Ciência Rural (Aug 2018)

Microbiological quality of honey from stingless bee, jandaíra (Melipona subnitida), from the semiarid region of Brazil

  • Carolina de Gouveia Mendes da Escóssia Pinheiro,
  • Maria Rociene Abrantes,
  • Rodrigo Otávio Silveira Silva,
  • Carlos Augusto Oliveira Junior,
  • Francisco Carlos Faria Lobato,
  • Jean Berg Alves da Silva

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0103-8478cr20180151
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 48, no. 9

Abstract

Read online

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of microorganisms in honey produced by the stingless bee (SB) jandaíra (Melipona subnitida) from the semiarid region of Brazil. Thirty-five samples were analyzed and all of them were positive for mesophilic bacteria, coliforms at 45°C, fungi, and yeast. Staphylococcus spp. were identified in 85.7%, while Bacillus spp. were detected in 34.3% of honey samples. DNAs of Clostridium perfringens and C. botulinum were detected in 40% and 2.8% of the samples, respectively. Salmonella spp. and C. difficile were not detected. The present research revealed a great diversity of microorganisms in honey produced by jandaíra.

Keywords