FOUL BROOD??

[Jason G in Tennessee]

HELP? I am quite concerned about foulbrood.
What should I do, if anything, to protect against it. I have heard the horror stories of having to burn it all and start over.
I don't like what I have heard...especially being my first year and having invested so much time and $$.
What is the best way to treat to prevent the disease? What is the easiest?
thanks in advance,
Jason G

[Michael Bush]

You'll get a lot of opinions on this. Axtman will say to cull the combs because the spores build up there. The "standard" answer is treat with Terramycin spring and fall.

I think, since Foulbrood spores exist in all hives and since it's basically an opportunistic disease, the best thing you can do is keep your hives strong. If you have one that's failing, do something with it. Feed it, combine it if that seems appropriate and you won't spread the problem, boost it with some brood and honey and pollen from another hive or destroy it if you don't want to spread the problem.

The problem with the Antibiotics for prophylaxis (preventing from the Latin for guarding) is you often mask an infection of AFB that goes unnoticed. You also mask any genetic lack of resistance to the disease. Also there is evidence that it shortens the life of the bees taking it.

You have to make your own choices.

As far as what you do if you get AFB, some states require burning. Some require you to treat with TM if your bees get AFB. You should try to find out what your state requires.

[Michael Bush]

Also, I didn't mention, that beekeepers using TM routinely has led to TM resistant AFB. This means that if you use the TM you won't get the kind of AFB that can be cured, you'll get the kind that the TM won't kill it.

[BjornBee]

If you understand that FB is an opportunistic desease as MB has said, then the next step would be to understand what makes it opportunistic.
Get a good beekeeping book and read it. Then evaluate what it says about things like:

Site selection - is the area damp? Proper ventalation?

If I have used equipment - was it clean or do I know the history of it?

Is my queen less than two years old?

Are there other factors placing stress on the hive? Mites, raccoons, pests?

This list could be very long. When discussing good beekeeping management and practices, poor site selection, used equipment, proper hive inspection/detection, knowing what to look for, etc....all make differences when it comes to items like FB. With something like FB, I would know what to lokk for and treat when needed. AND...a strong hive can and deals with FB all the time. Its not that bad. (Unless your a bad beekeeper and let it become opportunistic.)