Affected hosts
- Apis mellifera
- Apis cerana
Sacbrood virus infection
Sacbrood
Viral brood disease in which dead larvae form a sac filled with liquid and do not complete pupation.
Agent
Sacbrood virus
Legal status
No
Signs and symptoms
Brood
- Larva shaped like a fluid-filled sac
- Raised head
- Color changing from white to yellow and brown
- Boat-shaped scale with little adherence
Colony
- Irregular brood
- Weakening if persistent
Diagnosis and confirmation
Field methods
- Observation of the characteristic sac-like larva
Laboratory methods
- RT-PCR
Control and prevention
Good practices
- Strengthen the colony
- Remove heavily affected combs
- Replace the queen in persistent cases
- Reduce stress
Prevention
- Strong colonies
- Good nutrition
- Biosecurity
- Comb renewal
Monitoring
Indicators
- Number of sac-like larvae
- Brood pattern
- Colony recovery
Frequency
- During brood inspections