Can worker larvae infected with AFB survive if not stressed?

When worker larvae are infected with American Foulbrood (AFB), they generally do not survive, regardless of external stress factors. AFB is a highly contagious bacterial disease caused by Bacillus larvea that affects the brood of honey bees. Once larvae are infected, the bacteria multiply within their bodies, leading to death before they reach the pupal stage.

The life cycle progression of infected larvae is severely compromised; they are unable to fend off the bacterial infection. Even in the absence of stress—such as poor nutrition, overcrowding, or environmental changes—infected larvae will succumb to the effects of AFB. If no intervention, such as removal of the infected brood, is taken, the infection can spread and decimate a colony.

In this context, the understanding of AFB’s impact on bee biology emphasizes that infected larvae simply have no chance of survival, clearly supporting the view that they will perish, independent of stress conditions.