Objective risk of disease transfer in super comb

[MrMouse]

Hi folks,

There seem to be slightly mixed opinions on using secondhand super comb.
It seems such a waste to cut it all out and melt it down, but then the risk of disease transmission possibly ways that out.

There understandably seems to be a habit of doing the 'safe' thing. However, given that foulbrood is inherently a brood disease, I wonder what the actual objective risk might be?

Has anyone fallen foul of bringing disease into their apiary by using secondhand super comb?

Of course brood comb is a different kettle of fish.

Thanks

 

[ericbeaumont]

objective risk might be?

Whatever an individual beekeeper may believe, wish or think, fact is that only testing would establish risk. One year the NBU tested a beefarmer's pickup truck: EFB all over it, though I don't recall whether it was in his colonies.

 

[MrMouse]

That's interesting. There's clearly a difference between the presence of disease (through testing, for example on a truck) and symptomatic infection. Therefore, my question pertains more to whether anyone had symptomatic foulbrood infection from using super comb?

 

[pargyle]

Why risk it ? You know the provenance of your own comb .. why even consider using someone else's discarded super comb ?

 

[MrMouse]

I don't plan on using it - I've ordered sufficient frames and foundation not to. But that doesn't mean that part of me doesn't see it as a great waste.

I suppose it's always easy to say 'why risk it'. I'm a risk-averse individual. However, there's nothing wrong with challenging why we do or do not do things and I therefore thought it might be interesting to see how objective that risk was.

 

[pargyle]

I don't plan on using it - I've ordered sufficient frames and foundation not to. But that doesn't mean that part of me doesn't see it as a great waste.

Or a disaster looking for somewhere to happen ... you seem to differentiate between using someone else's brood comb and someone else's super comb ... same risk. Nobody in their right mind would consider using either unless they have first hand known provenance. No brainer ....

 

[MrMouse]

Fair enough - I'm sure I had read that some believed that super comb was less risky if it hadn't been used for rearing brood.
This super comb is certainly being melted down. Just always interesting to hear others' views!

 

[E&MBees]

Having had to destroy a colony due to EFB, it’s not worth the risk, worry and upset.