How does one disinfect AFB contaminated equipment?
 
First off, check to see if it is legal to do in your area, and if so, what
methods are permitted.  In most places, AFB contaminated equipment must be
burned.
 
All the fumigation treatments I know of involve hazardous agents, and require
special training, special equipment, and special safety precautions.  In
short, they all fall into the "do not try this at home" category.
 
In Maryland (USA), we have had good results using ethylene oxide as a
fumigation agent.  Using ethylene oxide requires special equipment and
training, which fortunately our state Dept. of Agriculture has.
 Unfortunately, due to recent actions by the Environmental Protection Agency
ethylene oxide fumigation may no longer be legal.  For those who are curious
about this, I believe the subject was discussed in BEE-L this past March.
 
Irradiation has also been used successfully, as has boiling in lye solutions.
 
Irradiation can be done at a commercial irradiation facility (if you know of
one).
 
Boiling in lye requires chemical hazard training, lots of safety equipment,
 and a thorough review of procedures and equipment being used to handle the
lye solution and the beeekeeping equipment.
 
W. G. Miller
Gaithersburg MD,