study on prevalence and antibiogram of american foulbrood in honey bee hives of east azarbaijan province between 2007-2008

american foulbrood disease (afb) is one of the most important bacterial diseases of honey bee can be caused severe losses in apiaries. afb caused by paenibacillus larvae a gram positive and spore-forming bacterium. this study was taken placed in 15 area of east azerbaijan province of iran between 2006-2007 years. in this study, 500 bee hives were randomly selected from 100 apiaries. standard bacteriological tests was performed to isolate paenibacillus larvae identification and antibiogram tests were done on approved isolates. the results of this study revealed that, three apiaries were infected by paenibacillus larvae and they were sensitive to the oxytetracycline, tetracycline, doxycycline,sulphadimidine, taylosin, gentamicin, streptomycin and penicillin respectively. finally, it was demonstrated that the rate of afb in apiaries of east azerbaijan province is low and isolated bacteria were sensitive to the most antibiotics.