Eradication of American Foulbrood Disease in Hamilton

Eradication of American Foulbrood Disease in Hamilton Honey Bee Colonies

The Waikato Domestic Bee Association (WDBA) is calling on all Hamilton beekeepers to help rid Hamilton City of of the hive-destroying American Foulbrood Disease (AFB).

An AFB infection causes death of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) larvae. The disease is present in almost all countries where honey bees are found. The AFB bacterium produces resistant, long-lived spores and an infected beehive will usually be killed by the disease although this may take many months. The infection can be present in a beehive but not initially visible so the disease is easily spread by interchanging equipment, dividing or selling hives. Bees which rob an infected hive can also take the disease back to their home colony.

AFB spores can survive more than 35 years and withstand boiling water and are resistant to a range of disinfectants. Beekeepers who find AFB in one of their hives must notify the AFB Pest Management Agency within 7 days and destroy the infected hive to prevent infection spreading to other colonies. This devastating process includes killing the bees, then burning all parts of the hive as well as any honey from the colony.

The Association is planning an AFB Eradication Programme with the goal of making Hamilton the first AFB-free city in New Zealand. The programme involves using a new diagnostic tool to test all hives in Hamilton this year on an annual event to clear the city and ensure is stays free of AFB. Samples of bees from hives in the city will be tested for AFB using quantitative real-time PCR (QPCR) DNA testing to identify the disease before it can be detected visually.

“We would like to hear from all beekeepers in Hamilton city to arrange a small sample of 30 bees from the brood frames of each hive for testing. Collection dates include Thursday 15th, Saturday 17 & Sunday 18th November,” says WDBA committee member Teresa Gibbison.

“Assistance will be provided where required and to help beekeepers with infected hives. We also need information from the public about any feral hives in the city that may be living in holes in trees or buildings so they can also be tested.”

WBDA club member and renown research scientist Dr Mark Goodwin is presenting a free public lecture “Eradicating the Honeybee Disease from AFB from Waikato” from 7:30pm - 8:30pm on Tuesday 6th November in SG 02 at the University of Waikato.

For more information and to register your interest go to http://bit.ly/wdbaAFBFree or email president@waikatobeekeepers.org.nz with queries.

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