Impact of test, vaccinate or remove protocol on home ranges and nightly movements of badgers a medium density population.

In the British Isles, the European badger (Meles meles) is thought to be the primary wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), an endemic disease in cattle. Test, vaccinate or remove ('TVR') of bTB test-positive badgers, has been suggested to be a potentially useful protocol to reduce bTB incidence in cattle. However, the practice of removing or culling badgers is controversial both for ethical reasons and because there is no consistent observed effect on bTB levels in cattle. While removing badgers reduces population density, it may also result in disruption of their social behaviour, increase their ranging, and lead to greater intra- and inter-species bTB transmission. This effect has been recorded in high badger density areas, such as in southwest England. However, little is known about how TVR affects the behaviour and movement of badgers within a medium density population, such as those that occur in Northern Ireland (NI), which the current study aimed to examine. During 2014-2017, badger ranging behaviours were examined prior to and during a TVR protocol in NI. Nightly distances travelled by 38 individuals were determined using Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements of animal tracks and GPS-enhanced dead-reckoned tracks. The latter was calculated using GPS, tri-axial accelerometer and tri-axial magnetometer data loggers attached to animals. Home range and core home range size were measured using 95% and 50% autocorrelated kernel density estimates, respectively, based on location fixes. TVR was not associated with measured increases in either distances travelled per night (mean = 3.31 ± 2.64 km) or home range size (95% mean = 1.56 ± 0.62 km2, 50% mean = 0.39 ± 0.62 km2) over the four years of study. However, following trapping, mean distances travelled per night increased by up to 44% eight days post capture. Findings differ from those observed in higher density badger populations in England, in which badger ranging increased following culling. Whilst we did not assess behaviours of individual badgers, possible reasons why no differences in home range size were observed include higher inherent 'social fluidity' in Irish populations whereby movements are less restricted by habitat saturation and/or that the numbers removed did not reach a threshold that might induce increases in ranging behaviour. Nevertheless, short-term behavioural disruption from trapping was observed, which led to significant increases in the movements of individual animals within their home range. Whether or not TVR may alter badger behaviours remains to be seen, but it would be better to utilise solutions such as oral vaccination of badgers and/or cattle as well as increased biosecurity to limit bTB transmission, which may be less likely to cause interference and thereby reduce the likelihood of bTB transmission.

The impact of BCG strains and repeat vaccinations on immunodiagnostic tests in Eurasian badgers (Meles meles).

Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is a potential tool in the control of Mycobacterium bovis in European badgers (Meles meles). A five year Test and Vaccinate or Remove (TVR) research intervention project commenced in 2014 using two BCG strains (BCG Copenhagen 1331 (Years 1-3/ BadgerBCG) and BCG Sofia SL2222 (Years 4-5). Badgers were recaptured around 9 weeks after the Year 5 vaccination and then again a year later. The Dual-Path Platform (DPP) Vet TB assay was used to detect serological evidence of M. bovis infection. Of the 48 badgers, 47 had increased Line 1 readings (MPB83 antigen) between the Year 5 vaccination and subsequent recapture. The number of BCG Sofia vaccinations influenced whether a badger tested positive to the recapture DPP VetTB assay Line 1 (p < 0.001) while the number of BadgerBCG vaccinations did not significantly affect recapture Line 1 results (p = 0.59). Line 1 relative light units (RLU) were more pronounced in tests run with sera than whole blood. The results from an in_house MPB83 ELISA results indicated that the WB DPP VetTB assay may not detect lower MPB83 IgG levels as well as the serum DPP VetTB assay. Changes in interferon gamma assay (IFN-γ) results were seen in 2019 with significantly increased CFP-10 and PPDB readings. Unlike BadgerBCG, BCG Sofia induces an immune response to MPB83 (the immune dominant antigen in M. bovis badger infection) that then affects the use of immunodiagnostic tests. The use of the DPP VetTB assay in recaptured BCG Sofia vaccinated badgers within the same trapping season is precluded and caution should be used in badgers vaccinated with BCG Sofia in previous years. The results suggest that the DPP VetTB assay can be used with confidence in badgers vaccinated with BadgerBCG as a single or repeated doses.

Test and vaccinate or remove: Methodology and preliminary results from a badger intervention research project.

