Just out in Apidologie this month is a paper from the UK regarding the combination of oxytetracycline treatments and shaking bees onto foundation for the management of EFB. The abstract is below. Below the UK abstract is a second abstract from 2001 regarding shaking bees onto foundation without antibiotics for the management of AFB. ABSTRACT 1 Controlling European foulbrood with the shook swarm method and oxytetracycline in the UK Ruth J. Waite, Michael A. Brown, Helen M. Thompson and Medwin H. Bew National Bee Unit, Central Science Laboratory, York, YO41 1LZ, UK Abstract Colonies infected with European foulbrood (EFB) were treated with the shook swarm method in combination with oxytetracycline (OTC) and compared with those treated with OTC alone, the usual treatment for EFB in England and Wales. Success rates and instances of recurrence in the following season were recorded in the seasons 2000 and 2001 respectively. Both treatments had similar success rates with respect to elimination of EFB in 2000. Shook swarm plus OTC treatment resulted in a lower level of EFB recurrence in the 2001 season than OTC treatment alone. Colonies treated with the shook swarm plus OTC method showed a recurrence rate of 4.8%, whereas those treated with OTC alone had a recurrence in 21.1% of cases. The differences were shown to be significant at the 10% level. These results suggest that the shook swarm plus OTC method could be a valid method for EFB treatment and control in the UK. ABSTRACT 2 Effect of shaking honey bee colonies affected by American foulbrood on Paenibacillus larvae larvae spore loads Journal of Apicultural Research, August 2001, vol. 40, no. 2, pp. 65-69(5) Del Hoyo M.L.; Basualdo M.; Lorenzo A.; Palacio M.A.; Rodriguez E.M.; Bedascarrasbure E. Abstract: Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies exhibiting clinical symptoms of American foulbrood (AFB, causative agent Paenibacillus larvae larvae) were divided into 2 groups that received different shaking treatments: (1), shaking adult bees into a new hive; and (2), shaking adult bees in front of the entrance to a new hive. Honey bee and honey samples were taken before shaking and 1, 22, 44 and 66 days after shaking. Microbiological cultures were made from honey and honey bee samples to determine P. l. larvae development. The average number of P. l. larvae cfu/g honey before shaking was 89.86 ± 17.93 (mean ± s.e.) and more than 500 cfu/bee for honey bee samples. Honey bee samples had more colony-forming units before shaking but differences were not statistically significant after shaking. An important reduction in the number of colony-forming units in honey bee and honey samples was detected after shaking by both methods and no significant difference was detected between them. Honey and honey bee samples were positive for the presence of P. l. larvae in every sampling but no AFB clinical symptoms were detected in the honey bee colonies after 5 months. These results allow us to conclude that both shaking methods reduce spore loads in new colonies without using chemicals and, using it with other management procedures would allow development of an integrated AFB control method. Adony :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::