APSC Legal Metrology: Thai Sacbrood Virus (Paper 1)

• A viral disease that primarily affects honeybee larvae, especially in Asiatic honey bees (Apis cerana indica).

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Key Facts:

1. Impact on Bees:
   • Kills honeybee larvae, leading to:
     • Colony collapse
     • Reduced reproduction and pollination activity
   • Highly lethal to Asiatic honey bees.
   • Less harmful to Western honey bees (Apis mellifera).
2. Transmission:
   • Spread through movement of infected bee colonies, often due to:
     • Commercial pollination
     • Honey production practices
3. Geographical Spread:
   • Major outbreak in 1991–92 in South India destroyed ~90% of Asiatic bee colonies.
   • Resurfaced in 2021 in Telangana.
   • Reported in China, Vietnam, and other Asian countries.

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Significance:

• Threatens apiculture and agricultural productivity (due to reduced pollination).
• Highlights need for:
  • Stringent biosecurity in apiculture
  • Monitoring movement of bee colonies
  • Research on disease-resistant bee strains