AFB Frame by Dennis vanEngelsdorp

This frame is an example of American Foulbrood disease which is highly transmittable and one of the most destrucitve and widespread brood diseases. It is very difficult to treat and if it does not kill a colony it will seriously weaken it. Paenibacillus larvae, the cause of AFB, only affects brood two days and younger. Once the brood are capped they begin to die. This causes the once "puffy" cappings to sink. The workers bees puncture the cells in an attempt to clean out the cells and in doing so, they pick up the disease and spread it throughout the colony. The dead larvae begin to darken, becoming moist and ropy. Eventually they dry up and adhere to the side of the cell in the form of a scale that is very difficult to remove. Note the spotty brood pattern in this frame characteristic of an unhealthy colony.