Advice 12-2012 of the Scientific Committee of the Belgian Food Safety Agency on the assessment of the risk that reared bumblebees contaminated with spores and or vegetative cells of American foulbrood

The Scientific Committee has assessed the risk that reared bumblebees contaminated with spores and/or vegetative cells of American foulbrood (Paenibacillus larvae) induce a clinical outbreak of this disease in honeybees. 
The Scientific Committee concludes that this risk is low, since it has never been shown so far that bumblebees could be carriers of this disease. Moreover, the probability that honeybees become contaminated with American foulbrood by reared bumblebees is much lower compared to the probability that they become infected following a direct or indirect contact with other bees, as the disease is widespread. Good bumblebees rearing practices do require however that all necessary measures are taken to minimize the risk of contamination by spores and/or vegetative cells of American foulbrood (e.g. : compliance with biosecurity rules).