On Fri, 7 Oct 2005, Bob Harrison wrote:

“I believe this could be the source of the repeat AFB. Research has shown
that AFB *spores* are not destroyed by melting temps. A much higher temp is
needed.”

I quite concur with Bob, and I appreciate that he brought up the matter.

For woodenware and frames without honey it is unfortunate that ethylene
oxide, ETO, availability is limited in the US to Maryland and North
Carolina, please see:
http://listserv.albany.edu:8080/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0212C&L=bee-l&P=R913,
Re: Heat and AFB is there another way?
...and I also quote George Imirie in, Re: State Apiary Registrations
http://listserv.albany.edu:8080/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0402A&L=bee-
l&P=R6420  “For years and years, Maryland has enjoyed one of the lowest
AFB rates in the country, about 1% of all inspected colonies.”

I want to note that cobalt radiation is used to destroy AFB spores in
woodenware in Massachusetts and in Australia. I am also aware of other
countries where radiation is acceptable and cost effective, perhaps Allen
or Medhat can bring about an up to date status in Canada and others can
chime in.

To put all of this above together and summarize, here in the US a lot of
folks have very few tools to fight AFB even with new medications coming
into play and hygienic honey bees.

This brings up my point, again, that a state sponsored apiary inspection
service should be available in every state in the US.  Unfortunately, this
is not the case. AFB is becoming resistant, is resistant, depending on
where you are, to Terramycin, oxytetracycline HCL.  In the last two
decades, states have continued to dismiss funding for apiary inspection
services. Beekeeping organizations nationwide are omitting programs,
classes and field days on recognizing and treating foulbrood from their
agendas and concentrating on varroa and other matters instead. Folks, we
are walking on very thin ice. AFB will continue to be a problem as long as
there are honey bees, it needs to be recognized and dealt with in a timely
and prudent manner in the apiary and the same within the beekeeping
industry.

Chuck Norton

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