The prophylaxis of chalkbrood in bees by laboratory methods - microscopic testing of pollen

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to monitor the load of Ascosphera apis spores in honey and pollen samples and to evaluate the pertinence of the method in the prophylaxis of Ascosphera apis infestation by eliminating contaminated sources used in bee fed. We investigated 8 apiaries for a period of 2 years at the end of the active bee season, the collected samples consisting in pollen (39 samples) and pollen supplimentary foods (7 samples). The samples were processed and tested for spores of Ascosphera apisthrough the method OIE/2008, adapted for samples of pollenandpollen supplimentary foods. The samples originated from apiaries suspected of nosema disease. Within the lot with pollen samples (46 samples), a number of 39 pollen samples belonging to the 4 dominant floral categories in Romania (polifloral, rape, sun-flower, linden) were chosen in order to determine the infestation level with Ascosphera apis spores. Most of the Ascosphera apis spores positive samples were represented by the rape and sunflower pollen samples. Tests evidenced the presence of Ascosphera apisspores in 22 samples of pollen and pollen supplimentary foods of the total of 45 examined samples during the monitoring process. The tests made on bee samples collected at the end of the beekeeping season, by comparison to the ones collected in the beginning of the following season, demonstrated a significant reduction in the infestation degree (30.43%) in bees by eliminating from consumption the sources of infestation (pollen supplimentary foods and pollen) in the winter season. Testing before the inactive season for Ascosphera apis spores in the reserve honey and pollen represents an important prophylactic method against Ascosphera apis infestation in bees.