MANAGING TB TRANSMISSION AMONGST BADGERS AND CATTLE IN THE UK

CASUAL SEMINAR IN BIODIVERSITY AND EVOLUTION

Control of bovine tuberculosis infection in UK cattle has been hampered by the involvement of a reservoir of infection in wild badgers (Meles meles). Management of infection in badgers has been attempted through culling and vaccination, and practical measures have been employed to try to reduce contact with cattle. However, the control of infection in badgers and prevention of transmission to cattle is practically challenging, not least because of the response of the wild host to management interventions.

Professor Richard Delahay is a wildlife biologist working for the National Wildlife Management Centre of the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). His areas of research expertise are in the epidemiology and management of disease in wildlife and bovine tuberculosis infection in badgers in particular. He is the lead scientist at APHA’s Woodchester Park Research Station where he oversees field studies on bovine TB dynamics in wild badger populations, and provides advice to UK Government departments. Current research interests include the spatio-temporal dynamics of TB infection in badgers, social behaviour and disease spread and field deployment of TB vaccines in badgers. He has an Honorary Visiting Chair at Exeter University, is an author on over 120 peer-reviewed scientific papers and is the principal editor of a book on managing disease in wild mammals.

[Host: Paulo Célio Alves, Conservation Genetics and Wildlife Management]

Image credits: www.ars.usda.gov; Image Number K5176-3 (cow), Kallerna (badger).