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Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology

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Subject:
From:
"Medhat Nasr, Ph. D." <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Informed Discussion of Beekeeping Issues and Bee Biology <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 8 Jun 2004 08:09:42 -0600
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Trevor wrote:

"I read that AFB is not a problem for Canadian beekeepers so why would you
want us to challenge the bees for AFB?"

Response:

AFB is a problem for Canadian beekeepers like any other beekeeper around
the world. It is a management problem that beekeepers tend to use drugs
(Antibiotics) to mask the problem.  The recent findings of antibiotics in
honey is a sign of how wide spread the AFB problem and antibiotics use
around the world. In recent days we have seen honey removed off the shelf
because of antibiotics, not because of miticides

Beekeepers need to use cultural and genetic management practices to deal
with the AFB. the reliance on hygienic bees is not enough to deal with the
problem. Sanitation and cultural practices as burning infected hives,
irradiation, and comb replacement are important for the prevention and
treatements of AFB. I have seen some beekeepers used hygienic queens in
colonies full of AFB scales and they claimed the hygienic bees failed to
clear the AFB scales. I guess that we asking too much out of the hygienic
bees. Hygienic is a part of the solution but it not all the solution.
Unless there is a fundamental change in the beekeeping management
practices, the AFB will continue to threaten the beekeeping industry.


Medhat

Medhat Nasr, Ph. D.
Provincial Apiculturist
Crop Diversification Centre North

17507 Fort Road
Edmonton, AB, Canada T5Y 6H3
Tel: (780) 415-2314    Fax: (780) 422-6096
Mailto:[log in to unmask]

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