Antimicrobial activity of fifteen Italian honeys against Paenibacillus larvae ATCC 9545

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.16051
Keywords:
American Foulbrood antimicrobial activity honey Paenibacillus larvae Arbutus honey
S. SAGONA
Department of Veterinary Science, Pisa University
B. TURCHI
Department of Veterinary Science, Pisa University
F. FRATINI
Department of Veterinary Science, Pisa University
M. GIUSTI
Department of Veterinary Science, Pisa University
B. TORRACCA
Department of Veterinary Science, Pisa University
C. BIONDI
Department of Veterinary Science, Pisa University
R. NUVOLONI
Department of Veterinary Science, Pisa University
D. CERRI
Department of Veterinary Science, Pisa University
A. FELICIOLI
Department of Veterinary Science, Pisa University
Abstract

Currently, American Foulbrood (AFB) represents one of the most important problems for beekeepers, due to economic losses and to the absence of an effective therapeutic treatment. The aim of this work was to characterize fifteen Italian honeys in order to assess their inhibitory activity against Paenibacillus larvae ATCC 9545. Each honey was analyzed for the activity of the following enzymes: glucose oxidase and catalase. Moreover, melissopalynological analysis and other biochemical parameters, namely gluconic acid, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were determined. For each honey, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (M.I.C.) and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (M.B.C.) against P. larvae were determined. All tested honey samples had an inhibitory activity on P. larvae. In particular, the lowest M.I.C. and M.B.C. values (53.8 mg/mL and 107.5 mg/mL, respectively) were recorded for an Arbutus honey sample. Arbutus honeys also had the highest gluconic acid and total phenolic contents (12.6 ± 1.7 g/kg and 243.2 ± 25.1 mg/kg, respectively) and the highest glucose oxidase activity (13.0 ± 1.9 nM H2O2/min). Dark honeys, including Arbutus, seem to have a higher gluconic acid content and a higher antimicrobial activity. Thus, honey characterization, including colour and physico-chemical characteristics (e.g. gluconic acid concentration, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents, glucose oxidase activity), could be crucial for the assessment of its employment against P. larvae.

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