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1
Acevedo, Pelayo, Miguel Prieto, Pablo Quirós, Isabel Merediz, Lucía de Juan, José Antonio Infantes-Lorenzo, Roxana Triguero-Ocaña, and Ana Balseiro. "Tuberculosis Epidemiology and Badger (Meles meles) Spatial Ecology in a Hot-Spot Area in Atlantic Spain." Pathogens 8, no. 4 (December 10, 2019): 292. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pathogens8040292.
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We provide a temporal overview (from 2012 to 2018) of the outcomes of tuberculosis (TB) in the cattle and badger populations in a hot-spot in Asturias (Atlantic Spain). We also study the badger’s spatial ecology from an epidemiological perspective in order to describe hazardous behavior in relation to TB transmission between cattle and badgers. Culture and single intradermal tuberculin test (SITT) were available for cattle as part of the National Program for the Eradication of TB. A field survey was also carried out in order to determine the paddocks and buildings used by each farm, and the information obtained was stored by using geographic information systems. Moreover, eighty-three badgers were submitted for necropsy and subsequent bacteriological studies. Ten badgers were also tracked, using global positioning system (GPS) collars. The prevalence of TB in cattle herds in the hot-spot increased from 2.2% in 2012 to 20% in 2016; it then declined to 0.0% in 2018. In contrast, the TB prevalence in badgers increased notably (from 5.55% in 2012–2015 to 10.64% in 2016–2018). Both cattle and badgers shared the same strain of Mycobacterium bovis. The collared badgers preferred paddocks used by TB-positive herds in spring and summer (when they were more active). The males occupied larger home ranges than the females (Khr95: males 149.78 ± 25.84 ha and females 73.37 ± 22.91 ha; Kcr50: males 29.83 ± 5.69 ha and females 13.59 ± 5.00 ha), and the home ranges were smaller in autumn and winter than in summer. The averages of the index of daily and maximum distances traveled by badgers were 1.88 ± (SD) 1.20 km and 1.99 ± 0.71 km, respectively. One of them presented a dispersive behavior with a maximum range of 18.3 km. The most preferred habitat was apple orchards in all seasons, with the exception of winter, in which they preferred pastures. Land uses and landscape structure, which have been linked with certain livestock-management practices, provide a scenario of great potential for badger–cattle interactions, thus enhancing the importance of the badgers’ ecology, which could potentially transmit TB back to cattle in the future.
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Virgós, Emilio, Julián G. Mangas, José Antonio Blanco-Aguiar, Germán Garrote, Nuria Almagro, and Raquel P. Viso. "Food habits of European badgers (Meles meles) along an altitudinal gradient of Mediterranean environments: a field test of the earthworm specialization hypothesis." Canadian Journal of Zoology 82, no. 1 (January 1, 2004): 41–51. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z03-205.
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Food specialization by European badgers (Meles meles) is a largely debated controversy. Data from Mediterranean areas indicate small importance of earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) in badger diet and support the idea that badgers are generalist predators. Nevertheless, only dry areas have been sampled so far. We studied badger diet in six areas along an elevation gradient with different rainfall and habitat conditions, which influenced earthworm availability. We evaluated the influence of earthworm availability on badger diet along this environmental gradient. Badgers used a wide range of prey items in the different habitats and seasons sampled. In contrast with other Mediterranean studies, earthworms made an important contribution to badger diet (27% of estimated volume). Earthworm occurrence in the diet was high in elevated and wet habitats and in spring and autumn–winter. Earthworm consumption was nonlinearly related to availability, indicating high intake compared with availability in wet areas. Moreover, in summer, availability was virtually zero in all habitats, whereas consumption averaged 15% volume of the diet. We tentatively suggest that badgers compensate for variations in earthworm availability by changing their foraging tactics. This suggests that badgers could be viewed as specialist foragers for earthworms in some Mediterranean environments.
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Kowalczyk, R., B. Jędrzejewska, A. Zalewski, and W. Jędrzejewski. "Facilitative interactions between the Eurasian badger (Meles meles), the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), and the invasive raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) in Białowieża Primeval Forest, Poland." Canadian Journal of Zoology 86, no. 12 (December 2008): 1389–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z08-127.
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Based on radio-tracking of Eurasian badgers ( Meles meles (L., 1758)), red foxes ( Vulpes vulpes (L., 1758)), and raccoon dogs ( Nyctereutes procyonoides (Gray, 1834)) and observations at burrows conducted in Białowieża Primeval Forest (eastern Poland) in 1996–2002, we addressed the hypothesis that facilitative interactions between a native (badger) and an alien (raccoon dog) species contributed to the invasion success of the latter. In winter, 88% of badger setts were occupied by both badgers and raccoon dogs, 4% by badgers and red foxes, and 4% by all three species. In summer, only 20% of badger setts were cohabited by other carnivore species (10% by raccoon dogs and 10% by foxes). Duration of occupation of badger setts by raccoon dogs averaged 117 days (SE = 21 days). Seasonal variation in raccoon dog use of badger setts was explained by changes in ambient temperature: the lower was the temperature, the higher was the rate of sett occupation by raccoon dogs. When wintering in the same sett, badgers and raccoon dogs used different parts of the sett. We conclude that facilitation by badgers (through habitat amelioration and refuge from cold and predation) makes the realized niche of raccoon dogs larger than predicted from their fundamental niche. The facilitating role of badger is stronger in winter, which is a critical period for raccoon dog survival in the temperate and boreal zone.
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Silk, Matthew J., Julian A. Drewe, Richard J. Delahay, Nicola Weber, Lucy C. Steward, Jared Wilson-Aggarwal, Mike Boots, David J. Hodgson, Darren P. Croft, and Robbie A. McDonald. "Quantifying direct and indirect contacts for the potential transmission of infection between species using a multilayer contact network." Behaviour 155, no. 7-9 (2018): 731–57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1568539x-00003493.
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Abstract Detecting opportunities for between-species transmission of pathogens can be challenging, particularly if rare behaviours or environmental transmission are involved. We present a multilayer network framework to quantify transmission potential in multi-host systems, incorporating environmental transmission, by using empirical data on direct and indirect contacts between European badgers Meles meles and domestic cattle. We identify that indirect contacts via the environment at badger latrines on pasture are likely to be important for transmission within badger populations and between badgers and cattle. We also find a positive correlation between the role of individual badgers within the badger social network, and their role in the overall badger-cattle-environment network, suggesting that the same behavioural traits contribute to the role of individual badgers in within- and between-species transmission. These findings have implications for disease management interventions in this system, and our novel network approach can provide general insights into transmission in other multi-host disease systems.
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Kowalczyk, Rafal, Andrzej Zalewski, Bogumila Jedrzejewska, and Wlodzimierz Jedrzejewski. "Spatial organization and demography of badgers (Meles meles) in Bialowieza Primeval Forest, Poland, and the influence of earthworms on badger densities in Europe." Canadian Journal of Zoology 81, no. 1 (January 1, 2003): 74–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z02-233.
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From 1996 to 2001 we studied the spatial organization and demography of Eurasian badgers, Meles meles, in Białowieża Primeval Forest in eastern Poland, one of the best preserved woodlands in temperate Europe. Badger density estimated on the basis of main sett distribution (0.54 sett/10 km2) and group size (3.9 individuals per sett, on average) was 2.11 badgers/10 km2. Average annual productivity of the population was 64% and the mortality rate of badgers >1 year old was 2238% per annum. The size of territories of badger groups (n = 7), estimated by radio telemetry, varied from 8.4 to 25.5 km2 (mean 12.8 km2). Individual home ranges of badgers (n = 13) covered, on average, 9.3 km2, and varied seasonally and among animals of different age and sex classes (from 4.0 to 24.4 km2). Home ranges of adult badgers were significantly larger than those of subadults. Badgers occupied larger home ranges in summer, when earthworm availability was low. The size of both group territories and individual home ranges was influenced by the distribution of oaklimehornbeam (OLH) forests, habitats rich in earthworms. Based on our findings and a review of literature, we propose that the standing crop of biomass of earthworms (Lumbricus spp.), the main food of badgers in a large part of their geographic range, and mean annual temperature are crucial factors shaping the densities of badgers in the European temperate and boreal zones. We also suggest that abundance of food resources is the essential factor underlying the great variation in badger sociality (from pairs to large groups).
