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To Thiru.

Sandeep Saxena, IAS Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary to Government, Agriculture Department, Secretariat, Chennai 600 009 Lr.No. Regr./CPPS/ENT/ BK/ 2012 Dt.30.4.12 Sir, Sub: Outbreak of sac brood infection in Tamil Nadu preventive and curative measures- reg. Ref : Lr.No.11866/Au/2012 Dt. 25.4.2012 of Agriculture Department I wish to inform the following pertaining to the outbreak of brood diseases in Indian bee colonies in Tamil Nadu as called for in the reference cited. Indian bee colonies (Apis cerana indica) commercially kept by bee keepers in Tamil Nadu are subjected to the infection of European Foul Brood (EFB) caused by a bacterium (Mellisococcus plutonis) and Thai Sac Brood, a Viral disease (TSBV). THAI SAC BROOD The outbreak of TSBV occurred in severe form during early nineties. Of late, this disease has been found to occur again in Indian bee colonies. Since TSBV is a viral disease, fully effective curative treatment is not available for control after the onset of disease. However, periodical hive inspection for early detection of disease and feeding bee colonies with turmeric admixed sugar syrup (2-3 grams per 100 ml of sugar syrup) markedly reduces the incidence of the disease. Similarly on farm trials in private apiaries have proved the effectiveness of Psoralea (a homeo medicine @10 drops /100 ml of sugar syrup). This treatment also controls the disease if the problem is diagnosed at the early stage of infection. Dequeening the diseased colony and requeening it with queen reared from healthy colony will also check the disease. In addition, the following preventive measures are recommended to prevent the interapiary and intraapiary spread of TSBV disease.

Deserted colonies must be closed immediately to avoid honey robbing

which also paves way for disease spread.


Diseased combs have to be melted for rendering wax. Exchange of brood combs and honey supers are to be avoided in a

diseased apiary to prevent further spread of the disease. Honey collected from diseased colonies should not be fed to healthy colonies.
Bee colonies showing disease symptoms are not fit for colony division.

Only healthy colonies are to be used for queen rearing or dividing. Deserted hives are to be washed thoroughly with boiling water and sun dried before re use. EUROPEAN FOUL BROOD This disease is also now occurring in Indian bee colonies. EFB occurrence was found out in Tatoor, Theerthamalai, Vellakinaru and Chinnavedampatti by TNAU. EFB kills bee larvae before pupation. Absence of capping in brood cells is the most important symptom. This disease can be effectively checked by giving antibiotic treatment to the diseased colonies (250 mg tetracycline in 300 ml of 1:1 sugar syrup). The treatment can be repeated 2-3 times depending on the intensity of disease. The antibiotic treatment has to be given only prior to nectar flow season to avoid possible residues of antibiotics in honey. The efficacy of the treatment was confirmed both at Theerthamalai & Chinnavedampatti. The preventive measures suggested for TSBV is also applicable to EFB. Action plan The honey flow season for the year 2012 (January to April) is already over. Hence, the following strategies are planned for the next honey flow season. TNAU will extend help in differential diagnosis of these diseases to the beekeepers.

The

programme Co-ordinator of AICRP on Honey Bees and

Pollinators of ICAR has been contacted to send the copy of the detailed survey report to take further actions and their help will be also utilized to tackle this problem. The bee keepers will be sensitized on differential diagnosis of TSBV and EFB through training and other media.
KVK officials of Pechiparai, PCC Thirunelveli and KVK, Madurai will

be involved in extending this message to bee keepers of Kanyakumari and other districts.
Organizations

like

YMCA,

Marthandam

which

is

involved

in

promoting bee keeping and State Beekeeping Training Centre of KVIC Kulithurai will be also involved in this activity. Registrar Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore-3

Professor (Entomology) Director (CPPS)

Professor and Head Dept. of Agrl.Entomology

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