Diagnosis of KBV (Kashmir bee virus) and SBV (sacbrood virus) based on
observed symptoms is NOT dependable, as honeybees infected with KBV
and SBV have NO reliable symptoms.

Bee viruses (KBV and SBV) can potentially be transmitted horizontally
via worker secretions. Our study demonstrated that bee viruses (KBV
and SBV) were detected in worker bees, brood food, honey, pollen and
royal jelly. These bee viruses may be transmitted from worker bees to
larvae or to other adult bees (queen, other workers or drones) via
food resources in the colony.

Also, dead or weakened colonies can be raided by worker bees from
other colonies and honey and pollen taken back to their colonies.

As pointed out by Bailey et al. (1964), adult bees detect and remove
larvae with sacbrood within a day or two after the larvae die, while
the virus is still infectious. Therefore, SBV is probably transmitted
to the adults, as they can be infected by ingesting parts of dead
larvae (especially ecdysial fluid). In turn, they resume feeding the
larvae with secretions from their hypopharyngeal glands, thereby
spreading the virus to other bees.

from "Intricate transmission routes and interactions between
picorna-like viruses (Kashmir bee virus and sacbrood virus) with the
honeybee host and the parasitic varroa mite" -- Miaoqing Shen, Liwang
Cui, Nancy Ostiguy and Diana Cox-Foster

* * *

Identification of neopterin which displayed some antiviral properties
against Coxsackie B virus, a member of the Picornavirus, in royal
jelly implies that colony food may have antiviral effects. The future
identification and characterization of antiviral agents from bees and
colony food will be a significant contribution to the management of
virus diseases in honey bees.

An integrated pest management program for bee diseases caused by
viruses should include at least the following three components:
(1) accurate diagnosis of diseases that allows rapid development and
implementation of control strategies,
(2) good beekeeping management practice that enhances honey bees'
natural immunity to virus infections, and
(3) selecting and breeding of disease-resistant strains of honey bees.

from "Honey Bee Viruses" -- Yan Ping Chen,  and Reinhold Siede

****************************************************
* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm   *
****************************************************