Disease 'not quite bee Ebola'

Claims last week that the disease American foulbrood (AFB) was potentially threatening the Far North's bee industry ('Ebola of bee industry' has hit, November 6) drew a quick response from some of the most experienced people in the industry.

The consensus was that while AFB was a serious issue it was not rampant, it was not a recent arrival (having been found in New Zealand as long ago as 1877), it was not spread by infected bees' contact with flowers and its effects were not as cataclysmic as claimed.

Oruaiti apiarist Harlan Cox, who is the Far North's dedicated inspector (with another in Kerikeri and more than 20 around the country), said AFB was a major pest, but it was not true that, if not checked, it could destroy the bee industry for a couple of generations.

Nor was it true that no one was taking responsibility. The AFB national pest management strategy (NPMS) included the appointment of dedicated inspectors throughout the country, and the destruction of infected hives.

The website afb.org.nz stated that the goal of the NPMS was to eliminate AFB in managed bee colonies in New Zealand, and the beekeeping industry was breaking new ground in pursuing that.

Elimination on a national scale had not been achieved before, but there were examples of other diseases being eliminated, such as hydatids in New Zealand.

The national elimination of AFB was seen as possible given the relatively small number of honey bee colonies (350,000-400,000, including feral colonies), and because the importation of colonies and materials capable of carrying the disease was controlled.

It was illegal to treat beehives in New Zealand with antibiotics or drugs, but some beekeepers had shown that elimination on a national scale was possible, effectively eliminating it from their own operations by destroying infected colonies and adopting management techniques to avoid its spread to other hives.

The chances of eliminating AFB were enhanced by the current low incidence, its relatively low infectivity and the elimination of unmanaged colonies by varroa.

Mr Cox believed it was possible that some Far North hives had been abandoned, but he did not accept that that practice was widespread. Kaitaia apiarist Malcolm Haines did not accept it at all.

Mr Haines, who has been in the business for 52 years, said he had seen the disease - he had destroyed some 300 hives over a couple of years - and it was essential that every frame be checked before anything was removed from a hive.

The perception was possibly exacerbated by some beekeepers mistaking sackbrood for American foulbrood, however. The former did not represent the same potential for harm that AFB did.

"The biggest problem is diagnosis," Mr Haines added. "It can be difficult to tell the difference. We also have to be aware that while amateur beekeepers are a good thing, they don't always have the experience needed to ensure they get their facts right."

A contributor to the Northland Age Facebook suggested that if there was an outbreak of AFB it would be the result of incompetent beekeeping.

Spores did remain viable for many years but were spread via honey and honey/brood combs, not flowers and soil. The main mode of spreading was beekeepers moving infected combs and boxes between hives without first checking for disease.