Content
“Oxybactocide” is a bacteriostatic drug of the latest generation, which is used for the prevention and treatment of bees from foulbrood diseases. Stops the proliferation of infectious agents: gram-negative, gram-positive pathogenic microorganisms.
Application in beekeeping
The indication for the use of "Oxybactocide" in beekeeping is a bacterial infection - American or European foulbrood, caused by pathogenic microorganisms:
- streptococcal bacterium Pluto;
- Paenibacillus larvae, spore-forming rod;
- Alvey bacillus;
- Streptococcus Apis.
The drug is designed to destroy the pathogen that infects bees with foulbrood. The infection affects sealed brood and five-day-old larvae. Spreads through adults. When cleaning the hive, spores enter the bee's oral cavity; when feeding brood, the pathogen enters the intestines with honey, infecting the young.The larva dies, the body turns dark brown or takes on the appearance of a liquid mass with a characteristic smell of wood glue.
Release form, composition of the drug
The active ingredient in Oxybactocide is oxytetracycline hydrochloride, a broad-spectrum antibiotic. Auxiliary components of the drug: glucose, ascorbic acid.
The pharmaceutical industry produces the drug in two forms:
- in the form of strips of thick paper impregnated with the active substance oxytetracycline hydrochloride, packaged 10 pieces per bag;
- in the form of a dark yellow powder, volume 5 g in a plastic bag, the amount of the drug is designed for 10 uses.
Pharmacological properties
The active substance in Oxybactocide, produced for bees, stops the proliferation of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The mechanism of action of the drug is based on blocking protein synthesis in the RNA of bacterial cells by inhibiting ribosome function. The cell membrane is destroyed, which leads to the death of the microorganism.
Instructions for use of Oxybactocide for bees
Treatment of bees with “Oxybactocide” is carried out in early spring after flight, before mass collection of beebread, in the summer, when the bee product is pumped out. The infected colony is first transferred to an uninfected hive. Sick queens are removed and those capable of reproduction are replaced.
Foulbrood can infect healthy individuals, so equipment, hives and honeycombs throughout the apiary are treated.
Oxybactocide (powder): instructions for use
The instructions for “Oxybactocide” indicate that the drug for bees is added to a dense mass made from honey and powdered sugar (kandi), which is then fed to insects. The medicine is diluted in syrup and given to the bees. Treatments are carried out in the spring. In summer, the drug is diluted in a sugar solution and irrigated with a spray bottle on adults, frames and brood.
Oxybactocide (strips): instructions for use
Plates 150 mm long, 25 mm wide, impregnated with the active substance, are placed vertically between the frames; for this they are attached to a wire or a special device. Work is carried out in the spring with an interval of 7 days. The old drug is replaced with a new one at least three times.
Dosage, rules of use
Strips of “Oxybactocide” are hung in the gap between the frames with brood and the next one (covering) behind it. Calculation of the preparation: one plate for 6 nesting frames. The course of treatment is three weeks, the strips are changed every 7 days.
Using Oxybactocide powder with candy:
- Prepare 5 kg dough from honey and sugar.
- Add 5 g of powder to the finished mixture.
- They are distributed among the hives at the rate of 500 g per bee family.
Dosage using syrup:
- Prepare a syrup consisting of 6.2 kg of sugar and 6.2 liters of water (1:1).
- 5 g of “Oxybactocide” are dissolved in 50 ml of warm water.
- Add to syrup, stir well.
Feed the bees 100 g per frame.
Summer treatment with the drug:
- Mix 5 g of powder with 50 ml of water.
- Prepare 1.5 liters of sugar syrup in a ratio of 1:5.
- Add the prepared product to the syrup.
The mixture is sprayed on both sides of the frame with bees, and the infected areas with brood are intensively treated (at the rate of 15 ml per frame).Treatment is carried out once every six days until the signs of foulbrood are completely destroyed.
Side effects, contraindications, restrictions on use
“Oxybactocide” was tested, and no contraindications were identified during the experimental use. If the recommended dosage is observed, the drug does not have a harmful effect on the bee’s body, and there are no side effects either. It is recommended to stop treatment 10 days before pumping out honey and before mass honey collection.
Shelf life and storage conditions of the drug
"Oxybactocide" is stored in the manufacturer's packaging for 2 years from the date of release. Optimal temperature: from zero to +260 C, no UV exposure. It is necessary to store the drug away from food and animal feed, and also out of reach of children.
Conclusion
“Oxybacterocide” is an antibacterial agent used to treat bees against foulbrood. Available in strip and powder form. Used to prevent and treat infections, available without a prescription.
(This year, in mid-July, I noticed the larvae; they were moving chaotically around the frame; there was no such activity before.) - nonsense, the larvae do not come out of the cell. Unless these are wax moth treatments.....