DS) and semen diluted with antibiotic (DSA). Colony-forming units (CFU) were variable from 1300 up to 15100 CFU/mL. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Acinetobacter lwoffii and Pseudomonas putida were identified. All samples were sensitive with CBM Streptomycine 0,02 g/100mL and Amikacin 0,03 g/100mL. Viable counts from the samples with initial high viable counts were negative. There was no difference (p > 0.05) in sperm viability in PS, DS y DSA. The more effective antibiotics and concentration was different from our work performed in same apiary. It is recommended to perform microbiological test at the beginning of the mating season. It is recommended microbiological early in the mating season because evidence was detected variation in flora at different times evaluated.