• A comprehensive, evidence-based veterinary reference supporting honey bee health and resilience

    As veterinary oversight of honey bee health continues to expand worldwide, practitioners are increasingly called upon to diagnose disease, manage colony health, and comply with evolving standards for food-producing animals. Honey Bee Medicine for the Veterinary Practitioner, Second Edition provides the clinical foundation and practical guidance needed to meet these responsibilities with confidence.

    This revised edition integrates expanded physiological background with applied diagnostic reasoning, offering veterinarians a clear framework for evaluating colony health and selecting appropriate treatments. Updated therapeutic approaches reflect current best practices and regulatory expectations, while full-color images illustrate key clinical findings and procedures.

    New to this edition are an introductory chapter placing veterinary honey bee practice in global context and a dedicated chapter addressing queen production failure—an increasingly important challenge in modern apiculture. Written by leading experts in apian medicine, this reference addresses the evolving role of veterinarians in honey bee health worldwide.

    Readers will find:

    • A systematic, clinically relevant approach to diagnostic workups and treatment planning for honey bee colonies
    • In-depth coverage of honey bee physiology and its direct relevance to disease progression and therapeutic decision-making
    • Updated treatment options aligned with current scientific knowledge and standards for food-producing animals
    • Color images demonstrating diagnostic findings, colony assessment techniques, and essential clinical procedures
    • Practical guidance enabling veterinarians without prior apicultural experience to respond competently to honey bee cases

    Veterinary practitioners, veterinary students, researchers in apian medicine, and advanced apiarists will find this text indispensable. By connecting physiological science with practical clinical application, this book supports confident, evidence-based care for honey bees in an industry increasingly dependent on veterinary expertise.

  • Section I: Biology and Medical Foundations 1

    Pollinators, Food Security, and Climate Resilience 3

    The Superorganism: Bee Behaviors Promoting Health 15

    Honey Bee Anatomy 30

    Physiology of the Honey Bee: Principles for the Beekeeper and Veterinarian 39

    Honey Bee Nutrition 55

    Honey Bee Microbiota and the Physiology of Antimicrobial Resistance 69

    Honey Bee Pharmacology 84

    Diversity, Ecology, and Management of Non-Apis Bees 100

    Section II: Honey Bee Diseases and Disorders 115

    Epidemiology and Biosecurity 117

    Clinical Examination of a Honey Bee Hive 130

    Diagnosing and Improving Queen Health 140

    Bacterial Diseases of Honey Bees 157

    Honey Bee Viruses: Pathogenesis and Impact on Colony Health 175

    Honey Bee Fungal Diseases 203

    The Parasitic Mite Varroa destructor 215

    Viruses and Vectors: Causes of Colony Losses 234

    Honey Bee Parasites and Pests 241

    Diagnostic Tools 270

    Toxins and Pesticides 283

    Necropsy of a Hive 301

    Section III: Beekeeping Principles for Veterinarians 315

    The Apiarist 317

    Equipment and Safety 332

    Common Husbandry Issues 350

    Regulatory Issues 369

    Education and Certification in Honey Bee Veterinary Medicine 381

    Working with State, Territory, and Provincial Apiary Programs 387

    Disaster Preparedness and Response 394

    Index 000

  • Terry Ryan Kane, DVM, MS, Cert HbV,

    Is an ecologist, a beekeeper, a veterinary educator and writer from Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

    Cynthia Faux, DVM, PhD, DACVIM-LAs

    Is a veterinary educator, writer, and anatomist from Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Veterinary Clinics of North America
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