{"id":4190,"date":"2025-08-02T13:00:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-02T11:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fzmb.de\/research\/detect-bee-infections-early\/tests-for-american-foulbrood\/"},"modified":"2026-02-06T10:51:15","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T09:51:15","slug":"tests-for-american-foulbrood","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.fzmb.de\/en\/research\/detect-bee-infections-early\/tests-for-american-foulbrood\/","title":{"rendered":"AFB duplex rapid test American foulbrood"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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American foulbrood bee disease<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

American foulbrood (AFB) is a highly infectious disease of bee larvae that leads to death. A quick and simple test of dead larvae on site provides immediate clarity as to whether an infection with American foulbrood is present. This offers the opportunity to initiate rapid countermeasures in the event of an AFB infection and prevent the spread of the infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rapid tests currently available on the market only detect one of the two dangerous pathogen forms, the ERIC I genotype<\/a>, but not ERIC II. P. larvae<\/em> ERIC I infections lead to the typical foulbrood symptoms, in which the brood “rots” into a stringy mass after capping. However, honey bees are also infected with the pathogen P. larvae<\/em> genotype ERIC II with the same frequency. This kills the larvae before they hatch. For this reason, the bee disease AFB is often not recognized in cases of infestation by the ERIC II genotype. This in turn favors the spread of the disease. American foulbrood infections are transmitted from one bee colony to the next, endangering entire colonies.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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New AFB duplex rapid test: Detection provides certainty<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We have developed a new detection method for American foulbrood in collaboration with the State Institute of Apiculture. The AFB duplex rapid test quickly and reliably detects whether bee larvae have been infected by the American foulbrood pathogen. In addition, the AFB duplex rapid test makes it possible to differentiate which genotype of the American foulbrood pathogen is responsible for the infection of the bee larvae. Unlike other tests, this test also detects symptom-atypical infections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This allows control measures against malignant foulbrood to be initiated quickly and prevent the infection from spreading to neighboring bee colonies.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Advantages of the AFB duplex rapid test<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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