From: cslade777@aol.com
Date: Thu, 6 Sep 2001 19:14:56 EDT
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: To medicate or not

Dear Marianne,

Fumidil does not prevent dysentery. If the bees are stressed for a number of
reasons, especially unsuitable stores, but also Nosema, they may exhibit
dysentery. Bees catch nosema by eating the spores of the protozoan while
cleaning comb with their tongues, especially in the spring when the brood
nest is expanding. This leads to "spring dwindling" and can lead to the death
of a colony. Fumidil can prevent the nosema from multiplying in the gut of
the bee but does nothing to clean up the source of infection: spores on the
comb. The spores can only get there when bees defaecate in the hive which
they will not normally do unless they have dysentery. You can see how a
vicious circle can develop.

My suggestion is to save the money you were going to spend on Fumidil and
spend it instead on foundation (4.9 maybe?) and also on 80% acetic acid to
fumigate any comb you intend to re use. This kills the spores and breaks the
cycle.

Fumidil is an antibiotic. Would you take penicillin to prevent a sore throat
before you know you've got one? Well, why feed antibiotics to your bees for
something they may not have and with good management (and a measure of luck)
they will not get?

I don't think I have used Fumidil for the last 15 years but use acetic acid
most years. I don't have problems with nosema although I expect I could find
some if I looked for it. Why not borrow the school microscope and look for
yourself before you make up your mind?

Chris