A vaccine for bees has been approved for the first time in the US. The preparation is said to protect honeybees against the global bacterial disease American Foulbrood (AFB), which can infect and kill bee brood.
According to manufacturer Dalan Animal Health, it is the world’s first approved vaccine for bees. It is administered with the feed juice for the animals.
Approved by the United States Department of Agriculture
It is also the first for an insect in the United States. “We hope that the availability of this product will aid in the prevention and/or treatment of American foulbrood disease in honey bees, given their central pollination role in American agriculture,” the department said.
Year after year, entire bee colonies are ravaged by a highly contagious bacterial pathogen that causes the larvae to rot in the honeycomb. Beekeepers suffer major losses, but agriculture is also affected because the pollination rate decreases due to the declining bee population. In many countries – including Austria – the use of antibiotics to combat foul brood is prohibited. Affected hives must be destroyed.
Also research in Graz
An international study with the participation of researchers from the University of Graz has also proven the positive effect of the first vaccine on social insects. The findings are published in the October 2022 issue of Frontiers of Veterinary Research.
Source: Krone
I am an experienced and passionate journalist with a strong track record in news website reporting. I specialize in technology coverage, breaking stories on the latest developments and trends from around the world. Working for Today Times Live has given me the opportunity to write thought-provoking pieces that have caught the attention of many readers.