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DREWE, J. A., H. M. O'CONNOR, N. WEBER, R. A. McDONALD, and R. J. DELAHAY. "Patterns of direct and indirect contact between cattle and badgers naturally infected with tuberculosis." Epidemiology and Infection 141, no. 7 (March 25, 2013): 1467–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268813000691.
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SUMMARYTuberculosis (TB) due to infection with Mycobacterium bovis is transmitted between cattle and badgers (Meles meles) in the UK and Ireland but it is unclear where or when transmission occurs. We investigated direct and indirect interactions between badgers and cattle using automated proximity loggers on animals and at badger latrines located on pasture, in an area of south-west England with a high-density badger population. Direct contacts (interactions within 1·4 m) between badgers and cattle at pasture were very rare (four out of >500 000 recorded animal-to-animal contacts) despite ample opportunity for interactions to occur. Indirect interactions (visits to badger latrines by badgers and cattle) were two orders of magnitude more frequent than direct contacts: 400 visits by badgers and 1700 visits by cattle were recorded. This suggests that indirect contacts might be more important than direct contacts in terms of disease transmission at pasture. The TB infection status of individual badgers (ascribed with 93% accuracy using three diagnostic tests) did not affect the frequency or duration of their visits to latrines located on pasture grazed by cattle. Nevertheless, there was wide variation in contact behaviour between individuals, which highlights the importance of understanding heterogeneity in contact patterns when developing strategies to control disease spread in wildlife and livestock.
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Dalley, Deanna, Sandrine Lesellier, Francisco J. Salguero, and Mark A. Chambers. "Purification and Characterisation of Badger IgA and Its Detection in the Context of Tuberculosis." Veterinary Sciences 6, no. 4 (November 2, 2019): 89. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/vetsci6040089.
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European badgers are a wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis in parts of Great Britain. Accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis in badgers is important for the development of strategies for the control of the disease. Sensitive serological tests for badger TB are needed for reasons such as cost and simplicity. Assay of mucosal IgA could be useful for diagnosing respiratory pathogens such as Mycobacterium bovis and for monitoring the response to mucosal vaccination. To develop an IgA assay, we purified secretory IgA from badger bile, identifying secretory component (SC), heavy chain (HC) and light chain (LC), at 66, 46 and 27 Kda, respectively, on the basis of size comparison with other species. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were generated to purified IgA. We selected two for ELISA development. The detection limit of the IgA-specific mAbs was found to be approximately 20 ng/mL when titrated against purified badger bile. One monoclonal antibody specific for badger IgA was used to detect IgA in serum and tracheal aspirate with specificity to an immunodominant antigen of M. bovis. An M. bovis infection dose-dependent IgA response was observed in experimentally infected badgers. IgA was also detected by immunohistochemistry in the lungs of bTB-infected badgers. With further characterisation, these represent new reagents for the study of the IgA response in badgers.
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Pritchard, D. G., Fiona A. Stuart, Jacky I. Brewer, and K. H. Mahmood. "Experimental infection of badgers (Meles meles) withMycobacterium bovis." Epidemiology and Infection 98, no. 2 (April 1987): 145–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268800061859.
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SUMMARYThe intradermal inoculation of four badgers with small numbers ofMycobacterium bovisresulted in localized lesions with ulceration which slowly healed by 5 months after inoculation. Lesions of generalized tuberculosis were seen in three badgers, one of which died at 17 months post-inoculation and in the remaining two killed 22 months post-inoculation. In the fourth badger lesions were confined to the draining lymph node of the inoculation site butM. boviswas isolated from the liver. Monthly clinical sampling of faeces, urine, tracheal aspirate and inoculation site exudates detected only the excretion ofM. bovisfrom the inoculation site of one badger. There were marked seasonal variations in body weight but significant weight loss was observed during the second year in all four badgers, particularly prior to death. Four badgers inoculated intratracheally with a similar inoculum ofM. bovisand another two control badgers showed no evidence of infection withM. bovis.
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Smith, Graham C., and Richard Budgey. "Simulating the next steps in badger control for bovine tuberculosis in England." PLOS ONE 16, no. 3 (March 18, 2021): e0248426. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0248426.
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Industry-led culling of badgers has occurred in England to reduce the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle for a number of years. Badger vaccination is also possible, and a move away from culling was “highly desirable” in a recent report to the UK government. Here we used an established simulation model to examine badger control option in a post-cull environment in England. These options included no control, various intermittent culling, badger vaccination and use of a vaccine combined with fertility control. The initial simulated cull led to a dramatic reduction in the number of infected badgers present, which increased slowly if there was no further badger management. All three approaches led to a further reduction in the number of infected badgers, with little to choose between the strategies. We do note that of the management strategies only vaccination on its own leads to a recovery of the badger population, but also an increase in the number of badgers that need to be vaccinated. We conclude that vaccination post-cull, appears to be particularly effective, compared to vaccination when the host population is at carrying capacity.
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BUZDUGAN, S. N., M. A. CHAMBERS, R. J. DELAHAY, and J. A. DREWE. "Diagnosis of tuberculosis in groups of badgers: an exploration of the impact of trapping efficiency, infection prevalence and the use of multiple tests." Epidemiology and Infection 144, no. 8 (January 6, 2016): 1717–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268815003210.
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SUMMARYAccurate detection of infection with Mycobacterium bovis in live badgers would enable targeted tuberculosis control. Practical challenges in sampling wild badger populations mean that diagnosis of infection at the group (rather than the individual) level is attractive. We modelled data spanning 7 years containing over 2000 sampling events from a population of wild badgers in southwest England to quantify the ability to correctly identify the infection status of badgers at the group level. We explored the effects of variations in: (1) trapping efficiency; (2) prevalence of M. bovis; (3) using three diagnostic tests singly and in combination with one another; and (4) the number of badgers required to test positive in order to classify groups as infected. No single test was able to reliably identify infected badger groups if <90% of the animals were sampled (given an infection prevalence of 20% and group size of 15 badgers). However, the parallel use of two tests enabled an infected group to be correctly identified when only 50% of the animals were tested and a threshold of two positive badgers was used. Levels of trapping efficiency observed in previous field studies appear to be sufficient to usefully employ a combination of two existing diagnostic tests, or others of similar or greater accuracy, to identify infected badger groups without the need to capture all individuals. To improve on this, we suggest that any new diagnostic test for badgers would ideally need to be >80% sensitive, at least 94% specific, and able to be performed rapidly in the field.
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Wilesmith, J. W., P. E. Sayers, R. Bode, D. G. Pritchard, F. A. Stuart, J. I. Brewer, and G. D. B. Hillman. "Tuberculosis in East Sussex: II. Aspects of badger ecology and surveillance for tuberculosis in badger populations (1976–1984)." Journal of Hygiene 97, no. 1 (August 1986): 11–26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022172400064317.
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SUMMARYFollowing the disclosure of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers in East Sussex in 1976, badgers have been examined from and around farms on which cattle have become infected, but with no other attributable source of infection. These farms are confined to the downland of the south-west of the county and M. bovis has been confirmed in badger populations utilising their land. The available evidence indicates that M. bovis infection in badgers is also confined to this area. A detailed study in one area on the South Downs suggested that M. bovis is endemic in the badger population and therefore presents a continued risk for cattle occupying the area.
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JENKINS, H. E., W. I. MORRISON, D. R. COX, C. A. DONNELLY, W. T. JOHNSTON, F. J. BOURNE, R. S. CLIFTON-HADLEY, et al. "The prevalence, distribution and severity of detectable pathological lesions in badgers naturally infected with Mycobacterium bovis." Epidemiology and Infection 136, no. 10 (November 30, 2007): 1350–61. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268807009909.
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SUMMARYThe 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 (~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 ~1% of adult badgers had extensive, severe pathology. Tuberculous badgers with recorded bite wounds (~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.
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Revilla, Eloy, and Francisco Palomares. "Differences in key habitat use between dominant and subordinate animals: intraterritorial dominance payoffs in Eurasian badgers?" Canadian Journal of Zoology 79, no. 1 (January 1, 2001): 165–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z00-173.
