Control &; Prevention of American Foulbrood in Honey Bees

American foulbrood (AFB) is a severe bacterial disease that affects larvae of honey bees (Apis mellifera). The causative agent is the spore forming bacteria Paenibacillus larvae. The use of antibiotics has led to the appearance of resistant bacterial strains and residues in beehive products. Nowadays, antibiotics are legally banned in several countries, and the affected colonies have to be destroyed by burning the hives. Therefore, the development of alternative therapeuctic methods for the control and prevention of AFB is necessary. The present monograph reviews the traditional methods used for the control of AFB, and the natural strategies based on the application of essential oils, plant extracts, propolis, royal jelly, non-conventional natural molecules, bacteria and bacteriocines, assessed in vitro and in vivo for the prevention and control of P. larvae. This book also discusses the experimental data achieved from these studies, and intends to be a starting point for future research in the field.