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Impact of localized badger culling on tuberculosis incidence in British cattle

Author

Listed:
  • Christl A. Donnelly

    (Food & Rural Affairs
    Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London)

  • Rosie Woodroffe

    (Food & Rural Affairs
    University of California)

  • D. R. Cox

    (Food & Rural Affairs
    Nuffield College)

  • John Bourne

    (Food & Rural Affairs)

  • George Gettinby

    (Food & Rural Affairs
    University of Strathclyde)

  • Andrea M. Le Fevre

    (Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London)

  • John P. McInerney

    (Food & Rural Affairs
    Centre for Rural Research, University of Exeter)

  • W. Ivan Morrison

    (Food & Rural Affairs
    The Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh)

Abstract

Pathogens that are transmitted between wildlife, livestock and humans present major challenges for the protection of human and animal health, the economic sustainability of agriculture, and the conservation of wildlife. Mycobacterium bovis, the aetiological agent of bovine tuberculosis (TB), is one such pathogen. The incidence of TB in cattle has increased substantially in parts of Great Britain in the past two decades, adversely affecting the livelihoods of cattle farmers and potentially increasing the risks of human exposure. The control of bovine TB in Great Britain is complicated by the involvement of wildlife, particularly badgers (Meles meles), which appear to sustain endemic infection and can transmit TB to cattle1. Between 1975 and 1997 over 20,000 badgers were culled as part of British TB control policy, generating conflict between conservation and farming interest groups2. Here we present results from a large-scale field trial3,4,5 that indicate that localized badger culling not only fails to control but also seems to increase TB incidence in cattle.

Suggested Citation

  • Christl A. Donnelly & Rosie Woodroffe & D. R. Cox & John Bourne & George Gettinby & Andrea M. Le Fevre & John P. McInerney & W. Ivan Morrison, 2003. "Impact of localized badger culling on tuberculosis incidence in British cattle," Nature, Nature, vol. 426(6968), pages 834-837, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:426:y:2003:i:6968:d:10.1038_nature02192
    DOI: 10.1038/nature02192
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    Cited by:

    1. Catherine M Smith & Sara H Downs & Andy Mitchell & Andrew C Hayward & Hannah Fry & Steven C Le Comber, 2015. "Spatial Targeting for Bovine Tuberculosis Control: Can the Locations of Infected Cattle Be Used to Find Infected Badgers?," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(11), pages 1-14, November.
    2. Tabassom Sedighi & Liz Varga, 2021. "Evaluating the Bovine Tuberculosis Eradication Mechanism and Its Risk Factors in England’s Cattle Farms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-24, March.
    3. Helen E Jenkins & Rosie Woodroffe & Christl A Donnelly, 2010. "The Duration of the Effects of Repeated Widespread Badger Culling on Cattle Tuberculosis Following the Cessation of Culling," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(2), pages 1-7, February.

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