Comparative field trials of Paenibacillus larvae control with antibiotics, essential oil of cinnamon

GENDE L.B., ,; PALAZZETTI M.,; PANNONE O.,; FRITZ., R; EGUARAS M. J.,; SACCARES S.,; DELL’AIRA,E; FORMATO G

Melbourne

Congreso; Apimondia-Melbourne; 2007

Apimondia

. The efficacy of three different components, essential oil of cinnamon(Cinnamomum zeylanicum), propolis, antibiotics (tetracycline HCl) againstPaenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae was tested in colonies of honey beesunder field conditions. The trials were carried out in May-June 2006 withfour Apis mellifera melllifera groups containing natural infected hives.One group was treated three times with essential oil of cinnamon, thefirst treatment with 2000 mg/L and two doses with 1000 mg/L. A secondgroup was treated three times with alcohol solution of propolis 6 %. Thethird group was treated with Tetracycline HCL (Ambramicina®) 1.2 gdistributed in three doses of 0.4 g. The fourth group served as a controland was not treated. All of the treatments were given at 7-day intervals.The results were observed during one month and a half. The treatment withessential oil of cinnamon was the most efficient natural control. Thetreatment with propolis had the lowest efficacy. These results suggest apossible new way of controlling the presence of Paenibacillus larvaesubsp. larvae in Apis mellifera melllifera hives without residues ofantibiotics in honey.