We have noticed a relatively higher incidence of European Foulbrood (EFB) in both commercial and backyard beekeeping operations in Oregon during the past three months (April-June 2019). We speculate that the higher incidence of EFB in honey bee colonies this year is a result of poor nutrition/forage. EFB incidence is usually associated with stressors such as poor nutrition / inadequate forage.
In many cases, EFB disease gradually recedes with improved foraging conditions. Some beekeepers with significant infection had to treat their infected colonies with the antibiotic, Oxytetracycline (OTC), or Terramycin. Please monitor your colonies for EFB and assist the infected colonies in overcoming the disease by supplemental feeding (providing sugar syrup and protein patties). If the symptoms persist and the disease incidence is high, then, as a last resort, please consider using OTC. You will need a Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD) from a veterinarian to purchase antibiotics. If you choose to use an antibiotic to treat EFB during nectar flow then you should not extract honey for human consumption from those treated colonies. Following are links to two short videos that depict EFB and AFB (American Foulbrood) symptoms.
Note: Tylan (tylosin tartarate) is approved for treatment of AFB (American Foulbrood) only, not for treatment of EFB.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, need further information or assistance with disease diagnosis. Following is our contact information.
Dr.Ramesh Sagili
ramesh.sagili@oregonstate.edu
(541)Ramesh Sagili
Dr. Andony Melathopoulos
andony.melathopoulos@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-3139
Carolyn Breece
carolyn.breece@oregonstate.edu
(541) 737-5440
Thank you and good luck.
Ramesh Sagili, Oregon State University