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Microflora of the honeybee gastrointestinal tract

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Abstract

Microorganisms in the midgut and rectum of the honeybee were enumerated and characterized. Counts of aerobic microorganisms were distinctly lower than counts of anaerobes (105–106 viable cells per g of intestinal contentvs. 108–109 per g). Total numbers of anaerobic microorganisms were almost identical with the count of anaerobic Gram-positive acid resistant rods. A higher number of coliform bacteria andBacillus spp. was detected in the rectum (105 per g). Anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms, coliforms, enterococci,Bacillus spp.,Pseudomonas spp. and yeasts were found in all bees; lactobacilli, staphylococci and moulds were not found.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovakia

    M. Kačániová

  2. Department of Poultry Science and Small Animal Husbandry, Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovakia

    R. Chlebo & M. Kopernický

  3. Department of Genetics and Breeding Biology, Slovak Agricultural University, Nitra, Slovakia

    A. Trakovická

Authors
  1. M. Kačániová
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  2. R. Chlebo
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  3. M. Kopernický
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  4. A. Trakovická
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Kačániová.

Additional information

This work was supported by project no. 20-006102 of theAgency for Support of Science and Techniques (Slovakia).

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Kačániová, M., Chlebo, R., Kopernický, M. et al. Microflora of the honeybee gastrointestinal tract. Folia Microbiol 49, 169–171 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931394

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02931394

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