Jim Fischer gave a good summary of this, and the lack of discussion by  Bee-L 
indicates that the key points went right past most people  on Bee-L.
 
When I first started in bee research, I heard rumors of Disappearing  Disease 
and a connection to AHB.  Dr. Bill Wilson used to run the  USDA bee lab in 
Laramie, Wyoming.  One spring, MT, Dakota, and other  northern beekeepers 
discovered a high incidence of bee loss.  Symptoms,  empty boxes, no bees.  
 
Bill found that many of these beekeepers had bees that could be traced back  
to genetic lines of bees distributed from the Baton Rouge lab.
 
Bill thought CCD, aka Disappearing Disease, might be a genetic  defect.  
Simply stated, these bees had AHB genes, and he suspected that  they couldn't 
survive the cold winters.  When things got tough, the bees  did what AHB bees do, 
they left.  Bad choice in a northern state with a  winter climate.
 
But USDA at the time wouldn't own up to the introduction.  
 
When CCD showed up, I again discussed this topic with Bill.   Although he's 
hesitant to discuss the issues, Jim is correct, his discovery  and trace back 
to Baton Rouge almost ended his career with USDA.
 
Many of us suspect the re-location to Weslaco was the USDA version of  
sending him to Siberia.
 
Bill did tell me that there is a mid-70s issue of ABJ that has two  articles, 
one by Steve Tabor, the other by Harry Laidlaw.  The  two of them brought in 
AHB sperm from Brazil, introduced it into breeding  lines.  After they both 
retired, Bill says he talked these two bee  specialists into describing what 
they did.
 
My library does not have ABJ, and I haven't run these to ground. Maybe  Peter 
Borst or some other person could run these to ground and post them.  
 
I should also note that the first wide spread, regional outbreaks of CCD  
occurred in LA and TX - the areas where breeders working with the Baton Rouge  
lab are located.  Certainly makes one wonder.
 
I also suggest that a good investigative reporter get the full story from  
Bill before it is lost to history.  
 
Bottom line, AHB genetics were apparently introduced to the U.S. long  before 
the official, reported AHB introduction, and it was done by well known,  U.S. 
bee researchers.  Took me several years to run this story to  ground.  
 
Finally, Bill suspected a genetic defect - but now that we know about  
vertical transmission, one might ask, could a virus have been introduced with  the 
sperm?  Maybe the right connection, wrong explanation?
 
Regardless, haven't seen any serious genetic work done concerning CCD and  
bee lines, especially AHB.
 
 
Jerry
 
 



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