In vitro generation of Paenibacillus larvae spores

BORRACCI, S.; CHACANA, P. A.; PALACIO, M. A.; TERZOLO, H. R.

Ljubljana, Eslovenia

Congreso; Apimondia 2003; 2003

Apimondia International Federation of Beekepers´ Associations

American Foulbrood is a serious disease of honey bees (Apis mellifera). The agent of the disease is a sporulated and flagellated grampositive bacterium called Paenibacillus larvae. Adult bees are carriers while only larva suffersepticaemia. Sporulation spontaneously occurs in dead pupae. In vitro spores are difficult to obtain, and culture media that support a good growth of vegetativeforms, often fail to render a high sporulation rate. Methodologies for obtaining in vitro spores are needed in order to standardise infective inoculafor experimental models of the disease.