Investigation of clinical outbreaks of American foulbrood in honey-bee operations in Saskatchewan

Four outbreaks of American foulbrood were investigated in honey-bee operations in Saskatchewan during the summer of 2019. Clinical signs were confirmed by the Saskatchewan Provincial Specialist in Apiculture and the causative agent was cultured and identified through matrix-assisted laser desorption...

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Published inCanadian veterinary journal Vol. 61; no. 10; pp. 1055 - 1059
Main Authors Zabrodski, Michael W, Wilson, Geoff, Moshynskyy, Igor, Wentzell, Alexandra, Wood, Sarah C, Klein, Colby D, Kozii, Ivanna V, de Mattos, Igor Medici, Epp, Tasha, Simko, Elemir
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Canada Canadian Veterinary Medical Association 01.10.2020
Subjects
Animals
Anti-Infective Agents
Bees
Disease Outbreaks - veterinary
Honey
Saskatchewan - epidemiology
Scientific
Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization - veterinary
United States
United States
Saskatchewan
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Summary:Four outbreaks of American foulbrood were investigated in honey-bee operations in Saskatchewan during the summer of 2019. Clinical signs were confirmed by the Saskatchewan Provincial Specialist in Apiculture and the causative agent was cultured and identified through matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Evaluation of management practices revealed off-label metaphylactic use of oxytetracycline in 3 of 4 operations and a discontinuation of antibiotic use in the fourth. Recent regulatory changes regarding access to medically important antimicrobials has provided an opportunity for veterinarians to promote evidence-based use of antimicrobials in apiculture while safe-guarding the health of commercial honeybee populations and the economic viability of their producers.
ISSN:0008-5286