Although AFB and EFB are the big ones, antibiotics may be used if the symptoms are consistent with a bacterial infection. In the case mentioned, the apiary had clinical cases that the veterinarian apparently felt had a bacterial component.  Assuming the vet did fully assess the situation, this is the way the regulation is supposed to work.  Pete is correct, that we don’t know if they would have gotten better without treatment. Vets have to make an educated guess on those things frequently. Grey areas that are being interpreted differently by different groups are the use for prophylaxis.  Especially for AFB, where you are likely just suppressing the symptoms, this is controversial and is the cause of resistant strains that already exist. As a veterinarian who has livestock and is a vet for livestock, it makes sense to me to treat bees as livestock.  Yes there are some significant differences but a lots of similarities. 

Morgan Dawkins DVM
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