Jean-Pierre
 
   Several people have developed or demonstrated methods to assess AFB by
   means other than hive symptoms.
 
   Mark Goodwin and Cliff van Eaton in New Zealand have a method of
   detection using bacterial cultures, that can use non-symptomatic adult
   bees or brood, honey or pollen as a sample source. The basic method is
   preparation of an extract from the sample, "pasteurization" to kill
   vegetative bacteria, plating onto a nutrient plate, incubation for 3
   days, then observation and counting of the resulting B.larvae colonies.
 
   Adult bee samples give a range of B.larvae colony counts up to about 100
   per plate, before hive symptoms are common. This provides a "grey zone"
   of AFB "infected" hives, that might be segregated and receive special
   surveillance and management to prevent "breakdown" and spread to other
   hives.
 
   In a management system that already has a low exposure to AFB, this
   method could offer a sensitive means of detecting the "smoke before the
   flame". It would be interesting to try this with a management system
   based on antibiotic suppression. Would there be a high level of spores
   everywhere, just waiting for a hole in the antibiotic armour?
 
 
   Kerry Clark, Apiculture Specialist
   B.C. Ministry of Agriculture
   1201 103 Ave
   Dawson Creek B.C.
        V1G 4J2  CANADA          Tel (604) 784-2225     fax (604) 784-2299
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