Diagnosis of American foulbrood in honey bees: A synthesis and proposed analytical protocols
Citation
De Graaf, D.C., Alippi, A.M., Brown, M., Evans, J.D., Feldlaufer, M., Gregorc, A., Hornitzky, M., Pernal, S.F., Schuch, D.M.T., Tiťra, D., Tomkies, V., Ritter, W. (2006). Diagnosis of American foulbrood in honey bees: A synthesis and proposed analytical protocols. Letters in Applied Microbiology, [online] 43(6), 583-590. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-765X.2006.02057.x
Plain language summary
Worldwide, American foulbrood (AFB) is the most devastating bacterial disease of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Because the distinction between AFB and the rarely-seen powdery scale disease is no longer considered valid, the bacterium causing AFB has recently been reclassified simply as Paenibacillus larvae, eliminating any of the previously recognized subspecies designations. The creamy or dark brown, glue-like larval remains of infected larvae continue to provide the most obvious clinical symptom of AFB, although it is not necessarily conclusive. Several sensitive and selective microbiological culture media are available for isolation of this spore-forming bacterium, with the type of samples that may be collected for detection of this disease being further expanded. New molecular techniques to identify AFB and its genetic sub-types have now been developed using molecular biology techniques, nevertheless traditional methods remain entirely adequate for routine identification purposes.
Abstract
Worldwide, American foulbrood (AFB) is the most devastating bacterial disease of the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Because the distinction between AFB and powdery scale disease is no longer considered valid, the pathogenic agent has recently been reclassified as one species Paenibacillus larvae, eliminating the subspecies designations Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae and Paenibacillus larvae subsp. pulvifaciens. The creamy or dark brown, glue-like larval remains of infected larvae continue to provide the most obvious clinical symptom of AFB, although it is not conclusive. Several sensitive and selective culture media are available for isolation of this spore-forming bacterium, with the type of samples that may be utilized for detection of the organism being further expanded. PCR methods for identification and genotyping of the pathogen have now been extensively developed. Nevertheless, biochemical profiling, bacteriophage sensitivity, immunotechniques and microscopy of suspect bacterial strains are entirely adequate for routine identification purposes. © 2006 The Authors.