As pollinators of numerous crops, bees are the most important animal species in Germany after cattle, pigs and poultry. Climate change is leading to a global spread of pathogens and parasites that are dangerous to bees.

We are working on several current topics to provide authorities and beekeepers with fast and cost-effective detection methods.

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Example American foulbrood

American foulbrood (AFB) is a highly infectious, notifiable disease of bee larvae. Predatory bees or contaminated honey can infect the larvae with the bacterium Paenibacillus larvae. The infection usually leads to death.

In cooperation with the Länderinstitut für Bienenkunde we are working on a simple but sensitive test for beekeepers on site. The result of the test provides certainty about whether and in what way a bee colony is infected with the pathogen of American foulbrood.