A System for the Diagnosis of the Major Bacterial Brood Diseases of Honeybees

Summary

A system for the effective laboratory diagnosis of European foulbrood and American foul brood is described. This system involves the preparation of brood smears in the field, followed by their submission to the laboratory where they are stained with 0·2% carbol fuchsin and examined for specific bacteria. The procedure provides an effective method of brood processing. It eliminates sample decomposition in transit to the laboratory and facilitates the efficient laboratory diagnosis of the bacterial brood diseases. Bacillus larvae and Bacillus alvei spores, commonly encountered in diseased brood, are easily differentiated microscopically using this system.