COW URINE AS A CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC IN COMBATING EUROPEAN FOUL BROOD IN HONEY BEE, APIS MELLIFERA L.

摘要

Investigations were carried out at few apiaries in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana to gather relevant data on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of cow urine and terramycin against bacterial disease, European Foul brood (Melissococcus plutonius) in honey bee, Apis mellifera colonies. Seventy colonies were selected for experimentation and equalized for colony strength, food stores and assured to have same aged queen. Observations were recorded on disease infection level on 3,7,15 and 21 days after 1st and 2nd spraying and % recovery of infection worked out. It is concluded that the spray of cow urine showed a rapid significant reduction in the infection within 21 days and also improved brood growth and health as well as hygienic colonies. Moreover, there was no contamination in the hive products. Whereas, terramycin treatments showed high reduction in the infection below the detectable level in 15 days only but left residues in hive products. Thus the study reveal that the cow urine could have a potential as a therapeutic against bacterial disease supporting the claim of traditional management practice. Cow urine could be used as alternative to chemotherapeutic for the management of European Foul Brood in honey bee colonies.