The pathogen load in managed bee colonies is heavy and with changing environmental conditions, bee yard management practices that were applicable years ago are no longer relevant. Human history is ripe with examples of when society becomes deliberated by disease and how changing management caught up with the new challenges. Over the history viral infection outbreaks caused widespread death before vaccination management was introduced. Devastating bacterial disease was checked by changes in management starting with simple hygiene practices such as hand washing and the introduction of antibiotics.
World War I caused a decline in nutritional status compounded with injury
and psychological morbidity. These conditions together with increased
global travel provided ultimate grounds for a particularly virulent strain
of influenza to cause 40 million deaths in 1918. Today, early warning
and vaccination system make such a catastrophic pandemic unlikely.
The main honeybee pests and pathogens are listed in the table below with
special focus on viruses, mites and Nosema. Other bee diseases (bacterial
American/European foulbrood, fungi such as chalkbrood, or stonebrood)
and pests (wax moth and hive beetle) will be added with in our next quarterly
update.
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Viruses Bacteria Fungi Protozoans Arthropods |
