EURL
European Union Reference Laboratory for
Bee Health
06 May 2025
An inter-laboratory proficiency test is being organized to assess the...
news list
Proficiency Test for the Detection of Paenibacillus larvae and Melissococcus plutonius - Now Open for Registration
Published on
06/05/2025
An inter-laboratory proficiency test is being organized to assess the performance and conformity of laboratories in detecting Paenibacillus larvae and Melissococcus plutonius, the causative agents of American and European foulbrood in honeybees.
Objectives:
To evaluate the accuracy and reliability of results provided by participating laboratories in the detection of these pathogens.
Diagnostic Methods Assessed:
Microscopy
Conventional and/or real-time PCR
Bacterial...
Save the date for the 2025 EURL annual workshop!
Published on
09/04/2025
The 15th annual workshop will be held at ANSES Sophia Antipolis (France) on Wednesday 15th October 2025. The EURL will welcome the representatives of the European and Third-Country NRLs. The annual workshop is the opportunity for the NRL network to exchange, to receive news from the partners and to give information on the activities run during the year.
More information to come. Stay tuned!
Geographical Spread of the Exotic Mite Tropilaelaps spp.: State of Play of the Worldwide Situation in March 2025
Published on
19/03/2025
This scientific note presents a state of play of the geographical distribution and spread of Tropilaelaps spp. mites, parasite of bees and exotic in the European Union (EU) in March 2025. It can be downloaded as a pdf here.
It has been initially published in French on the website of the French Animal Health Epidemiological Surveillance Platform on 3rd March 2025. It was translated into English and updated following the detection of Tropilaelaps spp. in Azerbaijan....
Proficiency tests schedules by the EURL in 2025
Published on
14/02/2025
In 2025, two proficiency tests (PTs) will be organised by the EURL.
PT on the detection and identification of Paenibacillus larvae/Melissococcus plutonius
Methods evaluated:
Microscopic examination
Molecular detection
Culture
Matrix: Crushed bee larvae
Provisional agenda: June / July 2025
PT on Small Hive Beetle identification
Methods evaluated:
Morphology (EURL method: ANSES/SOP/ANA-I1.MOA.1500)
PCR (EU RL method: ANA-I1....
New detection of SHB in Sicily on October 2024
Published on
06/11/2024
More information can be found on the website of the Italian National Reference Laboratory (NRL) on Honey Bee Health.
As of December 30 2024, there has been no new detection of Aethina tumida infestation in Sicily. In all 11 apiaries and three sentinel nuclei have been confirmed positive for SHB infestation in 2024 (Figures 1 & 2).
In the mainland, two new apiaries were found to be infested in the protection zone (30 km radius) in December (Figures 2 & 3). Only adults...
The NRL network met in person for the 14th EU RL annual workshop
Published on
03/11/2024
The EU RL for Bee Health held its 14th annual workshop on 24th October 2024 in Sophia Antipolis (France).
The participants had the pleasure to listen to two presentations of NRLs’ activities and the current honey bee health status in Belgium by Severine Matthijs (Head of the Belgium NRL) and in Slovakia by Miriam Kantikova (representative of the Slovakian NRL).
Franco Mutinelli, head of the Italian NRL, presented an overview of 10 years living with SHB Calabria region. This...
Comparative laboratory test on identification of Tropilaelaps spp. by Morphological Examination coming soon
Published on
13/11/2023
Aims: To evaluate the conformity of the results obtained by the European Union (EU) National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) for the identification of Tropilaelaps spp. by morphological examination
Modalities: Ring test consisting of sending a unique panel of samples, successively to each participating laboratory.
Requirements for participation:
Due to logistical constraints, this comparative laboratory test (CLT) is only open to EU NRLs, which have not...
The NRL network met in person for the 13th EU RL annual workshop
Published on
20/10/2023
The EU RL for Bee Health held its 13th annual workshop on 10th October 2023 in Sophia Antipolis (France) after three years remotely. All participants were particularly happy to meet in person. Informal discussions were intense and the EU RL leaders had to kindly interrupt long coffee breaks to resume the annual workshop.
The participants had the pleasure to listen to two presentations of NRLs’ activities and the current honey bee health status in Estonia by Merle Kuus (...
Inter-laboratory proficiency test on Paenibacillus larvae / Melissococcus plutonius detection open for registration
Published on
11/10/2023
Objective: to evaluate the conformity of the results obtained by the participating laboratories for the detection of Paenibacillus larvae / Melissococcus plutonius, agents of American/European foulbrood.
Methods evaluated:
Microscopy
Conventional and/or real time PCR
Culture
Matrix: Crushed bee larvae
Provisional agenda:
Registration deadline: 20/08/2023
Availability of samples to be tested: September 2023
Requirements for participation: NRLs and...
Detection of SHB in La Reunion island (France)
Published on
14/02/2023
Update on April 17th 2023
On March 1st 2023, protection zones around Saint-Pierre and Saint-Joseph were removed. A surveillance zone of 10 km around outbreaks in Saint-Philippe was set up with the same measures than previously in place in protection zones (Figure 1). Identification and traceability of colony movements were set up for the entire territory.
Surveillance continues and the objective remains at the moment eradication of SHB.
On April 3rd 2023, a new case was found in Saint-...