Sacbrood virus

Signs or indications

In cappedcapping:
the covering that bees add over comb cells containing fully ripened honey or to cap brood that has reached the pupal stage; bee bread cells are not capped
cells, a tiny perforation is often present. Before cappingcapping:
the covering that bees add over comb cells containing fully ripened honey or to cap brood that has reached the pupal stage; bee bread cells are not capped
, the larva dries into a rough canoe shape, with the head (the part of the larva facing the cell opening) being shrunken and darker than the rest of the body. The body covering will be leathery and greyish-yellow to brown. Dead larvae usually are easily removed from the cell and appear sac-like beyond the leathery head portion. Adult bees with sacbrood lack signs of it.

Description

Sacbrood virus (SBV) often appears during spring colony buildup. It affects both larval and adult stages. The infected adult bees will have a decreased lifespan. Infection of larvae causes larval death before pupation. The signs of SBV can be confused with those for American foulbrood.

The decaying larval body will have a leathery covering and a distinctly discolored greyish-yellow to brown “head” (outside end) that is shrunken and darker colored. The rest of the body is sac-like when removed from the cell. Dead larvae usually are easily removed from the cell. The remains have a “canoe” appearance that is curled at both ends, with the head end darker. Sometimes the dead remains have a tiny head-like structure beneath a cappingcapping:
the covering that bees add over comb cells containing fully ripened honey or to cap brood that has reached the pupal stage; bee bread cells are not capped
with a perforation.

Most closely resembles

American foulbrood or other brood diseases

Resources

Beekeeping Resources n.d. Viral Diseases. University of Georgia Bee Program. Accessed 2023. https://bees.caes.uga.edu/bees-beekeeping-pollination/honey-bee-disorders/honey-bee-disorders-viral-diseases.html

Shimanuki H and Knox D. 2000. Diagnosis of Honey Bee Diseases. US Department of Agriculture Agriculture Handbook 690.https://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/honeybeediseases/honeybeediseases.pdf

Moore, PA, Wilson ME, and Skinner JA. 2019 update. Honey Bee Viruses, the Deadly Varroa Mite Associates. Bee Health. Accessed 2023. https://bee-health.extension.org/honey-bee-viruses-the-deadly-varroa-mite-associates/

CAPA. 2019. Honey Bee Diseases & Pests, Third Edition. Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists. Accessed 2023. https://capabees.com/capa-honey-bee-diseases-and-pests-3rd-edition/

 Dead prepupae with SBV removed from the cell; photo by Robert Snyder
Dead prepupae with SBV removed from the cell; photo by Robert Snyder
 Dead prepupae with sacbrood virus, removed from cell; photo by The BeeMD photo collection
Dead prepupae with sacbrood virus, removed from cell; photo by The BeeMD photo collection
 Capped cells opened to view SBV-infected larvae; photo by Robert Snyder
Capped cells opened to view SBV-infected larvae; photo by Robert Snyder
 SBV; photo by Robert Snyder
SBV; photo by Robert Snyder
 SBV; photo by Robyn Underwood
SBV; photo by Robyn Underwood