Paenibacillus larvae larvae spores in honey samples from Uruguay: a nationwide survey.

American foulbrood is a severe bacterial disease affecting larvae of the honeybee Apis mellifera and it is caused by Paenibacillus larvae larvae. The disease is present worldwide and cases have been reported in almost all the beekeeping regions of the five continents. During 2001 and 2002 we carried out a nationwide study to assess the presence and amount of P. l. larvae spores in honey samples from Uruguay, combining classic bacteriological, and molecular approaches. The distribution of P. l. larvae spores in honey of the whole country showed a clear pattern and may provide useful data for a control and prevention strategy of American foulbrood.