PATHOLOGIES IN AFRICANIZED HONEY BEES: A CASE STUDY WITH A LABORATORY-BASED APPROACH TO THE MAIN ETIOLOGICAL AGENTS

Abstract

Africanized honey bees (Apis mellifera) have significant ecological, economic, and sanitary importance, playing a fundamental role in pollination and ecosystem maintenance. The assessment of their health status is relevant for the identification of morphological alterations and potential agents associated with diseases. This study aimed to perform a microscopic evaluation of two Africanized honey bees, characterizing anatomical structures and investigating possible histopathological, parasitic, or infectious alterations. The samples were prepared on microscope slides and examined using light microscopy, with findings evaluated qualitatively and descriptively. Four microscopic images corresponding to different anatomical regions of the two specimens were analyzed. In Honey Bee 1, structures compatible with abdominal and thoracic regions were identified, particularly visceral structures and bundles of striated muscle fibers. In Honey Bee 2, predominantly muscular and visceral structures were observed, although the samples showed greater fragmentation and less well-defined section orientation. No evident histopathological alterations were identified, including extensive necrosis, marked degeneration, disseminated hemorrhage, significant inflammatory infiltrate, or structures clearly compatible with parasites, fungi, or microsporidia. It was concluded that the analyzed samples showed relatively preserved tissue architecture, and the initial hypothesis regarding the occurrence of evident pathological alterations was not confirmed in the evaluated specimens. However, the small sample size and limitations associated with the quality of the preparations prevent the extrapolation of the results. Further studies involving a larger number of individuals and complementary diagnostic methods are recommended.