> I think that it is highly unlikely that the use of antibiotics as a
preventative would lead to widespread resistance, as resistance develops in
an active infection, not in spores.
I don't follow your logic here, Pete. The US bee population has an active
infection of AFB. If all resistant bacteria are suppressed by antibiotics,
then there is an open niche just waiting for the first mutant bacterium that
is resistant to the antibiotic.
That bacterial strain, similarly to the first resistant mite strain, will
rapidly spread, since no one is treating with anything that will constrain
it.
Randy Oliver
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