June, '16] SCIEXTIFIC NOTES 379 



Report of the Finding of American Foulbrood and European Foulbrood in the 

 Same Bee Comb. In the examination of about five thousand suspected samples 

 of bee comb and brood from every section of the United States and several foreign 

 countries, the writer has never until recently observed both American foulbrood and 

 European foulbrood in the same comb. The sample referred to is No. 4982, from 

 Patterson, Stanislaus County, California, sent to the Bureau of Entomology by Mr. 

 Willis Lynch, County Apiary Inspector, Stockton, California, and diagnosed in the 

 Bureau Laboratory May 4, 1916. 



The presence of American foulbrood is exhibited by many typical scales closely 

 adhering to the lower cell wall and showing, on microscopical examination, numerous 

 spores suggesting Bacillus larvae, the identity of which is further confirmed by the fact 

 that thej^ fail to grow on the ordinary media of the laboratorj'. The odor is definite 

 and characteristic for American foulbrood but, as is sometimes also the case where 

 American foulbrood occurs alone, not pronounced. 



The presence of European foulbrood is exhibited by many larvje of grey, yellow, 

 and brown coloration, lying at the bottom of the cell, and presenting the melting 

 appearance often noted in larvae affected with this disease. These larvse showed, 

 on microscopical examination. Bacillus pluton in large number. Spores of Bacillus 

 alvei were also found in large number in some of these larvae. 



No larvae in the ropy stage of American foulbrood were found— only the dry ad- 

 herent scales, while fresh, moist, melting larvae of European foulbrood were present, 

 indicating an active condition of the last mentioned disease. If the sample is repre- 

 sentative of all of the affected larvae in the colony, it seems probable that American 

 foulbrood attacked the colony first; the scales may have been in the comb since last 

 year or even longer. However, the priority of either disease is a matter of speculation 

 without a complete history of the colony itself. 



Mr. Lynch states that several years ago American foulbrood was found about ten 

 miles .south of Patterson, and that in the latter part of 1915 the same disease mani- 

 fested itself near the apiary, from which the sample was taken. European foulbrood, 

 JNIr. Lynch further states, broke out very badly about fifteen miles north of Patterson 

 in July 1914 and moved up the San Joaquin river towards Patterson. All who saw 

 this outbreak made a gross diagnosis of both diseases; viz — American foulbrood and 

 European foulbrood. This history relative to the appearance of these two diseases 

 in the vicinity, from which the sample was taken, is interesting as showing clearly 

 that American foulbrood was first in evidence, according to gross or field diagnosis. 

 This is no evidence, however, that Ajuerican foulbrood was the first disease to make 

 its appearance in the colony from which sample No. 4982 was taken, but it seems not 

 unhkely. 



Beekeepers have from time to time sent in samples with the report that both 

 diseases were present in the same comb but they have all proven on laboratory exam- 

 ination to be one or the other disease alone. 



So far as the writer is aware, this is only the second authentic report confirmed by 

 laboratory findings of the presence of these two diseases in the same comb. 



Abthuk H. McCray, M.D., 

 ApicuUural Assistant, Bureau of Entomology. 



