Lincomycin hydrochloride for the control of American foulbrood disease of honey bees

The antibiotic lincomycin hydrochloride was evaluated for toxicity to larval and adult honey bees and for efficacy in controlling American foulbrood disease (AFB). Results of toxicity studies involving nine applications of lincomycin (200-, 600-, or 1000 mg active ingredient per application) as a dust in confectioners sugar revealed no significant differences in mortality among any of the treatment groups for either adults or larvae, when compared to untreated or sugar-treated controls. In field efficacy studies, 18 colonies with existing oxytetracycline-resistant AFB were dusted three times, one week apart, with either 100-, 200-, or 400 mg lincomycin (in 20 g confectioners sugar). Forty- five days after the third treatment, no visible signs of AFB could be found, regardless of the initial severity of disease or the dose applied.