BACKGROUND: In the British Isles, it is generally accepted that the Eurasian badger (Meles meles) plays a role in the maintenance of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle. Non-selective culling is the main intervention method deployed in controlling bTB in badgers along with smaller scale Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination areas. This paper describes the use of selective badger culling combined with vaccination in a research intervention trial. METHODS: In Northern Ireland, a 100 km2 area was subjected to a test and vaccinate or remove (TVR) badger intervention over a 5-year period. Badgers were individually identified and tested on an annual basis. Physical characteristics and clinical samples were obtained from each unique badger capture event. RESULTS: A total of 824 badgers were trapped with 1520 capture/sampling events. There were no cage-related injuries to the majority of badgers (97%). A low level of badger removal was required (4.1%-16.4% annually), while 1412 BCG vaccinations were administered. A statistically significant downward trend in the proportion of test positive badgers was observed. CONCLUSION: This is the first project to clearly demonstrate the feasibility of cage side testing of badgers. The results provide valuable data on the logistics and resources required to undertake a TVR approach to control Mycobacterium bovis in badgers.

A Bayesian analysis of a Test and Vaccinate or Remove study to control bovine tuberculosis in badgers (Meles meles).

A novel five year Test and Vaccinate or Remove (TVR) wildlife research intervention project in badgers (Meles meles) commenced in 2014 in a 100km2 area of Northern Ireland. It aimed to increase the evidence base around badgers and bovine TB and help create well-informed and evidence-based strategies to address the issue of cattle-to-cattle spread and spread between cattle and badgers. It involved real-time trap-side testing of captured badgers and vaccinating those that tested negative for bTB (BadgerBCG-BCG Danish 1331) and removal of those that tested bTB positive using the Dual-Path Platform VetTB test (DPP) for cervids (Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Medford, NY USA). Four diagnostic tests were utilised within the study interferon gamma release assay (IGRA), culture (clinical samples and post mortem), DPP using both whole blood and DPP using serum. BCG Sofia (SL222) was used in the final two years because of supply issues with BadgerBCG. Objectives for this study were to evaluate the performance of the DPP in field conditions and whether any trend was apparent in infection prevalence over the study period. A Bayesian latent class model of diagnostic test evaluation in the absence of a gold standard was applied to the data. Temporal variation in the sensitivity of DPP and interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) due to the impact of control measures was investigated using logistic regression and individual variability was assessed. Bayesian latent class analysis estimated DPP with serum to have a sensitivity of 0.58 (95% CrI: 0.40-0.76) and specificity of 0.97 (95% CrI: 0.95-0.98). The DPP with whole blood showed a higher sensitivity (0.69 (95% CrI: 0.48-0.88)) but similar specificity (0.98 (95% Crl: 0.96-0.99)). The change from BCG Danish to BCG Sofia significantly impacted on DPP serum test characteristics. In addition, there was weak evidence of increasing sensitivity of IGRA over time and differences in DPP test sensitivity between adults and cubs. An exponential decline model was an appropriate representation of the infection prevalence over the 5 years, with a starting prevalence of 14% (95% CrI: 0.10-0.20), and an annual reduction of 39.1% (95% CrI: 26.5-50.9). The resulting estimate of infection prevalence in year 5 of the study was 1.9% (95% CrI: 0.8-3.8). These results provide field evidence of a statistically significant reduction in badger TB prevalence supporting a TVR approach to badger intervention. They give confidence in the reliability and reproducibility in the DPP Whole Blood as a real time trap-side diagnostic test for badgers, and describe the effect of vaccination and reduced infection prevalence on test characteristics.

Quantifying intraherd cattle movement metrics: Implications for disease transmission risk.

There are a paucity of data quantifying on-farm management practices such as the frequency of intraherd cattle movements, use of consolidated or spatially fragmented grazing pastures, and duration of time cattle spend at grass with respect to biosecurity and disease transmission. Such movement dynamics are important when attempting to understand the maintenance of chronic infectious disease, such as bovine tuberculosis (bTB). We captured empirical data on daily cattle movements for a sample of eighteen farms throughout one complete grazing season (n = 18,988 grazing days) and assessed these attributes in relation to herd bTB risk. Dairy herds were stocked at significantly higher densities compared to beef production systems (6.6 animals/ha, 95 % confidence intervals (CI) 6.5-6.7 and 4.1 animals/ha, 95 %CI 4.1 - 4.1 respectively, p < 0.001). Most notably milking cows, were grazed at higher densities than other life stages (e.g. calves, heifers and bullocks) (p < 0.001) and experienced four times the number of movements between pastures. Beef cattle were more likely to be grazed across multiple (rather than single) fields (p < 0.001), with greater time spent on fragmented land away from the main/home farm (p < 0.001). None of the farm or herd attributes analysed (e.g. stocking density, frequency of movement, movement distances or land fragmentation) were associated with herd bovine tuberculosis (bTB) breakdowns during this study. However, there was a weak positive association between bTB breakdowns during the 3 years prior to the study and cattle movement distances (p = 0.05) and time spent on fragmented land (p = 0.08). After a bTB breakdown occurs, restrictions on animals moving out of these herds are implemented to control disease spread, yet we argue that more attention is needed on the role of intraherd grazing patterns in modelling disease transmission risk between herds.

