100% attendance at practical lessons

The aim of subject is to furnish the students with appropriate knowledge about the biology of honeybees, knowledge for the recognition of diseases and to make effective therapy and protective measures. Therefore the teaching is under the following heads: bees environment, breeding methods, basic anatomy and physioloy of bees, most important diseases, recognition of the diseases in the field, laboratory methods, therapy and protective measures.

The subject deals with the basic information about beekeeping, anatomy, physiology, biology and mainly diseases of honey bees caused by viruses, bacteria, fungy, parasites and the environment, their diagnosis, control and prevention.

Outline of lectures

1. History of beekeeping 2. Beekeeping, the importance of bees for agriculture and ecology 3. Beekeeping in the zoological system 4. Expansion of basic bee species 5. Beekeeping - composition and breeding of bees 6. Legislation in beekeeping 7. Anatomy and physiology of bees - skeleton, digestive organs, respiratory and circulatory system 8. Non-infectious diseases of bees and bee brood 9. Toxicology - poisoning of bees and bee brood, Pesticides and poisoning caused by industrial production 10. Biological defense mechanisms of the bee colony against diseases and pests 11. Importance of bumble bee breeding 12. National program for the eradication of AFB and EFB of bee brood13. The impact of the use of pharmaceuticals on honey

Syllabus of practical exercises

1. Habitat of bee colonies, bee habitat, beekeeping inventory - inspection of hives, their composition, methods of use 2. Anatomy and physiology of bees - viewing the differences between queen, brood and worker, bee dissection, dissection of organs 3. Diagnosis of bee brood diseases - laboratory diagnosis of AFB, cultivation, staining, biochemical tests 4. Diagnosis of bee brood diseases - laboratory diagnosis of EFB, cultivation, staining, biochemical tests 5. Diseases of adult bees - viral diseases - causative agents, clinical symptoms, prevention, therapy - veterinary protective measures 6. Diseases of the bee brood - Chalkbrood and Stonebrood of the bee brood - causative agents, clinical symptoms, laboratory diagnosis, prevention, therapy, veterinary protective measures 7. Diseases of adult bees: fungy and protozoa - laboratory diagnosis of nosema and Amoeba infection - causative agents, clinical symptoms, prevention, therapy - veterinary protective measures, dissection of the digestive system and Malpighi's glands, preparations for diagnosis 8. Diseases of adult bees - mite infection - causative agents, clinical symptoms, prevention and therapy, veterinary and protective measures, dissection of air cells, viewing changes in air cells, preparation of preparations from air cells 9. Diseases of adults bees - mite infection - causative agents, clinical symptoms, prevention and therapy, veterinary protective measures, methods of detection of V. destructor on bees, debris and brood, differentiation of individual stages of V. destructor 10. Diseases of adult bees – Tropilaelaps spp. and Aethina tumida - causative agents, clinical symptoms, prevention and therapy, veterinary protection measures 11. Pests of bees 12. Diseases of bumble bees 13. Clinical inspection of the bee colony - composition of the bee colony (drone, queen, workers, hives), changes in the brood, packaging and shipping samples to laboratories.

Toporčák, J. - Mudroňová, D. - Kuzyšinová, K. Honey Bee Pathology : Handbook for students of General veterinary medicine study branch graduate. Rec. Rastislav Sabo, Peter Košuth. 2. dopl. vyd. Košice : UVLF v Košiciach, 2021. 92 s. ISBN 978-8077-715-9.

Conditions for completion of course:

100% attendance at practical lessons

Final assessment:

End-of-term test about diseases bees, anatomy, toxicology, erradication, etc.