S. Australia Beekeepers Work to Contain Disease

DONALD - Mar 7/02 - STAT -- Beekeepers on Kangaroo Island in the State of South Australia are working on methods to detect and control American Foulbrood in hopes the problem can be contained to avoid more drastic measures aimed at containing the disease.

Primary Industries and Resources SA (PIRSA) cautions the disease is not a concern for markets, but the bacterial disease affects the development of young bees resulting in decreased hive productivity over time. If not detected, it can lead to the death of the hive.

PIRSA Project Manager, Apiculture, Elena Petrenas, said the bacteria was detected during tests on honey performed following the detection of chalkbrood, a stress related fungal bee disease, last month.

"Honey and larval smears collected for testing during that investigation have since confirmed that American Foulbrood (causative agent Paenibacillus larvae) was detected in several hives on the Island," she said.

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