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Group-living territorial animals such as the Eurasian badger, Meles meles L., face the problem of intragroup competition. Badgers are asymmetric in their access to reproduction (dominant individuals being the ones that reproduce), but little information exists about the extent of intragroup trophic competition. We studied badgers' use of a key trophic resource (the European rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus), as well as the use of the habitat where this resource is located (key habitat, Mediterranean scrubland) by a low-density group-living population of badgers in Coto del Rey, Doñana, southwestern Spain. During 19951996, there was a 2.2-fold reduction of rabbit density, which was reflected in a significant diminution of rabbit use; despite this, rabbits continued to be the most used trophic resource. Notwithstanding the decrease in rabbit density, subordinate badgers reduced their use of the key habitat, while dominant badgers increased it. These results suggest that in Coto del Rey, badger groups exhibit a fully despotic system, with dominance by some individuals not only in access to reproduction, but also in access to food through unequal use of the key habitat that contains it.
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Brooks-Pollock, Ellen, and James L. N. Wood. "Eliminating bovine tuberculosis in cattle and badgers: insight from a dynamic model." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 282, no. 1808 (June 7, 2015): 20150374. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.0374.
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Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is a multi-species infection that commonly affects cattle and badgers in Great Britain. Despite years of study, the impact of badgers on BTB incidence in cattle is poorly understood. Using a two-host transmission model of BTB in cattle and badgers, we find that published data and parameter estimates are most consistent with a system at the threshold of control. The most consistent explanation for data obtained from cattle and badger populations includes within-host reproduction numbers close to 1 and between-host reproduction numbers of approximately 0.05. In terms of controlling infection in cattle, reducing cattle-to-cattle transmission is essential. In some regions, even large reductions in badger prevalence can have a modest impact on cattle infection and a multi-stranded approach is necessary that also targets badger-to-cattle transmission directly. The new perspective highlighted by this two-host approach provides insight into the control of BTB in Great Britain.
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HANCOX, M. "The cattle TB crisis – a radical rethink." Journal of Agricultural Science 144, no. 2 (March 6, 2006): 187. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0021859606005910.
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Cattle tuberculosis in Great Britain is out of control, rising at some 18% a year, but there is great confusion as to why cattle control measures are not working (Hancox 2004a). Culling over 10000 badgers so far in the Krebs Randomised Badger Culling Trial has had no effect, despite repeated calls for mass culls by farmers and vets (Hancox 2004b). Badgers are blamed for this crisis because it is claimed cattle-to-cattle transmission is unimportant, and badgers with TB are found after repeat breakdowns in herds supposedly free of TB after negative tests.
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Chambers, Mark A., Fiona Rogers, Richard J. Delahay, Sandrine Lesellier, Roland Ashford, Deanna Dalley, Sonya Gowtage, et al. "Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination reduces the severity and progression of tuberculosis in badgers." Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 278, no. 1713 (December 2010): 1913–20. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.1953.
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Control of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle has proven particularly challenging where reservoirs of infection exist in wildlife populations. In Britain and Ireland, control is hampered by a reservoir of infection in Eurasian badgers ( Meles meles ). Badger culling has positive and negative effects on bovine TB in cattle and is difficult, costly and controversial. Here we show that Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination of captive badgers reduced the progression, severity and excretion of Mycobacterium bovis infection after experimental challenge. In a clinical field study, BCG vaccination of free-living badgers reduced the incidence of positive serological test results by 73.8 per cent. In common with other species, BCG did not appear to prevent infection of badgers subjected to experimental challenge, but did significantly reduce the overall disease burden. BCG vaccination of badgers could comprise an important component of a comprehensive programme of measures to control bovine TB in cattle.
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HARDSTAFF, J. L., M. T. BULLING, G. MARION, M. R. HUTCHINGS, and P. C. L. WHITE. "Modelling the impact of vaccination on tuberculosis in badgers." Epidemiology and Infection 141, no. 7 (April 10, 2013): 1417–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268813000642.
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SUMMARYTuberculosis (TB) in livestock, caused by Mycobacterium bovis, persists in many countries. In the UK and Ireland, efforts to control TB through culling of badgers (Meles meles), the principal wildlife host, have failed and there is significant interest in vaccination of badgers as an alternative or complementary strategy. Using a simulation model, we show that where TB is self-contained within the badger population and there are no external sources of infection, limited-duration vaccination at a high level of efficacy can reduce or even eradicate TB from the badger population. However, where sources of external infection persist, benefits in TB reduction in badgers can only be achieved by ongoing, annual vaccination. Vaccination is likely to be most effective as part of an integrated disease management strategy incorporating a number of different approaches across the entire host community.
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Nowakowski, Krzysztof, Agnieszka Ważna, Przemysław Kurek, Jan Cichocki, Jacek Bojarski, and Grzegorz Gabryś. "Long Arm of Motorway—The Impact of Fenced Road on the Mortality of European Badgers." Environmental Management 69, no. 2 (November 29, 2021): 429–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00267-021-01570-y.
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AbstractWe studied the impact of the new fenced and accident-safe motorway on the mortality of European badgers Meles meles on local roads in western Poland in 2010–2015. We monitored the badgers mortality on local roads of three categories: main roads, secondary roads and county roads. The study was conducted before and after the opening of the motorway in 2012. We hypothesized that the mortality of badgers is lower due to traffic concentration on motorway. Ninety two badgers were killed in collisions with vehicles on all monitored roads. Mean number of killed badgers was lowest in 2010 before the motorway opening and the highest in 2012. The mortality of badgers on regional roads was highest after the opening of the motorway due to the changes in traffic on the access roads. Within the road network, the mortality of badgers was 5.8 individuals/10 km of road per whole study period with the highest rate on main roads 8.5 individuals/10 km. The badgers mortality was highest on county roads but it was lower than expected in relation to the road network density. The highest vehicle collision risk for badgers of both sexes occurred in June. Distance to human settlements was the only environmental factor that was positively related to badger mortality on roads. We conclude that the new motorway did not reduce the mortality rate of badgers on the adjacent roads because the status of local roads has changed and now they mainly function as access roads to the motorway.
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Woodroffe, R., FJ Bourne, DR Cox, CA Donnelly, G. Gettinby, JP McInerney, and WI Morrison. "Welfare of badgers (Meles meles) subjected to culling: patterns of trap-related injury." Animal Welfare 14, no. 1 (February 2005): 11–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600028876.
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AbstractFor over 25 years, European badgers (Meles meles) have been subject to culling in Britain in attempts to limit the spread of tuberculosis (TB) to cattle. As part of a far-reaching evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of badger culling as a TB control measure, this paper assesses one aspect of the welfare of badger populations subjected to culling: the risk of badgers confined to cage traps prior to despatch becoming injured as a result of rubbing or biting on the cage. In a large-scale field trial, 88% of badgers received no detectable injuries as a result of being confined in the trap. Of those that were injured, 72% received only minor skin abrasions. A minority (1.8% of the total) acquired damage to the teeth or jaws that may have caused serious pain. Although trap rounds were commenced in the early morning, badgers were no more likely to sustain injuries when they remained in traps until later in the day. Coating of cage traps, intended to give the wire mesh a smoother surface, was associated with a reduction in the incidence of minor skin abrasions, although it may have slightly increased the frequency of less common but more serious abrasions. Modification of the door design reduced tooth damage. Traps will be further modified if appropriate. However, all aspects of the conduct of trapping operations must balance badger welfare with concerns for the health and safety of field staff.
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Vial, Flavie, and Christl A. Donnelly. "Localized reactive badger culling increases risk of bovine tuberculosis in nearby cattle herds." Biology Letters 8, no. 1 (July 13, 2011): 50–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0554.
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Human and livestock diseases can be difficult to control where infection persists in wildlife populations. Control of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in British cattle is complicated by the maintenance of Mycobacterium bovis (the causative agent of bTB) in badgers, acting as reservoirs of infection. Although over 20 000 badgers were culled to control bTB between 1975 and 1997, the incidence of bTB in cattle has substantially increased in parts of Great Britain in recent decades. Our case-control study, involving 1208 cattle herds, provides further evidence of the detrimental effect of localized reactive badger culling in response to the disclosure of a confirmed bTB herd breakdown in cattle. The presence of any reactive badger culling activity and increased numbers of badgers culled in the vicinity of a herd were associated with significantly increased bTB risk, even after adjusting for other important local risk factors. Such findings may partly explain why some earlier localized approaches to bTB control were ineffective.
