>> a slow dwindling of the population...

> I once tried introducing a strong nuc to that 
> comb and it also dwindled!  I have started
> burning such comb. 

I'm still going to vote "Nosema Ceranae".

There are several approaches to decontaminating
Nosema-ridden comb, give one or two a try before
you toss out much more comb.

Ridden?  Infested?  Infected?  Contaminated?
What do we call comb that needs to be treated thusly?

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