The follow article was in our local newspaper in Southeastern Connecticut. My question after reading the story is are these infection numbers common across the country or are they high and something I should be worrying about. Also, can a healthy hive keep this bacteria under control? Thanks
Beehives plagued by infection
Published on 8/7/2009
HAMDEN, Conn. (AP) _ Connecticut scientists say nearly half the state's 2,600 registered beehives are infected with bacteria that cause a disease that kills honeybee larvae.
Entomologists and microbiologists at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station say 10 percent of registered hives have a serious level of infection by the American foulbrood bacteria.
Scientists say another 40 percent of hives have low levels of the bacteria in their brood chambers, where eggs develop into adults. They say the findings are troubling because the disease can kill entire bee colonies in a matter of weeks.
Officials say bees are vital because they pollinate food crops. Scientists say there's only one approved antibiotic to fight the disease, but a hydrogen peroxide mixture is showing promise.
Stats can be made to say anything.
The article says 10% with serious level of infection.
40% has low level bacteria
But it also says nearly half of the states 2600 hives are "infected".
So on the surface it seems that they are throwing around numbers and adding up two different things. One (I'll assume) that the low level bacteria are hives that came back positive for the spore, but are not "infected". This actually seems low compared to other data I have seen in regards to many hives having some level of spore count.
The 10% they mention as a serious level of infection (If this is what they are calling obvious outbreaks where symptoms are present) is actually very high.
I'm not sure the political environment in Connecticut. Here in Pennsylvania, it seems that inspectors are trying much harder than they have previously in finding every case of AFB. Of course, we are in the middle of a budget crisis and the inspection program is on the chopping block. So we are hearing a bunch of "What will we do without inspectors" and "Look at all this disease being found!"
Generally speaking, most states have "active" AFB being found in around 1-2% of all colonies tested. So IF, and I say that with a big "IF" the 10% is correct, it is a high rate.
Seems to me the stats being used are slanted for a purpose. Even the comment about AFB being a disease that can kill a hive in a matter of a couple weeks....which is completely FALSE.
And there is not just ONE approved treatment.
The article is poorly written, has poor stats that do not make sense, and seems to be written by anybody but a beekeeper.
And YES, a healthy colony with the right genetic selection can keep AFB in check. Charlie Mraz years ago had a proven line that could handle introduced AFB. The primary breeding efforts of the Minnesota Hygienic bee line was bred for AFB resistance.
The AP story really sucks and lacks any credibility. Not sure why it was written.
American foulbrood
American foulbrood (AFB) is a highly infectious disease deadly to honeybee larvae and is far more serious than European foulbrood (EFB). AFB can destroy entire apiaries of strong honeybee colonies and is the most widespread of honeybee brood diseases. Unlike other bee diseases, AFB can persist in a contagious form for up to 60 years, surviving in a dormant stage as spores. American foulbrood is introduced into a bee colony through transmission of the spores, which are formed by the bacterium bacillus larvae. The vegetative (adult) stage of bacillus larvae is not infectious to honeybees. Although adult bees are not directly affected by American foulbrood, the colony will eventually die through lack of brood, which are all killed by the disease.
AFB spores are highly resistant to drying, heating, and attempts to disinfect with chemicals. The only known effective treatment of AFB is complete destruction of the infected hives by burning them. Spores are introduced into non-infected hives by foreign bees already infested with AFB, use of infected equipment, or hive hardware or extractors bearing the spores. Beekeepers using contaminated equipment are the greatest cause for the spread of AFB. Sloppy beekeeper practices that commonly spread AFB include: using beekeeping equipment among multiple apiary locations; sharing honey extraction equipment between beekeepers; and using hive woodenware from infected apiaries.
The only methods of combating AFB are preventive measures. Good beekeeping practices, including avoiding sharing beekeeping equipment and hive hardware among multiple apiaries, are the most effective methods. The judicious and timely use of preventive medication has also proven to be an invaluable tool in curbing the spread of this deadly honeybee blight. Preventive medication is available in several forms of terramycin. By far, the easiest and most effective means of administering terramycin is with extender patties; they don't require mixing with syrup and the terramycin doesn't quickly lose its efficacy quickly as it does when the powdered form is mixed in sugar syrup. You should feed each colony an extender patty in early spring, before the first honeyflow starts, and in late fall, after the last honeyflow and honey harvest.
"The judicious and timely use of preventive medication "
Yessir, just what the bees need. More chemicals in the comb "just in case".
Mites are one thing, AFB, EHB, sackbrood are not something to vaccinate against in my humble opinion. Nosema, maybe, though I haven't.
>can a healthy hive keep this bacteria under control?
Yes.
You know,I'm tired of all the different opinions contradicting bee schools. I won't post anything from the bee schools anymore or my opinion. I'll just ask questions ,read and draw my own conclusion. I just need to learn anyways for my benefit.
I still stand behind the old rule of burn everything when it come to AFB, healthy hive or not the hive still has the AFB spores and can easily be spreed through your whole yard or yards using the same hive tool and suit. if good healthy hives can handle it then worrying about used equipment wouldn't be necessary. here the last post about used equipment and see what is said there, seems AFB demands attention when talking about used equipment..
http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,23002.0.html
this above is just the way I would handle AFB, I just wouldn't risk all my hive because of 1 or 2...