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Kelly DJ, Marples NM, Byrne RL, Fogarty U, Kenny K, Cameron H, Griffin D, Holland CV. An investigation of Mycobacterium bovis and helminth coinfection in the European badger Meles meles. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR PARASITOLOGY: PARASITES AND WILDLIFE 2022; 19:311-316. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Bauman JS, Pizzey R, Beckmann M, Villarreal-Ramos B, King J, Hopkins B, Rooke D, Hewinson G, Mur LAJ. Untargeted metabolomic analysis of thoracic blood from badgers indicate changes linked to infection with bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis): a pilot study. Metabolomics 2022; 18:61. [PMID: 35896834 PMCID: PMC9329164 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-022-01915-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle, represents a major disease burden to UK cattle farming, with considerable costs associated with its control. The European badger (Meles meles) is a known wildlife reservoir for bTB and better knowledge of the epidemiology of bTB through testing wildlife is required for disease control. Current tests available for the diagnosis of bTB in badgers are limited by cost, processing time or sensitivities. MATERIALS AND METHODS We assessed the ability of flow infusion electrospray-high-resolution mass spectrometry (FIE-HRMS) to determine potential differences between infected and non-infected badgers based on thoracic blood samples obtained from badgers found dead in Wales. Thoracic blood samples were autoclaved for handling in a containment level 2 (CL2) hazard laboratory. RESULTS Here we show the major differences associated with with M. bovis infection were changes to folate, pyrimidine, histidine, glycerophospholipid and phosphonate metabolism. CONCLUSIONS Our studies have indicated differences in the metabolomic signature of badgers found dead in relation to their infection status, suggesting metabolomics could hold potential for developing novel diagnostics for bTB in badgers. As well as highlighting a potential way to handle samples containing a highly pathogenic agent at CL2 for metabolomics studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Scott Bauman
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Richard Pizzey
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Manfred Beckmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Bernardo Villarreal-Ramos
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
- Centre of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3AR, Ceredigion, UK
- TB Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Jonathan King
- Wales Veterinary Science Centre, Y Buarth, Aberystwyth, SY23 1ND, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Beverley Hopkins
- Wales Veterinary Science Centre, Y Buarth, Aberystwyth, SY23 1ND, Ceredigion, UK
| | | | - Glyn Hewinson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
- Centre of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3AR, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Luis A J Mur
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK.
- Aberystwyth University, B2.03 Edward Llwyd, Penglais, Aberystwyth, SY23 3FL, UK.
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Scott-Baumann J, Pizzey R, Beckmann M, Villarreal-Ramos B, King J, Hopkins B, Rooke D, Hewinson G, Mur LAJ. Metabotyping the Welsh population of badgers based on thoracic fluid. Metabolomics 2022; 18:30. [PMID: 35524831 PMCID: PMC9079023 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-022-01888-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The European badger (Meles meles) is a known wildlife reservoir for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) and a better understanding of the epidemiology of bTB in this wildlife species is required for disease control in both wild and farmed animals. Flow infusion electrospray-high-resolution mass spectrometry (FIE-HRMS) may potentially identify novel metabolite biomarkers based on which new, rapid, and sensitive point of care tests for bTB infection could be developed. OBJECTIVES In this foundational study, we engaged on assessing the baseline metabolomic variation in the non-bTB infected badger population ("metabotyping") across Wales. METHODS FIE-HRMS was applied on thoracic fluid samples obtained by post-mortem of bTB negative badgers (n = 285) which were part of the Welsh Government 'All Wales Badger Found Dead' study. RESULTS Using principal component analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analyses, the major sources of variation were linked to sex, and to a much lesser extent age, as indicated by tooth wear. Within the female population, variation was seen between lactating and non-lactating individuals. No significant variation linked to the presence of bite wounds, obvious lymphatic lesions or geographical region of origin was observed. CONCLUSION Future metabolomic work when making comparisons between bTB infected and non-infected badger samples will only need be sex-matched and could focus on males only, to avoid lactation bias.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Scott-Baumann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Richard Pizzey
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Manfred Beckmann
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Bernardo Villarreal-Ramos
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
- Centre of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, SY23 3AR, UK
- TB Research Group, Animal and Plant Health Agency, New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Jonathan King
- Wales Veterinary Science Centre, Y Buarth, Aberystwyth, SY23 1ND, Ceredigion, UK
| | - Beverley Hopkins
- Wales Veterinary Science Centre, Y Buarth, Aberystwyth, SY23 1ND, Ceredigion, UK
| | | | - Glyn Hewinson
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK
- Centre of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis, Aberystwyth University, Ceredigion, SY23 3AR, UK
| | - Luis A J Mur
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Science, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DA, Ceredigion, UK.