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Pritchard, D. G., F. A. Stuart, J. W. Wilesmith, C. L. Cheeseman, J. I. Brewer, R. Bode, and P. E. Sayers. "Tuberculosis in East Sussex: III. Comparison of post-mortem and clinical methods for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in badgers." Journal of Hygiene 97, no. 1 (August 1986): 27–36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022172400064329.
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SUMMARYFollowing epidemiological and ecological studies of a defined badger population in an area of East Sussex, removal of all badgers by cage trapping was attempted. Trapping was incomplete due to the activities of protesters. Forty-seven badgers were caught from the eight social groups. All badgers were examined clinically and samples of faeces, urine and tracheal aspirate were taken, together with swabs from any bite wounds, for bacteriological examinations. Forty-five animals were skin tested using whole killed cells of Mycobacterium bovis strain AN5, bovine PPD Weybridge and new human tuberculin. Skin test results were recorded after 24 and 72 h. All badgers were killed and subjected to a post-mortem and bacteriological examination.M. bovis was detected in 10 (21·3%) badgers at post-mortem and in 2 badgers from clinical samples. Four social groups were infected. Positive skin test results were recorded at 72 h with bovine PPD (2 μg and 20 μg/ml), strain AN 5 (1 mg/ml) and human tuberculin (2 μg/ml), but not with human tuberculin at 20 μg/ml. Histological sections of the skin test reactions showed the cellular types typical of delayed-type hypersensitivity. The skin test reactions observed were neither sensitive nor specific enough to be of practical value.
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Woodroffe, R., FJ Bourne, CL Cheeseman, DR Cox, CA Donnelly, G. Gettinby, JP McInerney, and WI Morrison. "Welfare of badgers (Meles meles) subjected to culling: development and evaluation of a closed season." Animal Welfare 14, no. 1 (February 2005): 19–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0962728600028888.
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AbstractFor the past 25 years, European badgers (Meles meles) have been subject to culling in Britain in attempts to limit the spread of tuberculosis (TB) to cattle. As part of a far-reaching evaluation of the effectiveness and acceptability of badger culling as a TB control measure, this paper assesses one aspect of the welfare of badger populations subjected to culling: the killing of breeding females, which risks leaving their unweaned cubs to starve in the den. To avoid this possibility, a three-month closed season was adopted, running from 1st February to 30th April, based on the best available estimates of the timing of birth and weaning in British badgers. During May 1999–2003, when a total of 4705 adult badgers were culled, field teams failed to capture 12 unweaned litters when their mothers were despatched. In 31 other cases, lactating females were culled but litters of almost-weaned cubs were also caught and despatched at the same dens, usually within a day of capture of the mother. The number of unweaned cubs missed by culling teams — estimated at approximately nine per year on average — was dramatically lower than that projected by a badger welfare lobby group. Our data suggest that the closed season is effective in reducing the suffering of unweaned cubs in badger populations subject to culling, and we recommend that this measure be maintained should badger culling form a component of any future TB control policy.
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Clifton-Hadley, R. S., J. W. Wilesmith, and F. A. Stuart. "Mycobacterium bovis in the European badger (Meles meles): epidemiological findings in tuberculous badgers from a naturally infected population." Epidemiology and Infection 111, no. 1 (August 1993): 9–19. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268800056624.
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SummaryThis study investigates the course of tuberculosis in a naturally infected badger population, its impact on the population and the risk of spread to other species in the light of capture data and post-mortem findings from 47 tuberculous badgers, stratified by age group and sex, accrued since 1975. The findings are compared with those for 260 badgers from the same population in whom no evidence of infection was detected. Detailed estimates of seasonal variations in bodyweight for uninfected male and female cub, yearling and adult badgers are presented and compared to the weights at post-mortem examination of the tuberculous badgers, in whom poor condition and weight loss were the principal presenting signs. Lesions were seen especially in the lungs and associated lymph nodes, and in the kidneys. Organisms were detected intermittently in faeces, urine, sputum and discharging bite wounds. Infected animals could survive for nearly 2 years and produce cubs successfully.
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Mysłajek, Robert W., Sabina Nowak, Anna Rożen, and Bogumiła Jędrzejewska. "Diet of the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) in the Western Carpathians and its implications for species conservation in Poland." Animal Biology 63, no. 3 (2013): 271–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15707563-00002411.
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Food composition of the Eurasian badger Meles meles was studied in the mountain zone and foothills of the Western Carpathians (Southern Poland). The diet, obtained by scat analysis, was compared with availability of earthworms, fruits, amphibians, rodents and ground nesting birds (capercaillie Tetrao urogallus and hazel grouse Bonasa bonasia) within both altitudinal zones. Earthworms and fruits were the most abundant food source in the foothills, while amphibians were scarce and rodents were equally available in both altitudinal zones. Capercaillie and hazel grouse occurred in the forests above 560 m a.s.l. In the foothills, vegetable matter (mainly fruits), constituted 56.3%, and earthworms 39.6%, of the biomass consumed, while mammals were supplementary resources (2.9%). In the mountains, the importance of vegetable matter was smaller (47.9%). Earthworms and insects had a similar share (37.8% and 1.8%, respectively), but mammals were eaten much more intensively (13.9%). Birds (exclusively domestic hen) were taken by badgers only in the foothills (0.6%). There was a seasonal variation in badger diet composition in both altitudinal zones, as earthworms dominated in spring, while fruits were eaten mainly in summer and autumn. The composition of the badgers’ diet only slightly differed between foothills and mountains. This was probably caused by regular movement of badgers between elevational zones during foraging. We conclude that the present hunting regulation, which allows year-round hunting on badgers in areas inhabited by capercaillie, is not justified.
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Guardone, Lisa, Valentina Virginia Ebani, Ranieri Verin, Simona Nardoni, Antonio Consolazione, Malcolm Bennett, and Francesca Mancianti. "Molecular Detection of Arthropod-Borne Pathogens in Eurasian Badgers (Meles meles) from the United Kingdom." Animals 10, no. 3 (March 6, 2020): 446. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10030446.
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Arthropod-borne diseases (ABD) are of increasing interest in veterinary and public health. Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) are known to harbor a wide range of pathogens, but information on their role as ABD reservoirs and their potential epidemiological relevance is limited. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of arthropod-borne pathogens, specifically piroplasmids and the bacteria Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia canis, Coxiella burnetii, Francisella tularensis and Bartonella spp., in badgers from Great Britain (GB). Blood and heart samples from 18 badgers were examined using PCR and sequencing. A neighbour-joining (NJ) phylogram was also produced. Nine animals tested positive for Babesia sp., while none of the samples was positive for the investigated bacteria. The sequences obtained clustered with other sequences of Babesia sp. from badgers from GB and elsewhere, including China, Hungary, Spain and Italy, showing a widespread distribution of this parasite in badgers. Badger-associated Babesia DNA was also found recently in a wild cat in Bosnia Herzegovina, in a wolf in Italy and in dogs in Hungary. Further investigations are needed to understand the epidemiology of this putative pathogen and its impact on the health of wild and domestic carnivores.
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Cheeseman, C. L., J. W. Wilesmith, and F. A. Stuart. "Tuberculosis: the disease and its epidemiology in the badger, a review." Epidemiology and Infection 103, no. 1 (August 1989): 113–25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268800030417.
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SUMMARYThe data accumulated from 1972 to 1987 on the distribution and prevalence of tuberculosis in the badger population in Great Britain is reviewed. The current information on the influence of Mycobacterium bovis infection on badger population dynamics and its clinical effect on badgers is also summarized.
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Blanco Vázquez, Cristina, Thiago Doria Barral, Beatriz Romero, Manuel Queipo, Isabel Merediz, Pablo Quirós, José Ángel Armenteros, et al. "Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Complex Infection in Eurasian Badger (Meles meles) and Cattle in Asturias, Spain." Animals 11, no. 5 (April 30, 2021): 1294. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani11051294.
