Fylaktou A, Liakos B.

The effectiveness of Terramycin treatment was evaluated in four groups of bee colonies, of the race Apis mellifera cypria, which were infected experimentally with American foulbrood. Terramycin was administrated in four different formulations: a) as a curative sugar syrup, b) blended with powdered sugar, c) incorporated in extender patties and d) inside paper envelops mixed with sodium Sulfathiazol and powdered sugar. The treatment was successful in all four groups. The elimination of clinical symptoms was faster and completed recovery was observed after approximately thirty days, in the group receiving Terramycin with powdered sugar, followed by the group where Terramycin was fed as curative sugar syrup. Among the colonies of the latter, a remarkable difference was detected in the elimination of clinical symptoms, which lasted 24 days in one of them and 60 in another. The group receiving the combination of Terramycin - Sulfathiazol, was third. The complete cure lasting 50-60 days. The extender patties were the least effective regiment, since the complete cure lasted 60-72 days. The treated colonies did not show disease recurrence eight months after treatment.

Key words: American foulbrood, treatment, Terramycin formulations.