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Pests and Diseases

American Foulbrood

Apiculture Pests and Diseases

A highly contagious bacterial disease of honey bee larvae, caused by spore forming Paenibacillus larvae, that kills developing bees within their cells and leaves behind extremely resistant spores capable of remaining infectious in equipment and hive material for decades. It is considered the most destructive brood disease of honey bees, and in most jurisdictions the standard control for an infected colony is to burn the hive and its contents rather than attempt treatment.

Facts
Classification
Agent Kind
Bacterium 1
Connections

Associated With

Western Honey Bee, Livestock

American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae) is the most destructive bacterial brood disease of honey bee colonies.

Sources
1. American Foulbrood (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Opening definition paragraph
    American foulbrood, caused by the spore-forming bacterium Paenibacillus larvae, is a highly infectious honey bee brood disease. It is the most widespread and destructive of the honey bee brood diseases. It is globally distributed and burning of infected colonies is often considered as the only effective measure to prevent spreading of the disease.
  • lead description
    A highly contagious bacterial disease of honey bee larvae, caused by spore forming Paenibacillus larvae, that kills developing bees within their cells and leaves behind extremely resistant spores capable of remaining infectious in equipment and hive material for decades.
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