Medycyna Wet. 67 (2), 87-90, 2011
full text
| Buczek K. |
| Range of susceptibility of Paenibacillus larvae to antibacterial compounds |
| The honey bee disease American foulbrood (AFB) is a serious problem since its causative agent (Paenibacillus larvae) has become increasingly resistant to conventional antibiotics. From the year 2000 the number of isolates of P. larvae resistant against oxytetracycline (OTC) has increased. Therefore, since 2000 many antibiotics, chemotherapeutic propolis and plant extracts were tested in vitro and in vivo against P. larvae. The most active in the in vitro tests appeared to be Deoxycycline, Minocycline, Rifampicin and Lincomycin. Among the 35 examined antibacterial compounds active against P. larvae were Narasin, Salinomycin and Tylosine. In many countries Tylosine, Tilomycosis have been recommended for the control of AFB, while Microsamicine was recommended in Japan. The studies with plain essential oils did not succeeded. The propolis extracts from the various parts of the world showed significant inhibition of P. larvae. Due to the evolution of the resistance of P. larvae to conventional antibiotic treatments, the research on normal bee microflora (Bacillus, Paenibacillus, and Brevibacillus) is an important step in identifying possible new active tools to treat AFB in honey bee colonies. |
| Key words: Paenibacillus larvae, antibacterial drugs, control of AFB |