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The present work investigated the prevalence, spatial distribution, and temporal distribution of tuberculosis (TB) in free-ranging Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) and cattle in Asturias (Atlantic Spain) during a 13-year follow-up. The study objective was to assess the role of badgers as a TB reservoir for cattle and other sympatric wild species in the region. Between 2008 and 2020, 673 badgers (98 trapped and 575 killed in road traffic accidents) in Asturias were necropsied, and their tissue samples were cultured for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) isolation. Serum samples were tested in an in-house indirect P22 ELISA to detect antibodies against the MTC. In parallel, data on MTC isolation and single intradermal tuberculin test results were extracted for cattle that were tested and culled as part of the Spanish National Program for the Eradication of Bovine TB. A total of 27/639 badgers (4.23%) were positive for MTC based on bacterial isolation, while 160/673 badgers (23.77%) were found to be positive with the P22 ELISA. The rate of seropositivity was higher among adult badgers than subadults. Badger TB status was spatially and temporally associated with cattle TB status. Our results cannot determine the direction of possible interspecies transmission, but they are consistent with the idea that the two hosts may exert infection pressure on each other. This study highlights the importance of the wildlife monitoring of infection and disease during epidemiological interventions in order to optimize outcomes.
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Lesellier, Sandrine, Colin P. D. Birch, Dipesh Davé, Deanna Dalley, Sonya Gowtage, Simonette Palmer, Claire McKenna, et al. "Bioreactor-Grown Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin (BCG) Vaccine Protects Badgers against Virulent Mycobacterium bovis When Administered Orally: Identifying Limitations in Baited Vaccine Delivery." Pharmaceutics 12, no. 8 (August 18, 2020): 782. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics12080782.
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Bovine tuberculosis (TB) in Great Britain adversely affects animal health and welfare and is a cause of considerable economic loss. The situation is exacerbated by European badgers (Meles meles) acting as a wildlife source of recurrent Mycobacterium bovis infection to cattle. Vaccination of badgers against TB is a possible means to reduce and control bovine TB. The delivery of vaccine in oral bait holds the best prospect for vaccinating badgers over a wide geographical area. There are practical limitations over the volume and concentration of Bacillus of Calmette and Guérin (BCG) that can be prepared for inclusion in bait. The production of BCG in a bioreactor may overcome these issues. We evaluated the efficacy of oral, bioreactor-grown BCG against experimental TB in badgers. We demonstrated repeatable protection through the direct administration of at least 2.0 × 108 colony forming units of BCG to the oral cavity, whereas vaccination via voluntary consumption of bait containing the same preparation of BCG did not result in demonstrable protection at the group-level, although a minority of badgers consuming bait showed immunological responses and protection after challenge equivalent to badgers receiving oral vaccine by direct administration. The need to deliver oral BCG in the context of a palatable and environmentally robust bait appears to introduce such variation in BCG delivery to sites of immune induction in the badger as to render experimental studies variable and inconsistent.
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Allen, Adrian, Jimena Guerrero, Andrew Byrne, John Lavery, Eleanor Presho, Emily Courcier, James O'Keeffe, et al. "Genetic evidence further elucidates the history and extent of badger introductions from Great Britain into Ireland." Royal Society Open Science 7, no. 4 (April 2020): 200288. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.200288.
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The colonization of Ireland by mammals has been the subject of extensive study using genetic methods and forms a central problem in understanding the phylogeography of European mammals after the Last Glacial Maximum. Ireland exhibits a depauperate mammal fauna relative to Great Britain and continental Europe, and a range of natural and anthropogenic processes have given rise to its modern fauna. Previous Europe-wide surveys of the European badger ( Meles meles ) have found conflicting microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA evidence in Irish populations, suggesting Irish badgers have arisen from admixture between human imported British and Scandinavian animals. The extent and history of contact between British and Irish badger populations remains unclear. We use comprehensive genetic data from Great Britain and Ireland to demonstrate that badgers in Ireland's northeastern and southeastern counties are genetically similar to contemporary British populations. Simulation analyses suggest this admixed population arose in Ireland 600–700 (CI 100–2600) years before present most likely through introduction of British badgers by people. These findings add to our knowledge of the complex colonization history of Ireland by mammals and the central role of humans in facilitating it.
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Clifton-Hadley, R. S., J. W. Wilesmith, M. S. Richards, P. Upton, and S. Johnston. "The occurrence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle in and around an area subject to extensive badger (Meles meles) control." Epidemiology and Infection 114, no. 1 (February 1995): 179–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268800052031.
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SUMMARYThe occurrence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle herds during the period 1966–92 in two geographically related areas in South-West England is compared. In one area comprising 104 km2 all badgers were systematically destroyed from 1975–81, after which recolonization was allowed; in the other, comprising 116 km2, small scale, statutory badger removal operations were undertaken from 1975 onwards where specific herds were detected with M. bovis infection. In the area with total clearance, no further incidents with M. bovis isolation occurred from 1982–92. Survival analysis and proportional hazards regression indicated that the risk of herds being identified with infection was less once badgers had been cleared from their neighbourhood, whereas it was greater in herds with 50 or more animals, and once cattle in a herd had responded positively to the tuberculin skin test, even though infection with M. bovis was not confirmed subsequently. The study provides further evidence that badgers represent an important reservoir of M. bovis infection for cattle and that badger control is effective in reducing incidents of cattle infection with M. bovis if action is thorough and recolonization is prevented.
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Gaughran, Aoibheann, Enda Mullen, Teresa MacWhite, Peter Maher, David J. Kelly, Ruth Kelly, Margaret Good, and Nicola M. Marples. "Badger territoriality maintained despite disturbance of major road construction." PLOS ONE 16, no. 9 (September 3, 2021): e0242586. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242586.
Full textAbstract:
Road ecology has traditionally focused on the impact of in-situ and functional roads on wildlife. However, road construction also poses a major, yet understudied, threat and the implications for key aspects of animal behaviour are unknown. Badgers (Meles meles) have been implicated in the transmission of tuberculosis to cattle. There are concerns that environmental disturbances, including major road construction, can disrupt badger territoriality, promoting the spread of the disease to cattle. To address these knowledge gaps the ranging behaviour of a medium-density Irish badger population was monitored using GPS-tracking collars before, during, and after a major road realignment project that bisected the study area. We estimated badgers’ home range sizes, nightly distances travelled, and the distance and frequency of extra-territorial excursions during each phase of the study and quantified any changes to these parameters. We show that road construction had a very limited effect on ranging behaviour. A small increase in nightly distance during road construction did not translate into an increase in home range size, nor an increase in the distance or frequency of extra-territorial excursions during road construction. In addition, suitable mitigation measures to prevent badger deaths appeared to ensure that normal patterns of ranging behaviour continued once the new road was in place. We recommend that continuous badger-proof fencing be placed along the entire length of new major roads, in combination with appropriately sited underpasses. Our analysis supports the view that road construction did not cause badgers to change their ranging behaviour in ways likely to increase the spread of tuberculosis.
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Santos, Maria J., and Paul Beier. "Habitat selection by European badgers at multiple spatial scales in Portuguese Mediterranean ecosystems." Wildlife Research 35, no. 8 (2008): 835. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr08009.
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Different habitat features can limit animal populations at different spatial scales. We examined habitat selection by Eurasian badger in a montado landscape in southern Portugal at four scales: core area (1 km2), home range (4 km2), social group territory (25 km2), and local population (100 km2). Our goals were to identify important habitats for conservation at each spatial scale (cell size) using candidate variables shown to be important by previous research. As expected, across all scales, badger occurrence was consistently and strongly correlated with dominance of cork oak and deciduous woodlands, and badgers seemed to avoid cultivated fields. Contrary to expectation, monocultures of conifers contributed positively to badger detection. The predictive ability of the models was poor at all scales, probably owing to our inability to include factors such as food, competitors, predators, undercover vegetation, and roads. Nonetheless, the models illustrate the importance to badgers of the montado, an ancient human-modified ecosystem that is threatened by current European Union agricultural conversion policies.
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Do Linh San, Emmanuel, Nicola Ferrari, and Jean-Marc Weber. "Socio-spatial organization of Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) in a low-density population of central Europe." Canadian Journal of Zoology 85, no. 9 (September 2007): 973–84. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z07-085.
