Ben Hanson;
Of all the many bee diseases, the only one that stays "alive" after the death
of the bees is American Foul Brood.
The Beltsville Research Lab carefully stored a bunch of equipment that was
contaminated with AFB in 1922, 76 years ago.  Each year, a tiny piece of that
equipment is cultured by the LAB, and those AFB spores are "alive and well"
after 76 years.
If you are ABSOLUTELY POSITIVE that the equipment never had bees contaminated
with AFB housed in it, AND IF THE BEES OWNER DID NOT TREAT HIS BEES WITH
TERRAMYCIN  (which does NOT KILL AFB spores), then the equipment is probably
100% disease free.  Just give it a good scrubbing and use it.
Unless you are absolutely sure that the bees never had AFB, I would never use
the equipment myself, unless you could have treated with Ethylene Oxide or
gamma
radiation.  You are just begging for trouble otherwise.
It is so very unfortunate that so many beekeepers have been led to believe
that Terramycin KILLS AFB, and it does not!  Just as human diabetics can stay
alive by continual use of insulin, likewise with Terramycin and AFB.  Once the
AFB spores get in the wood, bees can be kept alive in that equipment ONLY IF
TERRAMYCIN is used EVERY YEAR from now on.
Good Luck!  George Imirie