Oxytetracycline Activity in Honeybee Larvae Following Hive Treatment with Various Oxytetracycline Preparations

Abstract
Forty-seven hives were treated with various preparations of Oxytetracycline (OTC). OTC activity was detected in larval samples collected from all treated hives. The peak concentration was always above the minimum inhibitory concentration of OTC to Melissococcus pluton which was determined to be 3·8 μg/ml. The period of detectable OTC ranged from 1 to 9 days and the highest OTC larval concentration in hives following treatment varied from 10 to 184 μg/g of larval material.