AFB ?

[NHbees]

I need some advice http://www.beesource.com/ubb/frown.gif. One of my hives has what I believe is AFB. They have not been able to raise much brood, a real spotty brood pattern for a while. Finally last night the light came on that what I was seeing was not normal. The capping's are real dark, some are perforated. When I stuck a stick in a cell it seemed to be sticky and ropy. As far as I know this is AFB.

My other two hives seem to be doing just fine, the capping's are light tan and a tight pattern. I am planning to pull some supers off these hives this weekend and probably the rest next weekend.

Now for my questions.

1) for the infected hive if I were to shake them on to new foundation and feed heavily and treat with TM can I build them up enough to combine with one of my other hives or should I just do away with them?

2) I know I have to get rid of all my frames, am I safe scorching the hive bodies or am I being penny wise and pound foolish?

3) For my other two good hives am I going to be all right by letting them go for an extra week or two before I treat or should I pull all the honey now and begin immediate treatment?

4) Anything else that I should do?

[clintonbemrose]

If it were me I would have a large bon fire and bury the ashes honey and all. AFB can be spread by infected honey so I would burn everything to try and save the other hives. I also would get a new hive tool so that I would not infect the other hives. AFB spores can live for years dorment
Clint

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Clinton Bemrose
just South of Lansing Michigan

[BjornBee]

AFB infected honey is not harmfull to humans. Why burn it? Just dont feed it to the other hives or let them "clean" up the supers or equipment after extracting.

New hive tool? How about just burning it off with a propane torch? Some isopropal(sp?) is also good.

I would suggest to burn the frames/comb/brood from the infected hive. I would also burn/scorch the inside of the hive body, top, and bottom. Be very carefull with hands, tools, and anything else that can become contaminated. Then paint everything completely.

If you shake, shake into an empty hive body. Confine them for a day or two. Let them use the honey in thier stomach. Then feed for a day or two. Then shake and combine them into another hive. Any comb they built should be burned. Its alot of work but can be done.

Ask yourself what the original source was from. Used equipment, other close apiaries, or other item. Can you eliminate this from happening in the future?

I would also suggest treating with terramyacin for the other hives. One treatment this fall, and again in the spring. I do not like to "preventative" treat anything. But this would be the exception. When you know its been in the apiary already, then do it.

AFB is a part of beekeeping that MOST will come into contact over the long run. Those who have lost many colonies, and did not catch it early, act with the most extreme. If they were paying attention and did not let it spread throughout there operation the first time, they could of found out that catching a few cells, a few frames, or one colony is something to deal with, but not panick over.



[This message has been edited by BjornBee (edited September 02, 2004).]

[NHbees]

>>If you shake, shake into an empty hive body. Confine them for a day or two. Let them use the honey in thier stomach. Then feed for a day or two. Then shake and combine them into another hive. Any comb they built should be burned. Its alot of work but can be done.

Just for clarification, shake them into an empty hive with no frames or foundation?

Does this help to get the spores out of their system? and should I medicate these bees?

>>Ask yourself what the original source was from. Used equipment, other close apiaries, or other item. Can you eliminate this from happening in the future?

I'm not 100% sure, but this hive came from a NUC and I'm wondering if it came in on some of the old frames that were part of the nuc. I'm just glad it did not get the other hives yet http://www.beesource.com/ubb/smile.gif

[BjornBee]

Yes, using up any contaminated honey is the key. The super has no frames/foundation/comb. Let them build on the inner cover. Then scrap clean.

[Michael Bush]

It certainly sounds like AFB, but Parafoulbrood also looks just like AFB. You can buy a test from Brushy Mt or Mann Lake and I think Dadant has them as well. I bought one to have on hand, but have never used it.
http://www.kohala.net/bees/index.html#anchor400987

There are pictures here to compare to.

The stringing is the most definitive symptom of AFB.

You have to do what you think is best and whatever you are requrired to do by law in your state.

This may vary from buring everything (bees, hive and all) to being able to treat with TM. Personally, I wouldn't treat. If I had my choice and it was a minor (small patch) of it. I'd probably burn all the brood comb with any AFB in it and requeen and see what happens. But you have to make your own choices. It is a frightening thing and hard choices.

[NHbees]

>I'd probably burn all the brood comb with any AFB in it and re-queen and see what happens. But you have to make your own choices. It is a frightening thing and hard choices.

Can the Queen carry or contribute to the AFB? I did not have this problem in the spring. I re-queened in July and started noticing problems about 2 or 3 weeks ago.

[Robert Brenchley]

Get a testing kit and find out for sure whether its AFB. It certainly sounds like it. If it is, burn the frames and everything insidethe hive, after killing the bees, and scorch the boxes thoroughly on the inside. Try to avoid moving frames from one hive to another until you know your other colonies are clear, as this is how the diease tends to be spread.

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Regards,

Robert Brenchley

RSBrenchley@aol.com
Birmingham UK

[Michael Bush]

>Can the Queen carry or contribute to the AFB? I did not have this problem in the spring. I re-queened in July and started noticing problems about 2 or 3 weeks ago.

Genetics is a big part of AFB. Hygenic behavior and the immune system are both inherited characteristic. But the other side of this is that removing the queen for a while makes a break in the brood cycle followed by a vigorous young queen to help them recover.

[bjerm2]

Your bees could have robbed a hive that had AFB in it and brought the contaminated honey home. If your going to shake them then get a hygienic queen. Like MB said it is genetic.
Dan