Stan Sandler wrote:

> I am dusting everything now, and I believe that will cure it.

EFB is a stress related problem. It is widespread throughout the world. In a
recent disease survey in South Africa it was confirmed that EFB is widespread,
not a major disease problem and appears not to spread significantly within an
apiary (Capensis Research Programme Final Report 8/5/2000(CRP)). The belief is
that every colony actually contains EFB, but only shows symptoms when under
stress.

I would also like to refer you to Australasian Beekeeper (AB) (PMB 19, Maitland,
NSW) pamphlet on EFB: "Hives can become initially infected by the introduction of
infected combs/food, drift or bees watering from infected supplies ... Once
present, M. pluton constantly remains in the hive. Hives which are stressed,
having not wintered well due to ... are prone to outbreaks ..".  It is important
to note that secondary bacteria are responsible for the decay and other symptoms
associated with EFB. M. pluton is apparently also extremely difficult to isolate
in vitrio (CRP).

"There is an increasing trend away from the use of antibiotics and a greater
awareness that with care European foul brood can usually be successfully held at
tolerable levels with management. In fact more beekeepers are turning to
management primarily because it keeps their hives free of undesirable antibiotic
residues and since they have fewer suscesptible hives, management has become a
least cost alternative. (AB)."

As a matter of fact Oxytetracyclene (OTC) is banned in many countries, as it
masks the EFB and related pathogens, while the original stress inducing problem
persists.

Robert Post