I invite you to a special conversation with Dr. Ewa Mazur, a veterinary specialist and founder of the unique veterinary clinic Vet for Bees.

Ewa shared her inspiration for founding this pioneering facility, which, as one of the few in Poland, focuses on bee health. In our conversation, we touched on many interesting topics – from the health issues bees face, to the diagnostic methods used at the clinic, and plans for the future and collaboration with beekeepers.

If you are interested in bee protection and want to learn more about how to support these beneficial insects, I invite you to read on!

Diana Dyba: What inspired you to establish Vet for Bees, and what role does your clinic play in bee protection?

Ewa Mazur: The main inspiration for setting up a veterinary clinic for bees was the desire to help bees. The health situation of bees in Poland is not good. The health of honey bee colonies affects wild bees, and since there are more and more honey bees in Poland, the overall situation isn’t improving. Therefore, we decided to open a place where beekeepers who care for honey bees can get veterinary help. There are very few such places in Poland, and we hope more will be established. I think it’s still too early to talk about any significant impact of Vet for Bees on bee protection, but we hope that even a small veterinary clinic will improve the situation.

Diana Dyba: What services does your clinic offer to beekeepers, and how do they benefit bee health?

Ewa Mazur: We provide veterinary services for beekeepers. These include consultations on medication use, hive hygiene, and queen breeding. We also analyze samples from beekeepers, such as winter bee losses, samples from dead colonies, or adult bee samples in the summer. We focus on an individual approach, and we discuss each result in detail. We also visit beekeepers and conduct so-called clinical check-ups. Many important issues can only be observed at the apiary. We also create monitoring plans for apiaries and continuously consult their results. We educate beekeepers, for example, through lectures at beekeeping clubs or online webinars. We also provide practical training directly at apiaries.

Diana Dyba: Can you talk about the most common health problems bees face that you encounter?

Ewa Mazur: The most common problem is a parasitic disease caused by the varroa mite (Varroa destructor), known as varroosis. It is a widespread disease, and officially there are no apiaries in Poland free of this parasite, so the situation needs to be monitored throughout the year. Varroosis is accompanied by viral infections, such as the acute paralysis virus in bees. We often deal with fungal diseases affecting both adult bees and brood. Bacterial diseases, such as European foulbrood, are less common, but we occasionally find positive samples for them.

Diana Dyba: What diagnostic and therapeutic methods do you use in your clinic?

Ewa Mazur: First and foremost, we perform winter mortality analysis as a preventive measure. This is lacking in Polish beekeeping. Few beekeepers regularly send samples for testing, and I think some of them don’t even know such tests are possible. Winter mortality consists of all the dead bees, debris, etc., that fall to the bottom of the hive during the winter. A lot of information can be extracted from this debris, and it helps prevent the development of diseases. Diagnostics are based on testing samples of live bees, dead bees, or brood. The beekeeper’s history is also extremely important, as we need to review their actions at the apiary. Regarding therapies, we recommend a range of actions for beekeepers, but we take an individual approach. Most often, we start with the basics, recommending specific hygiene measures at the apiary. We’ve noticed that many beekeepers have incomplete knowledge on this topic.

Diana Dyba: How do you cooperate with beekeepers to monitor and treat bee diseases?

Ewa Mazur: It depends on the region the beekeeper is from. If possible, we visit the apiary and examine the bees ourselves. If that’s not an option, the beekeeper sends samples to the clinic along with a cover letter. The samples are usually adult bees, a section of the comb with brood, or winter mortality. Winter mortality is the most common material we receive. After testing the samples, we always call the beekeeper to discuss the results. We usually need to ask for more details or clarify something. Written recommendations are sent by email. Veterinary consultations are generally provided over the phone, but email or even in-person consultations at the clinic are also available.

Diana Dyba: What kind of training and education do you offer to beekeepers?

Ewa Mazur: All topics related to disease prevention in bees, disease control, and hive hygiene are covered in our lectures and training sessions. Sometimes (especially Bartek) we also educate on the protection of wild pollinators. These are mainly workshops for younger beekeepers.

Diana Dyba: What challenges do you encounter in the daily operations of the clinic, and how do you handle them?

Ewa Mazur: First of all, there’s not enough time in the day. Together with Bartek (co-founder of Vet for Bees, Bartłomiej Molasy), we are developing the clinic as a „side project.” Secondly, our approach is quite different from what has been seen in Poland so far. Currently, the treatment of bees is the responsibility of the beekeepers, and the role of veterinarians is marginalized. The system is upside down because it should be the veterinarian who examines, monitors, and recommends treatment or the use of medication. Beekeepers who call us asking to buy medications they’ve chosen themselves are often surprised when we don’t provide medications “on demand.”

Diana Dyba: You also study bees at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW) – what degree did you complete to professionally engage in this work?

Ewa Mazur: I graduated from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW). After a few years of clinical practice, I enrolled in a specialization for veterinarians called “Diseases of Commercial Insects” and passed the state exam. As a result, I am officially a specialist in this field. I am also a certified beekeeper, holding the professional title of Beekeeping Technician after passing the relevant vocational exams: qualifications R4 and R17.

Diana Dyba: Do you study only honey bee colonies or also wild bees?

Ewa Mazur: In my research, I focus mainly on honey bees, but at the Institute of Veterinary Medicine, research is also conducted on other types of bees, including bumblebees and mason bees. There have also been projects concerning honey bees inhabiting beehives or hollow logs. The question is whether these were still cultivated honey bees or wild honey bees.

Diana Dyba: What are the differences in research between species?

Ewa Mazur: While some pathogens, like viral infections (e.g., deformed wing virus), occur in various bee species, there are also species-specific differences. For example, varroosis is extremely dangerous only for honey bees. Additionally, some wild bee species are protected in Poland, so in order to conduct research on them, one must obtain permission from the relevant institutions.

Diana Dyba: What are your plans for the future regarding the development of the clinic and efforts to protect bees?

Ewa Mazur: We would like to expand our services for beekeepers with additional diagnostic tests, including more detailed microbiological examinations. We also want to improve the process of clinical check-ups, meaning visits to apiaries. We also plan to create a guide for beekeepers, filled with specific, practical tips on disease prevention and colony monitoring.