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We studied the socio-spatial organization of Eurasian badgers (or European badgers), Meles meles (L., 1758), in a low-density population (estimate 1.8 badgers/km2) inhabiting a semi-rural area of western Switzerland. For this purpose, 8 badgers (5 males and 3 females) were caught at 5 different main setts and were radio-tracked between May 1994 and November 1996. The size of individual home ranges varied from 0.27 to 3.74 km2 (1.69 ± 1.33 km2 (mean ± SD), n = 8, 100% MCP), seemingly according to local variations in habitat productivity. Individual home ranges were spatially stable, but their size decreased significantly during winter (0.26 ± 0.42 km2, n = 7, 100% MCP). Badger social units consisted of 1–5 adults and (or) subadults (2.2 ± 1.5 animals, n = 9) and their yearly offspring. Group-range size varied from 0.57 to 3.74 km2 (2.12 ± 1.30 km2, n = 4) and seemed to be influenced by the spatial distribution pattern of food resources. Indeed, each group range encompassed approximately the same surface of agricultural land (about 0.60 km2). Territories were not well marked, some group ranges partly overlapped. Latrines, which were not numerous and principally located inside rather than along borders of group ranges, were only used irregularly or sporadically. This prompts us to encourage the reconsideration of the role of territorial behaviour in promoting group formation in Eurasian badgers.
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Bondarenko, G. A., I. A. Solovyеva, and T. I. Trukhina. "Morphological features of capsules of trichinella larvae in the muscle tissue of badgers of the Amur region." International Journal of Veterinary Medicine, no. 1 (April 2, 2024): 69–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.52419/issn2072-2419.2024.1.69.
Full textAbstract:
One of the main reservoirs of the causative agent of trichinosis in the Amur region is the badger, whose meat and fat are used for medicinal purposes or as a delicacy. Data on infection of badgers and the localization of Trichinella larvae in the muscle tissue of badgers are ambiguous. The morphological features of the development of muscle tissue in badgers are associated with lifestyle, which is likely reflected in the localization of Trichinella larvae in certain muscles. The goal is to determine the morphological parameters of capsules of Trichinella larvae in the muscle tissue of badgers in the conditions of the Amur region. The material was the muscle tissue of the skeletal muscles of the head, pectoral, pelvic limbs, muscles of the spinal column and abdominal cavity of badgers, hunted by hunters under licenses in the Amur region.Detection of Trichinella larvae was carried out by compressor trichinoscopy and digestion in individual housing, according to MUK 4.2.2747-10 “Methods of sanitary and parasitological examination of meat and meat products.” For each muscle, the intensity of invasion was determined (personal/gram). Morphological parameters of capsules of Trichinella larvae were determined using an eyepiece micrometer. The capsule shape index was calculated using the formula V=D/L.The most invaded muscles in badgers have been identified and the shape index of capsules of Trichinella larvae has been determined. Areas of natural foci of trichinosis in the Amur region have been identified. In badgers, the most infested Trichinella larvae are the head muscles (mylohyoid muscle, tongue muscle tissue and masticatory muscle), which are preferable to take for diagnosing trichinosis in this animal species.The rounded shape of the capsules of Trichinella larvae (shape index 0.72), characteristic of badgers of the weasel family, was established. The areas of natural foci of trichinosis have been identified - Mikhailovsky, Seryshevsky, Blagoveshchensky, Tambov and Ivanovo administrative districts of the Amur Region. Of particular concern is infection in the southern, most populated areas, where there is a high probability of the transition of trichinosis from natural foci to anthropurgic and synanthropic ones.
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Sunga, Julia, Josh Sayers, Karl Cottenie, Christopher J. Kyle, and Danielle M. Ethier. "The effects of roads on habitat selection and movement patterns of the American badger subspecies Taxidea taxus jacksoni in Ontario, Canada." Canadian Journal of Zoology 95, no. 11 (November 2017): 821–28. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2016-0286.
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Road mortality is identified as a threat to American badger (Taxidea taxus (Schreber, 1777)) populations across Canada. Understanding habitat selection and movement in relation to roads is therefore vital to their conservation. Using telemetry data and road-kill locations of badgers in southwestern Ontario, we examined the relationship between habitat selection, movement patterns, and roads at three spatial scales. At the study-area scale, we assessed the effects of habitat attributes on burrow site selection. Several individuals placed their burrows closer to primary highways than expected, suggesting that badgers are not sensitive to human disturbances at this scale. Using straight-line movement trajectories between burrows, we analyzed individual movement patterns within home ranges. All badgers showed some degree of road avoidance, either crossing fewer roads or roads that posed lower mortality risk. At the road-crossing scale, we compared landscape features surrounding road-kill locations to random locations along the same roadway. There was a positive relationship between road-kill locations and number of water-based linear features and higher density of hedgerow cover. Our results provide evidence that badger movement is influenced by roads at multiple scales, which has important implications for managers interested in developing road-mitigation strategies for this endangered population.
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Mysłajek, Robert W., Sabina Nowak, Anna Rożen, and Bogumiła Jędrzejewska. "Factors shaping population density, demography and spatial organization of the Eurasian badger Meles meles in mountains – the Western Carpathians (Southern Poland) as a case study." Animal Biology 62, no. 4 (2012): 479–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157075612x650159.
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We studied the socio-spatial ecology of the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) along the altitudinal gradient (250-1257 m a.s.l.) of the Western Carpathians (Southern Poland), 2004-2009. Family groups were small (mean 2.3 individuals) and home-ranges large (mean 5.42 km2, MCP 100%), which gave a low population density (2.2 individuals/10 km2). Badgers foraged mainly in the foothills, irrespective of the altitude at which their sett was located. They mostly searched for food in meadows, pastures and arable fields (34.4% of telemetry locations), or among shrubs (33.9%). Badgers were killed by hunters (0.37 individuals/10 km2 annually), and by wolves (0.07 individuals/10 km2). The badger population density was influenced mostly by the abundance of earthworms and hunting pressure, while the size and shape of their territories was determined by the distribution of foraging grounds.
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Brusentsova, N. "Home Ranges of the Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes (Carnivora, Canidae) and European Badger, Meles meles (Carnivora, Mustelidae), in Oak Forests of Slobozhanshchyna, Ukraine." Vestnik Zoologii 53, no. 1 (February 1, 2019): 57–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/vzoo-2019-0006.
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Abstract The research was carried out in 6 territories located in oak forests of Slobozhanshchyna in 2007–2016. Family home ranges were determined using the average nearest neighbour distance between all setts of a sett system for the badgers and between breeding burrows for the foxes. The use of fox and badger family home ranges in different seasons and years was estimated by changes in the use of burrows at the monitoring site of Gomilshanski Lisy National Nature Park. In the oak forests, 173 burrows were studied, among which 75 are used by badgers and 45 by foxes. The area of most of the badger family home ranges in the oak forests is 28–88 hа. The area of the fox family home ranges in the oak forests is 86 to 892 ha. In the oak forests of Slobozhanshchyna, badger and fox family home ranges correspond to the data for similar biotopes in Europe. Seasonal changes of the badger family home range used at the monitoring site in Gomilshanski Lisy NNP in general correspond to literature radio tracking data. Changes in use of the fox family home range de pend on fluctuations of the abundance of rodents.
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DELAHAY, R. J., N. WALKER, G. S. SMITH, D. WILKINSON, R. S. CLIFTON-HADLEY, C. L. CHEESEMAN, A. J. TOMLINSON, and M. A. CHAMBERS. "Long-term temporal trends and estimated transmission rates for Mycobacterium bovis infection in an undisturbed high-density badger (Meles meles) population." Epidemiology and Infection 141, no. 7 (March 28, 2013): 1445–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0950268813000721.
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SUMMARYWe describe epidemiological trends in Mycobacterium bovis infection in an undisturbed wild badger (Meles meles) population. Data were derived from the capture, clinical sampling and serological testing of 1803 badgers over 9945 capture events spanning 24 years. Incidence and prevalence increased over time, exhibiting no simple relationship with host density. Potential explanations are presented for a marked increase in the frequency of positive serological test results. Transmission rates (R0) estimated from empirical data were consistent with modelled estimates and robust to changes in test sensitivity and the spatial extent of the population at risk. The risk of a positive culture or serological test result increased with badger age, and varied seasonally. Evidence consistent with progressive disease was found in cubs. This study demonstrates the value of long-term data and the repeated application of imperfect diagnostic tests as indices of infection to reveal epidemiological trends in M. bovis infection in badgers.
