I

ANNO 2 Numero 1
Emanuele Carpana [1], Alessandra Ferro[1], Antonella Torresani [1], Claudio Cassanelli [2 ]

Evaluation of some natural compounds for the prophylaxis of American foulbrood disease

[1] CRA - Istituto Nazionale di Apicoltura, Bologna (Italy).
[2] Beekeeper. Via Modena, 94. S. Giovanni in Persiceto, Bologna (Italy)

Contact: ecarpana@inapicoltura.org

The antimicrobial activity against Paenibacillus larvae larvae (causative agent of American foulbrood) of some botanical compounds and linoleic acid was evaluated.
In the in vitro tests the greatest inhibiting action was shown by linoleic acid and citrus seed extract, followed by essential oils of Cinnamomun zeylanicum, Aloysia triphylla (lemon verbena), Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) and Eugenia caryophyllata (eugenia).
In the field tests, combining the administration of linoleic acid to infected hives with brood elimination led to a significant reduction in relapses.