Hi Everyone,

Allen wrote in response to reports of inspectors "passing" colonies
with AFB scale in part:

"In the presence of scale , even highly hygienic bees cannot keep the
disease down with any certainty, and even when they are able to
control
it, the colonies are losing brood and other resources to the disease.
Using drugs to prevent breakdown can be successful to an extent, but,
due to many factors, control is not completely consistent.  In the
opinion of most of us who have considered the matter, using drugs in
the
presence of scale on a long-term basis amounts to deliberate abuse of
antibiotics.

Certifying hives with scale in them as 'disease free', only guarantees
a
long and secure carreer for inspection staff and continued losses for
current and future beekeepers."

Allen pretty much hit it on the head here.  One other thing it will
result in is the loss of credibility of the inspection service of that
state.
In MN scale is counted as AFB and if present beekeepers are instructed
to destroy the scale and treat with antibiotics if they want to try to
save the colony.  They also have the option to shake out the bees onto
foundation and feed along with treatment as this almost always breaks
the chain for infection in the colony.  Active AFB without scale can be
treated but to successfully treat colonies with scale the scale combs
must be removed first.

AFB rates in MN are running somewhat lower than in NY and even ME.
Treatment with antibiotics is done but it has to be done correctly to
effectively deal with the disease and part of that is to get rid of the
scale.  And yes if done right this can result in successful treatment
and colonies that do not breakdown when antibiotic treatment is stopped.
 Beekeepers and inspectors for that matter need to know the tools
available and how to use them properly to deal effectively with a
disease problem.

This is a very interesting thread to me and a discussion worth having
since we are questioning how we do things and how to use the tools
available to us in the best manner.  In North America the reality is
that antibiotics are often used but they need to be used correctly to
work effectively.


FWIW

blane




******************************************
Blane White
MN Dept of Agriculture
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