Affected hosts
- Apis mellifera
Infection by Melissococcus plutonius
European foulbrood
Bacterial brood disease that mainly affects young larvae before capping and may cause an irregular brood pattern.
Agent
Melissococcus plutonius
Legal status
No
Signs and symptoms
Brood
- Larvae displaced or twisted in the cell
- Yellow to brown coloration
- Irregular brood
- Death before capping
Colony
- Variable weakening
Diagnosis and confirmation
Field methods
- Inspection of uncapped larvae
Laboratory methods
- PCR, culture, or validated methods
Control and prevention
Good practices
- Improve colony conditions
- Renew combs when indicated
- Replace the queen in recurrent cases
- Apply sanitary measures
Prevention
- Good nutrition
- Comb renewal
- Biosecurity
- Avoid moving suspicious material
Monitoring
Indicators
- Abnormal larvae
- Irregular brood
- Evolution after correcting stress factors
Frequency
- During brood inspections