Septicaemia - Pseudomonas

 

Causal agent

Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Gram negative rods.

Age group

Adult honey bees

Egg

Larvae

Pupae

Adult - worker

Drone

Queen

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Clinical signs

Adult

Dead or dying bees with a putrid odour.

Infectivity

 

Bees die within 24 hours

Transmission

 

Pseudomonas is a common inhabitant of the environment

Post-mortem Lesions

 

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.

Diagnosis

 

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.

Treatment

 

Antibiotics

Control

Review hive environment and biosecurity

Common differentials

 

None

Zoonosis

Pseudomonas can affect man