Allen Dick wrote

> 1. The above quote suggests that the bees, rather than the honey as Adony
was
> discussing, are being tested by the writer. How is this done?

One method I have heard of is to collect bees, wash them and check the
washings.  There are other methods because back in the 1980's researchers in
Australia were checking bees for AFB spores and finding them.  Recently bees
from feral hives have been checked to see if they have AFB spores on them.

> 2. How are spores generated in a hive unless there is an actual breakdown
of the
> brood?

Spores can be in the hive for years they tell us but it is more likely that
they are the result of hygenic behaviour of bees where they remove the
affected larvae before you see it.

> 3. If there is such a breakdown, is this not visible to the eye?

As I suggest it could be as a result of hygenic behaviouir.  Dr. Marla
Spivak has shown that she can introduce infected brood to a hive with
hygenic bees and they will clean it up.  It would be reasonable to expect
that there would be spores present in that hive.  For how long?  I do not
know.

Also you have to consider that it takes thousands of spores, feed to a very
young larvae to actually get clinical signs.  We are told that once larvae
get past a certain age, it is almost impossible for that larvae to surcumb
to AFB.

> 4. If spore generators have symptoms visible to the eye, is this test
better or
> more economical than inspection?

It depends on what you want the test for.  If it is to show the presence or
absence of AFB spores in  hive then it would be better than inspection.
However, if you want to find out if you have clinical signs, then an
inspection is a must. You cannot be a beekeeper would checking brood nests.
You can however be a bee haver.

The point to consider is that with a inapparent infection of AFB in a hive
is it at some stage going to become an apparent infection?  If so, then the
presnce of spores detected early will be a benefit.

What if the one of the bees you collect from the hive has drifted from
another hive and you get a positive reading?  It may not be carrying enough
spores to infect a larvae and that hive may not be at risk.

> 5. can spores be generated without any visible signs?  If so, how does
this
> occur; what is the mechanism?

As above, I believe they can be.

Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA