>In a recent study (in prep), Dr. Brian Johnson started a large group of
package colonies.  At set up, he treated some groups of them with a
cocktail of OTC, tylosin, and fumagillin.  This would likely have affected
some of the gut bacteria.

I suggest taking a look at some of the data from the Moran lab.  The chart we have posted here (along with a link to the full study):  http://www.beeuntoothers.com/index.php/beekeeping/articles/105-antibiotic-resistant-gut-microbes-in-honey-bees

The package bees have already been heavily treated with antibiotics...and the bacteria they host have already been selected for antibiotic resistance (certainly for OTC, tylosin and fumagillin).  Why would one expect to see a significant difference under such circumstances?  This study needs to be done in a country where antibiotics have not been so heavily used.

In the chart referenced above, you can see that even after 20+ years of no antibiotic use that the gut bacteria in Dee's bees still show the effects of antibiotic treatment.  If you want to measure the effects of antibiotic treatments on bees, you can't use controls that have been heavily treated with antibiotics (well, you can, but it won't tell you what you want to know).

deknow

             ***********************************************
The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html