Hi Everyone,

Robt Mann wrote in part:

"To that end, I expected that wax foundation would be directly
examined for viable AFB  -  by suitable microscopy, and by suitable
attempts to culture microbes from the fndn. "

First I am sure that this has been tested but am unable to locate references.  I looked into this several years ago and was assured that foundation made from wax from infected combs ( those with AFB scale ) would not carry the disease to new colonies.  Microscopy is not really a resonable test here since the spores cannot be identified as from the AFB bacteria by this means.  It would take culturing and I was assured that either the prolonged heating or extensive filtering or likely both render the spores non viable or remove them.  Just find bacterial spores in foundation is not enough you would have to actually grow them in culture and show that they were infective.  It appears that wax foundation is safe as regards AFB and other honey bee diseases at least the commercially prepared foundations. The observation that AFB has not been carried to SA in commercial foundation ( if it is coming from North America anyway) also strongly suggest that the above it true.
Wish I could find the references on this one.

blane




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Blane White
MN Dept of Agriculture
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