Bee disease American foulbrood
American foulbrood (AFB) is a highly infectious, notifiable disease of bee larvae. The pathogen that causes AFB is the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. The highly infectious spores are transmitted by predatory bees or contaminated food and the larvae are infected with the pathogen.
An infection usually leads to death. AFB is classified as an animal disease. An EU-wide reporting obligation applies. Affected colonies must be culled. However, an infection always leads to the loss of the colony, as a natural collapse occurs over time.
Clinical symptoms of AFB
- stringy mass
- black foulbrood scab
- patchy brood nest
- Brood cells left standing
- sunken, perforated cell caps