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Gil-Sánchez, Jose María, F. Javier Herrera-Sánchez, Javier Rodríguez-Siles, Juan Manuel Sáez, Miguel Ángel Díaz-Portero, Ángel Arredondo, Begoña Álvarez, et al. "Feeding Specialization of Honey Badgers in the Sahara Desert: A Trial of Life in a Hard Environment." Diversity 12, no. 2 (February 2, 2020): 59. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d12020059.
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The honey badger (Mellivora capensis) is a medium-sized carnivore distributed throughout Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, Iran, Turkmenistan, and India. However, available information on its ecology is very scarce. We studied its feeding ecology in the remote north-western Sahara Desert, based on the contents of 125 fecal samples collected during large scale surveys. Samples were confirmed to belong to honey badgers by camera trapping and genetic analyses. Barely 18 prey species were detected. The diet primarily consisted of spiny-tailed lizards Uromastyx nigriventris and U. dispar (72% of volume in scats). Secondary prey items were arthropods (14%), small mammals (8%), other reptiles (4%), and eggs (0.8%). Some small geographic and temporal differences were related to the consumption of beetle larvae and rodents as alternative prey. Camera trapping and distance sampling surveys showed that diel activities did not overlap between honey badgers and spiny-tailed lizards, suggesting that badgers primarily dig lizards out of their burrows when inactive. Consumption of spiny lizards by other sympatric meso-carnivores was < 6.1% of occurrence (223 analyzed scats); the honey badger behaved as a trophic specialist in the Sahara, probably thanks to exclusive anatomical adaptations for digging. We discuss the role of this circumstance minimizing the exploitative competition, which could allow the survival of this large mustelid in this low productive and highly competitive environment.
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Tsai, Ming-shan, Chris Newman, David W. Macdonald, and Christina D. Buesching. "Stress-Related Herpesvirus Reactivation in Badgers Can Result in Clostridium Proliferation." EcoHealth 18, no. 4 (December 2021): 440–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10393-021-01568-2.
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AbstractClostridium perfringens is an important food-borne zoonotic pathogen and a member of the commensal gut microbiome of many mammals. Predisposing factors such as coinfection with other pathogens or diet change can, however, cause overgrowth and subsequent disease development. Here we investigated the occurrence of C. perfringens in a free-ranging badger population with up to 100% prevalence of herpesvirus infection. Herpesvirus reactivation is known to be associated with increased susceptibility bacterial infections. PCR screening of rectal swabs from 69 free-ranging badgers revealed 15.9% (11/69, 95% CI = 9.1–26.3%) prevalence of detectable C. perfringens (Type A) DNA in the digestive tracts of assymptomatic animals. The results of Fisher’s exact test revealed C. perfringens detection was not biased by age, sex and seasons. However, badgers with genital tract gammaherpesvirus (MusGHV-1) reactivation (p = 0.007) and infection with a specific MusGHV-1 genotype (p = 0.019) were more prone to of C. perfringens proliferation, indicating coinfection biased dynamics of intestinal C. perfringens. An inclusion pattern analysis further indicated that, causally, MusGHV-1 reactivation potentiated C. perfringens detection. Whether or not specific MusGHV-1 genotype infection or reactivation plays a role in C. perfringens overgrowth or disease development in badgers will require further investigation. Nevertheless, a postmortem examination of a single badger that died of fatal disease, likely associated with C. perfringens, revealed MusGHV-1 detection in the small intestine.
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ATKINS, P. J., and P. A. ROBINSON. "Bovine tuberculosis and badgers in Britain: relevance of the past." Epidemiology and Infection 141, no. 7 (January 25, 2013): 1437–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s095026881200297x.
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SUMMARYThe European badger (Meles meles) has been identified as a wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis and a source of transmission to cattle in Britain and Ireland. Both behavioural ecology and statistical ecological modelling have indicated the long-term persistence of the disease in some badger communities, and this is postulated to account for the high incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle across large tracts of England and Wales. This paper questions this consensus by using historical cartographic evidence to show that tuberculosis in cattle had a very different spatial distribution before 1960 to the present day. Since few of the badgers collected in road traffic accidents between 1972 and 1990 had tuberculosis in counties such as Cheshire, where the disease had until shortly before that been rife in the cattle population, the role of badgers as reservoirs in spreading disease in similar counties outside the south-west of England has to be questioned.
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Apps, Clayton D., Nancy J. Newhouse, and Trevor A. Kinley. "Habitat associations of American badgers in southeastern British Columbia." Canadian Journal of Zoology 80, no. 7 (July 1, 2002): 1228–39. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z02-119.
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American badgers (Taxidea taxus) are endangered in British Columbia due to habitat loss and human-caused mortality. To better understand human impacts and to promote conservation planning, we described badger habitat relationships. At two spatial scales, we analyzed selection by 12 radio-implanted resident badgers for soil composition, forest overstory, land cover, vegetation productivity, terrain, and human influence. At a broad (23.8 km2) landscape scale, soil parent-material associations were positive with glaciolacustrine and glaciofluvial and negative with colluvial. Soil-order associations were positive with brunisols and regosols and negative with podzols and luvisols. Association with fine sandy-loam texture was positive. Associations were negative with forested habitats and positive with open range, agricultural habitats, and linear disturbances. Associations were negative with elevation, slope, terrain ruggedness, and both vegetation productivity and moisture. At a fine (14.5 ha) scale, associations were positive with glaciofluvial, fine sandy-loam textured, and well-drained soils. Associations were negative with colluvial soils, forest cover, vegetation moisture, elevation, and ruggedness. Associations with open range and southern aspects were positive. The linear combination of a subset of variables could explain and predict habitat selection. At this range extent, natural conditions may restrict badger occurrence, increasing badger sensitivity to human factors that influence habitat quality and mortality.
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Stewart, Paul D., and David W. Macdonald. "Badgers and Badger Fleas: Strategies and Counter-Strategies." Ethology 109, no. 9 (September 2003): 751–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1439-0310.2003.00910.x.
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Sidorchuk, Natalia V., Michail V. Maslov, and Vyacheslav V. Rozhnov. "Role of badger setts in life of other carnivores." Studia Ecologiae et Bioethicae 13, no. 1 (March 31, 2015): 81–95. http://dx.doi.org/10.21697/seb.2015.13.1.04.
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A study of interspecific interactions of European (Meles meles) and Asian (M. leucurus) badgers with other carnivores at badger setts was carried out in Darwin Reserve (European part of Russia) and in Ussuriisk Reserve (Russian Far East) in 2006-2011. We used camera traps for the registration of visits of carnivore mammals to the badger setts. Overall, 11 species were recorded. In both reserves, badger setts attract carnivore species during the whole year. Some predators visit badger setts regularly. The visitors can be divided into two groups: species searching shelter, or searching prey. The first group includes raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides and red fox Vulpes vulpes. Raccoon dog was the most frequent visitor in both study areas (34 visits in Darwin reserve and 73 in Ussuriisk reserve). The second group includes lynx Lynx lynx and wolf Canis lupus in Darwin reserve and Asiatic black bear Ursus thibetanus, brown bear U. arctos, yellow-throated marten Martes flavigula aterrima and lynx Lynx lynx in Ussuriisk reserve. Smaller predators are also included into the second group because they can find prey at badger setts too: leopard cat Prionailurus bengalensis euptilura, sable Martes zibellina and Siberian weasel Mustela sibirica in Ussuriisk reserve and European pine marten Martes martes in Darwin reserve. No cases of aggressive interactions between the badgers and the visitors were recorded. But we noted two cases of change of sett owners and one case when raccoon dog removed dead badger cubs from the sett.
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Kontsiotis, Vasileios J., Georgios Vadikolios, and Vasilios Liordos. "Acceptability and consensus for the management of game and non-game crop raiders." Wildlife Research 47, no. 4 (2020): 296. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr19083.
