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Tuberculosis in East Sussex: IV. A systematic examination of wild mammals other than badgers for tuberculosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

J. W. Wilesmith ,
P. E. Sayers ,
T. W. A. Little ,
J. I. Brewer ,
R. Bode ,
G. D. B. Hillman ,
D. G. Pritchard  and
F. A. Stuart
J. W. Wilesmith
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Unit and Bacteriology Department, Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB
P. E. Sayers
Affiliation:
Wildlife and Storage Biology Discipline, Government Buildings, Coley Park, Reading,Berkshire RG1 6DT
T. W. A. Little
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Unit and Bacteriology Department, Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB
J. I. Brewer
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Unit and Bacteriology Department, Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB
R. Bode
Affiliation:
Animal Health Office, Medwyn House, Mountfield Road, Lewes, East Sussex BN7 2XJ
G. D. B. Hillman
Affiliation:
Wildlife and Storage Biology Discipline, Government Buildings, Coley Park, Reading,Berkshire RG1 6DT
D. G. Pritchard
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Unit and Bacteriology Department, Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB
F. A. Stuart
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Unit and Bacteriology Department, Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey KT15 3NB
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A detailed investigation of the possible role of wild mammals, other than badgers, in the maintenance of Mycobacterium bovis in an area on the South Downs of East Sussex was carried out over 3 years. Estimates of population sizes were made where possible and minimum sample sizes were selected to be 95 % certain of including at least one infected animal if the prevalence was at least 5 %. Samples of wild mammals were taken from populations which had the highest potential direct or indirect contact rate with known infected badgers. M. bovis was not isolated from any of the 15 species of wild mammals.

It was concluded that badgers are able to maintain M. bovis in an area independently of other species, and that in the area studied other species were not a source of infection for the cattle herds.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 97 , Issue 1 , August 1986 , pp. 37 - 48
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1986

References

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