Grazing cattle exposure to neighbouring herds and badgers in relation to bovine tuberculosis risk.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) can be spread between and among cattle and wildlife hosts e.g. European badger (Meles meles). The majority of cattle in the UK and Ireland are grazed during the summer, potentially exposing them to Mycobacterium bovis. 18 farms were surveyed (39% dairy, 61% beef; fields n = 697) for one grazing season (May-November 2016, n = 148,461 field days) to quantify the co-occurrence of cattle with badger setts and latrines and adjacency to neighbouring cattle herds. 3% (n = 24) of the fields had a badger sett or latrine recorded, dairy cattle were significantly more likely to co-occur with badger setts and latrines than beef cattle. Most farms (89%) grazed cattle adjacent to a neighbouring herd, which accounted for 18% of the grazing season. Potential exposure to neighbouring herds did not differ between production systems but did vary between life stages. A significant positive association between the proportion of time cattle spent grazing fields with setts present and the historic 1-, 3- and 5- year bTB status (p = 0.007, p = 0.013 and p = 0.013 respectively) was found. However, when cattle were grazed in fields with latrines, a significant negative association was found between the proportion of time cattle spent grazing fields with latrines present and the historic 3- and 5- year bTB status (p = 0.033 and p = 0.012 respectively). Historic bTB status and percentage of days spent beside a neighbouring herd was unrelated. Idiosyncrasies at farm-level and between risk factors indicated that individual farm assessments would be beneficial to understand potential exposure risk.

Interspecific visitation of cattle and badgers to fomites: A transmission risk for bovine tuberculosis?

In Great Britain and Ireland, badgers (Meles meles) are a wildlife reservoir of Mycobacterium bovis and implicated in bovine tuberculosis transmission to domestic cattle. The route of disease transmission is unknown with direct, so-called "nose-to-nose," contact between hosts being extremely rare. Camera traps were deployed for 64,464 hr on 34 farms to quantify cattle and badger visitation rates in space and time at six farm locations. Badger presence never coincided with cattle presence at the same time, with badger and cattle detection at the same location but at different times being negatively correlated. Badgers were never recorded within farmyards during the present study. Badgers utilized cattle water troughs in fields, but detections were infrequent (equivalent to one badger observed drinking every 87 days). Cattle presence at badger-associated locations, for example, setts and latrines, were three times more frequent than badger presence at cattle-associated locations, for example, water troughs. Preventing cattle access to badger setts and latrines and restricting badger access to cattle water troughs may potentially reduce interspecific bTB transmission through reduced indirect contact.

Characteristics of Northern Irish cattle herds without bovine tuberculosis infection.

BACKGROUND: Despite ongoing eradication efforts, bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is endemic in cattle herds in Northern Ireland (NI). This disease has serious implications for the economy, farming and animal welfare. Previous research identified a population of herds which have remained free from bTB infection for 10 years (2004-2014). Understanding the characteristics of these herds may have important implications for eradication efforts, such as spatially targeted interventions. METHODS: A cluster analysis and a retrospective case-control analysis was conducted to compare bTB- free herds with herds which experienced prolonged infection (ie, bTB breakdowns lasting more than ≥ 365 days). RESULTS: Only small, localised clusters of herds which have remained free from bTB were revealed, thus limiting the potential for spatially targeted interventions. The results illustrated the importance of herd size to disease status; over 27 per cent of the bTB-free herds had up to 10 animals. However, the data also showed that there were no inward movements in the year before the bTB skin test in those herds which remained free from bTB. CONCLUSIONS: Attention should therefore be given to the cattle movement network in NI to better understand the risk associated with cattle purchasing.