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Abstract ContextWild boars (Sus scrofa) and European badgers (Meles meles) have been increasingly implicated in crop damage in Greece. The species’ increasing presence on agricultural land has also raised concern about disease transmission to livestock and humans. Greece does not have any plans for the management of these situations, because they have only recently emerged. Understanding public preferences for management strategies is necessary for the successful implementation of management plans. AimsTo survey residents of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, north-eastern Greece, to understand variation between stakeholder groups in preferences for the management of wild boars and European badgers in different scenarios. MethodsData were collected from on-site face-to-face surveys (n=585), between September and November 2017. Respondents, assigned to one of general public, farmers, hunters and farmer-hunter groups, were asked to rate their acceptability of wild boar and European badger management strategies under four conflict scenarios: wild boars and European badgers raid crops and transfer disease. Key resultsStakeholders preferred less invasive strategies for the management of crop raiders, although they accepted lethal control in the more severe disease-transmission scenarios. Potential for conflict was higher for non-lethal control in the crop-raiding scenarios and for lethal control in the disease-transmission scenarios. Farmers and farmer-hunters were the groups more strongly supporting management strategies in all scenarios. Hunters were more reluctant to accept the reduction in numbers of a game species (i.e. the wild boar) than of a non-game species (i.e. the European badger). ConclusionsVariation in the acceptability of and consensus for wild boar and European badger management strategies was considerable, both among and within groups. ImplicationsFindings are a critical guide for the design of a conflict-management process aimed at reaching consensus for proper management strategies. This would allow for the successful management of human conflicts over wildlife.
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Byrne, Andrew W., Adrian Allen, Simone Ciuti, Eamonn Gormley, David J. Kelly, Nikki J. Marks, Nicola M. Marples, et al. "Badger Ecology, Bovine Tuberculosis, and Population Management: Lessons from the Island of Ireland." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2024 (January 16, 2024): 1–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2024/8875146.
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The European badger, Meles meles, is an important wildlife host for Mycobacterium bovis and contributes to the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle in several countries. The control of zoonotic diseases, such as bTB, is a central component of global One-Health strategies. Such strategies are complicated by human–wildlife conflicts, particularly where wildlife reservoirs are legally protected. The contrasting objectives of disease management and wildlife conservation, therefore, can require significant investment in research to support evidence-based policies. In Britain and Ireland, for example, badgers are a legally protected species but are also subject to lethal control and vaccination for disease management. In this paper, we review recent (2012–2022) advances in research on this wildlife host on the island of Ireland, which is used to underpin national policies and identify research gaps. In recent years, significant advances in estimating key parameters related to badger management and population dynamics have been made, including estimating population abundance at varying scales (local, landscape, and national). Advances in tracking technology, integrated with mark-recapture and modelling tools, have provided significant insights into the movement ecology of badgers and their interactions with cattle. The adaptation of genetic technologies has improved our understanding of the transmission dynamics of M. bovis among different hosts. As a disease management strategy, the culling of badgers to control bTB has reduced badger densities significantly, although this is not considered a sustainable sole long-term solution to the problem of spillback infection. The recent development of vaccination strategies presents an additional approach to control the disease in wild populations. These types of interventions will require significant applied research to ensure they are sustainable and to maximise benefits. It is also expected that focused research efforts will improve human–wildlife coexistence in the context of the broader One-Health strategy.
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Kynaston, Suzanne, Ernest Neal, and Chris Cheeseman. "Badgers." Journal of Animal Ecology 65, no. 4 (July 1996): 533. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/5793.
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Thornton, Daniel, Arthur Scully, Travis King, Scott Fisher, Scott Fitkin, and John Rohrer. "Hunting associations of American badgers (Taxidea taxus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) revealed by camera trapping." Canadian Journal of Zoology 96, no. 7 (July 2018): 769–73. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cjz-2017-0234.
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Interspecies foraging associations occur in a wide variety of vertebrate taxa and are maintained through gains in foraging efficiency and (or) predator avoidance. Despite their advantages, foraging associations often are variable in space and time and benefits may not accrue equally to all participants. In mammals, interspecies associations between solitary mammalian carnivores are rare. Coyotes (Canis latrans Say, 1823) and American badgers (Taxidea taxus (Schreber, 1777)) occasionally form hunting associations in pursuit of ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus Kennicott, 1863), yet spatiotemporal variation in this association may be substantial. Better documentation of coyote–badger interactions across space and time will improve our understanding of the environmental drivers of this relationship and its benefit to both species. We used a broad-scale camera trapping array to document coyote–badger hunting associations. Out of 46 detections of badgers, we found five instances of hunting associations with coyotes, all of which occurred in mid- to late summer when ground squirrels were most active. Given our high rate of detection, these interactions are likely common on our study area. Habitat characteristics of the regions where we document coyote–badger interactions may have increased the likelihood of hunting associations. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of camera traps for documenting this association and suggests that the coyote–badger system may be ideal for studying drivers of spatiotemporal variation in foraging associations.
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Noonan, Michael J., Helga V. Tinnesand, Carsten T. Müller, Frank Rosell, David W. Macdonald, and Christina D. Buesching. "Knowing Me, Knowing You: Anal Gland Secretion of European Badgers (Meles meles) Codes for Individuality, Sex and Social Group Membership." Journal of Chemical Ecology 45, no. 10 (October 2019): 823–37. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10886-019-01113-0.
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Abstract European badgers, Meles meles, are group-living in the UK, and demarcate their ranges with shared latrines. As carnivores, badgers possess paired anal glands, but olfactory information on the content of badger anal gland secretion (AGS) is largely uninvestigated. Here, we examined the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of AGS samples from 57 free-living badgers using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography—mass spectrometry. AGS was rich in alkanes (C7–C15, 14.3% of identified compounds), aldehydes (C5–C14, 9.7%), phenols (C6–C15, 9.5%), alcohols (C5–C10, 7.3%), aromatic hydrocarbons (C6–C13, 6.8%), ketones (C6–C13, 6.3%) and carboxylic acids (C3–C12, 5.6%) and contained a variety of esters, sulfurous and nitrogenous compounds, and ethers. The number of VOCs per profile ranged from 20 to 111 (mean = 65.4; ± 22.7 SD), but no compound was unique for any of the biological categories. After normalization of the raw data using Probabilistic Quotient Normalization, we produced a resemblance matrix by calculating the Euclidian distances between all sample pairs. PERMANOVA revealed that AGS composition differs between social groups, and concentration and complexity in terms of number of measurable VOCs varies between seasons and years. AGS VOC profiles encode individual identity, sex and vary with female reproductive state, indicating an important function in intraspecific communication. Because AGS is excreted together with fecal deposits, we conclude that chemical complexity of AGS enables particularly latrine-using species, such as badgers, to advertise more complex individual-specific information than in feces alone.
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van Tonder, Andries J., Mark J. Thornton, Andrew J. K. Conlan, Keith A. Jolley, Lee Goolding, Andrew P. Mitchell, James Dale, et al. "Inferring Mycobacterium bovis transmission between cattle and badgers using isolates from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial." PLOS Pathogens 17, no. 11 (November 29, 2021): e1010075. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1010075.
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Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) is a causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the global cattle industry. The Randomised Badger Culling Trial was a field experiment carried out between 1998 and 2005 in the South West of England. As part of this trial, M. bovis isolates were collected from contemporaneous and overlapping populations of badgers and cattle within ten defined trial areas. We combined whole genome sequences from 1,442 isolates with location and cattle movement data, identifying transmission clusters and inferred rates and routes of transmission of M. bovis. Most trial areas contained a single transmission cluster that had been established shortly before sampling, often contemporaneous with the expansion of bovine tuberculosis in the 1980s. The estimated rate of transmission from badger to cattle was approximately two times higher than from cattle to badger, and the rate of within-species transmission considerably exceeded these for both species. We identified long distance transmission events linked to cattle movement, recurrence of herd breakdown by infection within the same transmission clusters and superspreader events driven by cattle but not badgers. Overall, our data suggests that the transmission clusters in different parts of South West England that are still evident today were established by long-distance seeding events involving cattle movement, not by recrudescence from a long-established wildlife reservoir. Clusters are maintained primarily by within-species transmission, with less frequent spill-over both from badger to cattle and cattle to badger.