Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-xtgtn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-18T23:02:36.937Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Epidemiological features of bovine tuberculosis in cattle herds in Great Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

J. W. Wilesmith
J. W. Wilesmith
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Unit, Central Veterinary Laboratory, New Haw, Weybridge, Surrey, KT15 3NB
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Particular epidemiological features of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle herds in Great Britain during the period 1972–8 were examined. During these seven years 1099 herds became infected, the mean annual incidence of herd infection being of the order of one infected herd per 1000 cattle herds.

Infection in herds was predominantly a sporadic occurrence; 938 (85·4%) herds experienced only one incident of infection which persisted for less than 12 months. The concentration of infected herds in localized areas of the south-west region England, where infected badgers were the most significant attributed source infection, is demonstrated.

The risk of herd infection in relation to badger sett density was also examined in Cornwall, Gloucestershire/Avon and counties in England and Wales outside south-west region of England. The numbers of herds at risk in six categories badger sett density in these three areas were estimated from three random samples of herds drawn from the annual agricultural census. In Cornwall and Gloucestershire/Avon herd infection, associated with infected badgers or for which no source of infection could be found, was positively associated with badger sett density. A similar association between herd infection, not attributable to a source of infection, and badger sett density was found in counties in England and Wales outside the south-west region of England.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 90 , Issue 2 , April 1983 , pp. 159 - 176
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

References

REFERENCES

Bailey, N. T. J. (1975). The Mathematical Theory of Infectious Diseases and its Applications. London: Charles Griffin.Google Scholar
Barrow, P. & Gallagher, J. (1981). Aspects of the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis in badgers and cattle. I. The prevalence of infection in two wild animal populations in south-west England. Journal of Hygiene 86, 237–245.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bouvier, G. (1963). Possible transmission of tuberculosis and brucellosis from game animals to man and to domestic animals. Bulletin Office International des Epizooties 59, 433–436.Google Scholar
Bouvier, G., Burgisser, H. & Schneider, P. A. (1957). Observations sur les maladies du gibier, des oiseaux et des poissons. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 99, 461–477.Google Scholar
Bouvier, G., Burgisser, H. & Schneider, P. A. (1959). Observations sur les maladies du gibier, des oiseaux et des poissons faites en 1957 et en 1958. Schweizer Archiv für Tierheilkunde 101, 340–349.Google Scholar
Bouyier, G., Burgisser, H. & Schneider, P. A. (1962). Observations sur les maladies du gibier, des animaux sauvages faites en 1959 et 1960. Schweizer Arckiv für Tierheilkunde 104, 440–450.Google Scholar
Cox, D. R. & Lewis, P. A. W. (1966). The Statistical Analysis of Series of Events, p. 224. London: MethuenCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Evans, H. T. J. & Thompson, H. V. (1981). Bovine tuberculosis in cattle in Great Britain. I. Eradication of the disease from cattle and the role of the badger (Melee meles) as a source of Mycobacterium bovis for cattle. Animal Regulation Studies 3, 191–216.Google Scholar
Little, T. W. A., Swan, C., Thompson, H. V. & Wilesmith, J. W. (1982). Bovine tuberculosis in domestic and wild mammals in an area of Dorset. III. The prevalence of tuberculosis in mammals other than badgers and cattle. Journal of Hygiene 89, 225–234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Muirhead, R. H., Gallagher, J. & Burn, K. J. (1974). Tuberculosis in wild badgers in Gloucestershire: Epidemiology. Veterinary Record 95, 552–555.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Neal, E. G. (1977). Badgers, pp. 251–254. Poole, Dorset: Blandford Press.Google Scholar
Noonan, N. L., Sheane, W. D., Harper, L. R. & Ryan, P. J. (1975). Wildlife as a possible reservoir of bovine tuberculosis. Irish Veterinary Journal 29, 1.Google Scholar
Pearson, E. S. & Hartley, H. O. (1970). Biometrika Tables for Statisticians. vol. 1, p. 228. University Press, Cambridge.Google Scholar
Rees, W. H. G. (1981). Nature 290, 263.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Report (1976). Bovine Tuberculosis in Badgers. Report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, London.Google Scholar
Report (1978). Annual Report on Research and Technical Work 1978. Department of Agriculture for Northern Ireland, p. 170. Belfast: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar
Report (1979). Bovine Tuberculosis in Badgers. Third Report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, London.Google Scholar
Report (1981). Bovine Tuberculosis in Badgers. Fifth Report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, London.Google Scholar
Report (1982). Bovine Tuberculosis in Badgers. Sixth Report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, London.Google Scholar
Wilesmith, J. W., Little, T. W. A., Thompson, H. W. & Swan, C. (1982). Bovine tuberculosis in domestic and wild mammals in an area of Dorset. I. Tuberculosis in Cattle. Journal of Hygiene 89, 195–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zuckerman Lord (1980). Badgers, Cattle and Tuberculosis, pp. 68, 79. London: H.M.S.O.Google Scholar