There are several factors that stress honeybee colonies. These may include parasites, predators, poisoning by pesticides, loss of food due to fire and drought, and bacterial, fungal, or viral diseases. Losses caused by these stressors routinely exceed 40% or more.
“Any of the common bee diseases may limit production. The worst of them, AFB, can be cripplingly expensive to control. The loss of hives destroyed because of AFB is a minor cost compared to the cost of the additional effort required to minimize the risk of AFB spreading within the apiaries.”
American Foulbrood is highly contagious and devastating disease that destroys the developing bee larvae. The disease-causing bacteria is present in 50% of commercial hives worldwide which can erupt at any time.
Once a hive shows clinical symptoms of AFB, the hive, colony, and all related equipment must be destroyed by burning and burying deep in the ground. In addition, hives that were in proximity must be quarantined for multiple weeks. The economic impact to the beekeeper is significant.
According to estimates in the U.S. alone, lost annual revenue due to AFB and other diseases is estimated at $400 million and growing.
In the U.S., AFB outbreaks had been controlled with the routine use of antibiotics. However, heavy antibiotic usage has its own consequences, such as bacterial resistance and negative effects on overall hive health. In 2017 the FDA eliminated the prophylactic use of antibiotics, leaving the industry without an effective solution.
Dalan's prophylactic and sustainable approach aims to decrease the risk of infections, saving not only hives, but protecting from revenue loss and excess costs.
