Diagnosis of European Foulbrood (EFB) in Saudi Arabia PDF

Keywords

honey bees, European foulbrood, infected larvae

Abstract

Two of forty colonies of honey bees (F1 Carniolan Apis mellifera carnica x Egyptian Apis mellifera lamarckii) imported from Egypt showed abnormal signs. Cappings of cells were depressed in the centre, punctured and discolored, and dead larvae that were at first soft and watery, and then pasty. Later it became tough, rubbery or brittle. These scales gave off a decayed meat odor. The infected larvae that survived produced pupae of sub-normal weight and spun feeble cocoons, having poorly developed silk glands. These signs indicated European foulbrood (EFB). Laboratory diagnosis of larvae and scales sent to Rothamsted Experimental Station showed that the causative organism of EFB, Melissococcus pluton, was present. This is the first report of EFB in Saudi Arabia