Research Summary
Citation: Thompson, H. M, and Brown, M. A. (2001). Is contact colony treatment with antibiotics an effective control for European foulbrood? Bee World 82(3): 130-138.
Web Link:Is contact colony treatment with antibiotics an effective control for European foulbrood?
Brief Description: In England and Wales, where this study occured, European foulbrood (EFB) is a regulated disease which requires treatment or destruction of colonies. Destruction is required if the colony is determined to be unable to respond to treatment, which is defined as a colony with symptoms on more then 50% of the brood and 50% of the frame sent for diagnosis, or if the colony was recently treated and did not respond.
In addition to this protocol, colonies without symptoms in infected apiaries are allowed to be treated with the antibiotic Oxytetracycline (OTC) as a precaution. This is termed 'contact colony treatment'. This study used inspection records from the National Bee Unit, Central Science Laboratory, York, UK to compare recurrence of symptoms with and without contact colony treatment.
The recurrence of EFB was compared between colonies of infected apiaries where 'contact colony treatment' occurred and colonies in apiaries where only symptomatic colonies were treated or destroyed. The data showed that contact colony treatment decreased EFB occurrence during the season but in following years infected colonies increased to levels as high or higher then apiaries that did not treat non-symptomatic hives.
Implications: The authors suggest that treating non-symptomatic hives only mask the disease, since OTC does not kill the causative bacteria and instead only interferes with its growth. With the disease masked, beekeepers likely move contaminated equipment around without their knowledge, and then the disease re-manifests itself the following year. The authors recommend this prophylactic method not be used.
summary/review by Michael Wilson, University of Tennessee
Bee Informed Partnership