> In every case AFB reoccured.

Thank you, David!  Once again, the best test is a field test.

AFB spores are incredibly tough, as evidenced by Dr Rosalyn James' recent
research demonstrating their resisitance to ozone.

As a side note, there are a number of strains of AFB, with different degrees
of virulence.  All apparently infect young larvae, but some kill them in the
early instars, and cause spotty brood, whereas the "normal" strain kills
them after they have been capped (5th instar or pupae) and one sees melted
larvae or pupae under perforated cappings.

This week I found a colony with massive (apparent) AFB mortality of 4th and
5th instar larvae.  They simply slumped in the cells, with a lighter color
than typical AFB, and had no AFB smell at first.  A few days later, they
finally developed a faint AFB smell, and began to rope, and the frames
finally displayed some sunken cappings with dead larvae under.

And yes, I will burn and sterilize with heat.

Randy Oliver

****************************************************
* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm   *
****************************************************