We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
The prevalence, distribution and severity of detectable pathological lesions in badgers naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis.
- Authors
Jenkins HE; Morrison WI; Cox DR; Donnelly CA; Johnston WT; Bourne FJ; Clifton-Hadley RS; Gettinby G; McInerney JP; Watkins GH; Woodroffe R; Jenkins, H E; Morrison, W I; Cox, D R; Donnelly, C A; Johnston, W T; Bourne, F J; Clifton-Hadley, R S; Gettinby, G; McInerney, J P
- Abstract
The Randomized Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) began in 1998 to determine the impact of badger culling in controlling bovine tuberculosis in cattle. A total of 1166 badgers (14% of total) proactively culled during the RBCT were found to be tuberculous, offering a unique opportunity to study the pathology caused by Mycobacterium bovis in a large sample of badgers. Of these, 39% of adults (approximately 6% of all adults culled) had visible lesions (detectable at necropsy) of bovine tuberculosis; cubs had a lower prevalence of infection (9%) but a higher percentage of tuberculous cubs (55.5%) had visible lesions. Only approximately 1% of adult badgers had extensive, severe pathology. Tuberculous badgers with recorded bite wounds (approximately 5%) had a higher prevalence of visible lesions and a different distribution of lesions, suggesting transmission via bite wounds. However, the predominance of lesions in the respiratory tract indicates that most transmission occurs by the respiratory route.
- Publication
Epidemiology & Infection, 2008, Vol 136, Issue 10, p1350
- ISSN
0950-2688
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1017/s0950268807009909