>  Sometimes the brood may die and this also smells, in fact the two (dead
> brood and AFB) are hard to tell apart by smell alone, and one should always
> go through all the diagnostic test before making a disease assessment.
<snip>
>  A hive that smells "wrong" should always be inspected. I use my sense of
> smell more than most people, but rely on it _ only_ as an indicator for AFB
> detection, not as a diagnostic tool.
 
> (Remember to clean your hands, hive tool and to discard any twigs
> or sticks used in testing in a spot away from the bees.)
 
With all due respect, I'd like to differ on the question of smell.  I
know smell is a personal thing, and widely variable between individuals,
but for me smell is the most reliable test for AFB, short of a lab test.
 
When I was an inspector, my nose was my best tool.  The smell is unique
and unmistakable to me and I had only to walk into a honey house or
storage area to know if I was going to be wasting my time carefully
examining frames.
 
In my everyday work with my bees, I have only to open a hive and sniff to
know if there is any significant breakdown.  Unfortunately, once my nose
has found it, it is some time again before I stop smelling it, so it is
fortunate that there is very little in my outfit of 1500 hives, because I
couldn't detect the next hive very well after my nose has been 'triggered'
:)
 
If I have a box with some scale on my truck, I am hit by it every time I
walk within ten feet or so of it.
 
The nose, together with a little knowledge of the diseases that mimic
AFB can come pretty close to 100 accuracy.  The glue-like tenacity of AFB
scales, combined with the smell are an AFB trademark.  Perhaps there are
other diseases that have both, but I have not encountered them in over 20
years of commercial beekeeping.
 
This having been said, AFB is not in this part of the world, at least, a
serious problem requiring strict hygiene.  We have a short, distinct flow
season and are able to medicate with tetracycline most of the year.  Bees
also have considerable resistance.  When there is a breakdown, it is just
that.  The bees are unable to control the disease and it gets away on
them.  It then avalanches and results in the familiar symptoms of scale
and colony decline.
 
The bees are mostly vulnerable during the early season when the queen is
expanding her brood pattern.  After the brood nest reaches maximum size,
and all cells in the pattern have raised one healthy cycle of brood, the
chances of breakdown without heavy innoculation with spores is unlikely.
 
A poor season or a late season dearth can however cause fall breakdown,
because the bees are required to use stores, and to empty cells which may
have scale.  Additionally, bees prosper and are immune to many problems in
the presence of stong flows.
 
Well fed bees, medicated occasionally, can withstand AFB quite well, and
can even clean up quite a bit of scale, although I hesitate to recommend
inserting scale into a colony to anyone except a very experienced beekeeper.
 
That's my 2 cents - for what it's worth.
 
W. Allen Dick, Beekeeper Rural Route One, Swalwell,  Alberta  Canada T0M 1Y0
Phone/Fax: 403 546 2588      Email: [log in to unmask]