December 18, 2019

UK study finds tuberculosis infection between cattle more significant than transmission from badgers

The study, published in the journal eLife, is the first to also provide direct evidence that badgers can transmit tuberculosis (TB) to cattle, reported The Guardian.

Scientists studied the transmission of TB between badgers and cattle in Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire and found that badgers are 10 times more frequently able to transmit TB to cattle compared to cows to badgers. However, transmission occurring within species (such as cattle to cattle) were far more frequent.

Bovine TB cases have increased despite the expansion of a badger culling measure to 43 zones in west England. 44,656 cows were slaughtered in Britain in 2018 due to bovine TB. Yearly, compensation for culling premature cattle have hit £100 million (~US$1.3 million; £1 = US$1.3), funded by taxpayers.

The team behind the study comprised of scientists from 12 institutions, such as Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Oxford, and University College Dublin. As part of the study, the scientists compared the Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) genomes in cattle and badgers, the locations of the animals when infected with TB and whether the animals came into contact.

Prof. Rowland Kao, principal investigator from the University of Edinburgh said the new study provided direct evidence that it is possible for badgers to transmit TB to cattle. Badger cull critics said there is no evidence that badgers can transmit TB to cattle.

Richard Delahay, study co-author from the government's Animal & Plant Health Agency said the study did not approve or reject badger culling, but the results better explain how the disease spreads and how it can be managed.

A bovine TB independent review found that cattle trading and movement, plus the lack of biosecurity on cattle farms are endangering disease tackling efforts, concluding that vaccination is preferred to badger culls.

The badger culls began in 2013, and close to 64,000 badgers have been killed in autumn this year.
 

-      The Guardian