Bee Diseases

Description

Honey bee diseases cause significant losses of bees, bee products and pollination activities. Four of the major diseases contributing to these losses are American foulbrood (AFB), European foulbrood (EFB), nosemosis and chalkbrood. The correct diagnosis of these diseases is important, especially in differentiating AFB from EFB, as each disease requires a different control regime. All four diseases are notifiable in NSW.

AFB caused by Paenibacillus larvae,EFB caused by Melissococcus plutonius and chalkbrood caused by Ascosphaera apis are diseases of honey bee brood (larvae and pupae) whereas nosemosis, caused by the parasitic fungi Nosema apis and/or Nosema ceranae,is a disease of adult bees.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

American foulbrood: The diagnosis is strongly supported by clinical signs of disease. AFB can be confirmed by the microscopic examination of diseased larvae in smears for the spores of Paenibacillus larvae. Honey testing for these spores is also a useful means of tracing infection sources to the hives of origin from which positive honey samples were collected.

European foulbrood: The diagnosis of this disease is also strongly supported by clinical signs of disease. EFB can be confirmed by the microscopic examination of diseased larvae in smears for the bacterium Melissococcus plutonius and/or the spores of Paenibacillus alvei a common secondary bacterial invader in cases of EFB.

Chalkbrood (Plant Health Australia) is the only significant fungal disease of honey bee brood. The diagnosis is strongly supported by clinical signs of disease and can be confirmed by the microscopy of diseased brood.

Nosemosis: The only accurate means of diagnosing nosemosis is the microscopic examination of the gut of infected bees.

Tests available

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

Code

Name

Samples required

Species

Turnaround time

Price (excl. GST)

Notes

Test days

BEE_MIC

American foulbrood (AFB) and European foulbrood (EFB) – microscopy

Larval smear(s)

Prepare smears from larvae showing signs of disease (up to 4 larvae per smear)
Air dried smears should be individually wrapped in paper and sent between two hard cardboard sheets held together with tape or an elastic band
Do NOT send two smears in contact with each other.

Section of brood comb containing diseased larvae

Submit an approx. 5 x 10 cm piece of brood comb containing diseased larvae/pupae wrapped in paper towel and packaged in a strong cardboard box.
The comb must not contain honey and crushed combs may not be suitable for diagnostic analysis
If unable to send the comb on the day of collection, the comb should be refrigerated until being sent
Thoroughly clean any tools used to remove the piece of brood comb to avoid spreading disease to other hives

Bees

1-2D

$34.25

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

Find details on how to collect/prepare samples (PDF, 318.08 KB).

For further information on managing established bee pests and diseases please see the DPIRD Honey bees web page.

PA_LAR_CLT

American foulbrood (AFB) Paenibacillus honey/bee culture (Price Tier A:<10 samples)

HONEY SAMPLES

Minimum 100 ml (145g) honey
Honey samples should only be submitted to trace AFB infections. Submit a minimum of 100 ml of bulk honey, preferably from an extraction of multiple hives.
Do NOT scrape honey from individual frames or send honey contaminated with debris.
If you own a small number of hives, it is best to examine the hives for disease signs rather than submit honey samples.

Bees

$49.10

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

For further information on managing established bee pests and diseases please see the DPIRD Honey bees web page.

PA_LAR_CLT

American foulbrood (AFB) Paenibacillus honey/bee culture (Price Tier B: >10 samples) (single submission with one report)

HONEY SAMPLES

Minimum 100 ml (145g) honey
Honey samples should only be submitted to trace AFB infections. Submit a minimum of 100 ml of bulk honey, preferably from an extraction of multiple hives.
Do NOT scrape honey from individual frames or send honey contaminated with debris.
If you own a small number of hives, it is best to examine the hives for disease signs rather than submit honey samples.

Bees

$44.25

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

For further information on managing established bee pests and diseases please see the DPIRD Honey bees web page.

BEE_MIC

Chalkbrood - microscopy

Diseased brood (mummies)

Submit an approx. 5 x 10 cm piece of brood comb containing diseased larvae/pupae wrapped in paper towel and packaged in a strong cardboard box.
The comb must not contain honey, and crushed combs may not be suitable for diagnostic analysis
If unable to send the comb on the day of collection, the comb should be refrigerated until being sent
Thoroughly clean any tools used to remove the piece of brood comb to avoid spreading disease to other hives

Find details on how to collect/prepare samples (PDF, 318.08 KB).

For further information on managing established bee pests and diseases please see the DPIRD Honey bees web page.

Bees

1-2D

$34.25

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

Monday - Friday

NOS_BE_MIC

Nosema – microscopy*

25 adult bees

Samples for diagnosis should be collected by gathering 25 adult bees from the hive entrance or from the top bars of the frames.
Young nurse bees on brood combs are unsuitable for examination.
Place bees in alcohol in a leak proof plastic container and forward to the laboratory by the fastest available means.

Bees

1-2D

$34.25

D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.

* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation.

FURTHER INFORMATION:

Nosema disease primefact

For further information on managing established bee pests and diseases please see the DPIRD Honey bees web page.

Monday - Friday

Further information

How to collect and/or prepare samples

Find details on how to collect/prepare samples (PDF, 318.08 KB).

Submission Form

To submit a specimen for diagnosis please complete the Bee Disease Diagnostics Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Further information

Further information about honey bees is available on the DPIRD Honey Bees page.

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPIRD's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal Export, Plant Health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568