Septicaemia - Pseudomonas
Causal agent |
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gram negative rods. |
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Age group |
Adult honey bees |
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Egg |
Larvae |
Pupae |
Adult - worker |
Drone |
Queen |
|
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Clinical signs |
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Adult |
Dead or dying bees
with a putrid odour. |
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Infectivity |
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|
Bees die within 24
hours |
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Transmission |
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Pseudomonas is a
common inhabitant of the environment |
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Post-mortem
Lesions |
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|
The disease results
in a destruction of the connective tissues of the thorax, legs, wings and
antennae. When handled the bees
fall apart. Dead or dying bees may
have a putrid odour. |
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Diagnosis |
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|
Prepare a bacterial
smear by removing the wing from the thorax. Dip the wing base
into a drop of water on a microscope slide Gram stain. Culture by streaking
the base of the wing across blood agar. |
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Treatment |
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Antibiotics |
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Control |
Review hive environment and biosecurity |
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Common differentials |
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|
None |
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Zoonosis |
Pseudomonas can affect man |
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