Tag: european foulbrood

Get up-close to an elusive honey bee disease.

Introduction

Fig.1: A classic symptom of European foulbrood is a curled upwards, flaccid, and brown or yellowish dead larva in its cell, pictured above.

European foulbrood (abbreviated EFB) is a bacterial disease that effects honey bee larvae before the capped stage. European foulbrood disease is characterized by dead and dying larvae which can appear curled upwards, brown or yellow, melted, and/or dried out and rubbery. The causative bacteria, Melissococcus plutonius is ingested …

European Foulbrood (abbreviated EFB) is a honey bee brood disease caused by the bacterium Melissococcus plutonius (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Melissococcus plutonius is a short, lancet-shaped bacterial cell which does not form spores. The cell occurs singly, in pairs, or in chains.

Beekeepers and apiary inspectors can make a diagnosis of EFB by looking for the symptoms described in the following web-page

• European Foulbrood: A Bacterial Disease Affecting Honey Bee Brood

Also, a field test kit can be employed, which …

a beekeeper holds an EFB test kit package

American foulbrood and European foulbrood are bacterial diseases that affect honey bee brood. The causative organism for American foulbrood is Paenibacillus larvae. European foulbrood is caused by Melissococcus plutonius. A preliminary diagnosis of these two separate diseases can be made based on their symptoms. After these symptoms have been observed, a diagnostic field kit can be used to more clearly establish the presence of the causative agent of these diseases. …