James Fischer wrote: >>I am wondering (and my knowledge of AFB is limited being South African) if >>the chloramphenicol was not used by beekeepers as a remedy for AFB locally >>as opposed to in China. Chloramphenicol would be more suitable than >>penicillin et al. because there has been very little resistance build-up >>to it. Is it not perhaps American beekeepers that are using BW honey to >>disguise dubious honey? >> >> > >It is hard to imagine a beekeeper in the US or Canada gaining access to >Chloramphenicol without the use of safe-cracking tools. Both countries >tightly control distribution of the drug. The reason is simple - human >infections that are resistant to other antibiotics are often treatable with >Chloramphenicol. > There is another reason - Chloramphenicol, in certain susceptable individuals causes aplastic anemia. Nasty - and irreversable. It is also a carcinogen. The FDA feel that there is no safe level in food products. And it is more available than you think . . . . though I agree - it is not readuily available in a form most beeks would find usable. Part of the reason we like the stuff for nasty infections is not because it is a particularly big gun, it bacteriostatic in most instances (and there are bacteriocidal bigg guns out there) - but it penetrates all kinds of tissues and lesions - very well - something many antibiotics do not . Keith :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::