On the possibility of transmitting disease in processed wax--

> Comb foundation is probably not a means of transmitting AFB. Gochnauer (1981) boiled comb from diseased hives for 20 minutes and found that very low numbers of spores remained in the wax, most being removed in the water or remaining in the slumgum. Hansen & Rasmusen (1991) could not culture B. larvae from 10 samples of commercially-available foundation and two further batches of foundation made with wax from diseased colonies

Matheson, Andrew, and Murray Reid. "Strategies for the prevention and control of American foulbrood." American Bee Journal 132.6; 7; 8 (1992)

> Samples of comb foundation from 10 batches of unknown origin and from 2 batches originating from colonies with American foulbrood were also examined. The wax had been treated in a wax processing factory. In none of the batches B. larvae was proved. It is concluded that the wax melting procedure in the processing factory generally is sufficient to prevent the spread of B. larvae

Hansen, H., and B. Rasmussen. "The sensitiveness of the foulbrood bacterium Bacillus larvae to heat treatment." Recent research on bee pathology. International symposium of the International Federation of Beekeepers Associations, Gent (Belgium), 5-7 Sep 1990. 1991.

             ***********************************************
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