European Foulbrood (EFB)

European Foulbrood (EFB)#

1 . What is the causative agent?

Melissococcus plutonius

2 . Type of pathogen

Bacterium

3 . How larvae contract and die from EFB

  • Transmitted via contaminated nurse bee mouthparts or brood food

  • Bacteria multiply in larval gut

  • Infected larvae out-compete healthy larvae for food

  • During nectar flow, nurse bees shift to foraging

  • Infected larvae receive less care and die

4 . Does M. plutonius persist in the colony?

  • No long-lived spores

  • Bacteria persist in larval feces and comb

5 . Symptoms of EFB

  • Uncapped brood affected

  • Discolored (tan to brown) larvae

  • Twisted or melted appearance in cells

6 . Treatment for EFB

  • Add frames of healthy brood

  • Remove heavily infected frames

  • Feed sugar syrup to stimulate brood rearing

  • Requeen with resistant stock

  • Terramycin may help prevent EFB in uninfected colonies