HONEY BEE (APIS MELLIFERA) DISEASES RELEVANT TO BRAZILIAN AGRICULTURAL DEFENSE

Abstract

The objective of this study was to develop a Technical Data Sheet on bee diseases (Apis mellifera) relevant to agricultural defense. Given the economic and environmental importance of beekeeping, bee mortality requires special attention from Agricultural Defense Agencies. Among the actions developed by the Agricultural Defense Agency of Paraná (ADAPAR) in relation to the National Beekeeping Health Program are sanitary education, intervention in cases of suspected or confirmed notifiable diseases, and epidemiological surveillance. The research was based on a review of documentation and websites from 25 other state agricultural defense agencies, the Federal District, and the National Beekeeping Health Program. The key elements selected for the development of the Technical Data Sheet for the Agricultural Defense Agency of Paraná included: definition of diseases of interest, transmission, clinical signs, sample collection for diagnosis, diagnostic methods, control and prevention, notification of positive cases, and final considerations. Centralizing this guidance in the Technical Data Sheet optimizes beekeeping health actions, enabling rapid notification to the appropriate authorities, reducing response time for implementing necessary measures, and promoting effective containment of potential outbreaks.