Effects of Nosema bombi and its treatment fumagillin on bumble bee Bombus occidentalis colonies
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Published source details
Whittington R. & Winston M.L. (2003) Effects of Nosema bombi and its treatment fumagillin on bumble bee Bombus occidentalis colonies. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 84, 54-58.
Published source details Whittington R. & Winston M.L. (2003) Effects of Nosema bombi and its treatment fumagillin on bumble bee Bombus occidentalis colonies. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 84, 54-58.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Ensure commercial hives/nests are disease free Action Link |
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Ensure commercial hives/nests are disease free
A randomised controlled trial in a large greenhouse in Ladner, British Columbia, Canada found that the antibiotic fumagillin dicyclohexylammonium did not affect the incidence or intensity of infection by the internal parasite Nosema bombi, in managed colonies of the western bumblebee Bombus occidentalis (Whittington & Winston 2003). The antibiotic was given to 32 colonies in sugar water at doses of 26 mg/L and 52 mg/L, and 17 control colonies were not treated. The study found that samples of frass or five or more worker bees could reliably test for the presence or absence of the parasite, but could not be used to quantify the intensity of infection.
