Isolation and characterization of Bacillus coagulans associated with half-moon disorder of honey bees

Abstract

Nine different isolates of the bacterium Bacillus coagulans were isolated from honey bee larval cadavers collected from colonies afflicted with half-moon disorder (HMD) in New Zealand. One isolate was selected for detailed characterization and pathogenicity testing. Laboratory-reared larvae became infected when inoculated with the test isolate at 1 or 2 d of age. No infection was observed among larvae inoculated in combs placed in small colonies in outdoor cages. Although able to infect larvae under certain conditions, B coagulans is probably not the cause of HMD.