- , B2.03 Edward Llwyd, Penglais, Aberystwyth, SY23 3FL, UK.
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Swift BMC, Barron ES, Christley R, Corbetta D, Grau-Roma L, Jewell C, O'Cathail C, Mitchell A, Phoenix J, Prosser A, Rees C, Sorley M, Verin R, Bennett M. Tuberculosis in badgers where the bovine tuberculosis epidemic is expanding in cattle in England. Sci Rep 2021; 11:20995. [PMID: 34697381 PMCID: PMC8545939 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00473-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important animal health and economic problem for the cattle industry and a potential zoonotic threat. Wild badgers (Meles meles) play a role on its epidemiology in some areas of high prevalence in cattle, particularly in the UK and Republic of Ireland and increasingly in parts of mainland Europe. However, little is known about the involvement of badgers in areas on the spatial edge of the cattle epidemic, where increasing prevalence in cattle is seen. Here we report the findings of a study of found-dead (mainly road-killed) badgers in six counties on the edge of the English epidemic of bTB in cattle. The overall prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) infection detected in the study area was 51/610 (8.3%, 95% CI 6.4-11%) with the county-level prevalence ranging from 15 to 4-5%. The MTC spoligotypes of recovered from badgers and cattle varied: in the northern part of the study area spoligotype SB0129 predominated in both cattle and badgers, but elsewhere there was a much wider range of spoligotypes found in badgers than in cattle, in which infection was mostly with the regional cattle spoligotype. The low prevalence of MTC in badgers in much of the study area, and, relative to in cattle, the lower density of sampling, make firm conclusions difficult to draw. However, with the exception of Cheshire (north-west of the study area), little evidence was found to link the expansion of the bTB epidemic in cattle in England to widespread badger infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elsa Sandoval Barron
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Rob Christley
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Davide Corbetta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Llorenç Grau-Roma
- Institute of Animal Pathology, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Chris Jewell
- Centre for Health Informatics, Computing, and Statistics, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK
| | - Colman O'Cathail
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Andy Mitchell
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Jess Phoenix
- Department of Sociology, University of Lancaster, Lancaster, LA1 4YW, UK
| | - Alison Prosser
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), New Haw, Addlestone, KT15 3NB, Surrey, UK
| | - Catherine Rees
- School of Bioscience, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Marion Sorley
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK
| | - Ranieri Verin
- Dipartimento di Biomedicina Comparata e Alimentazione, Università Degli Studi di Padova, 35020, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Malcolm Bennett
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, LE12 5RD, UK.
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Downs SH, Ashfield S, Arnold M, Roberts T, Prosser A, Robertson A, Frost S, Harris K, Avigad R, Smith GC. Detection of a local Mycobacterium bovis reservoir using cattle surveillance data. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:e104-e118. [PMID: 34333857 PMCID: PMC9544780 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of bovine tuberculosis (TB, caused by Mycobacterium bovis) in cattle has been associated with TB in badgers (Meles meles) in parts of England. The aim was to identify badger‐associated M. bovis reservoirs in the Edge Area, between the High‐ and Low‐Risk Areas for cattle TB. Data from badger TB surveys were sparse. Therefore, a definition for a local M. bovis reservoir potentially shared by cattle and badgers was developed using cattle TB surveillance data. The performance of the definition was estimated through Latent Class Analysis using badger TB survey data. Spatial units (25 km2) in the Edge Area were classified as having a reservoir if they had (i) at least one TB incident in at least three of the previous 7 years, (ii) at least one TB incident in a cattle herd confirmed by post‐mortem tests as due to M. bovis infection and not attributable to cattle movements in the previous 2 years and (iii) more confirmed TB incidents than un‐confirmed in the previous 2 years. Approximately 20% of the Edge Area was classified as having a local M. bovis reservoir using the cattle‐based definition. Assuming 15% TB prevalence in Edge Area badgers, sensitivity for the local M. bovis reservoir definition varied from 25.7% [95% credible interval (CrI): 10.7%–85.1%] to 64.8% (95% CrI: 48.1%–88.0%). Specificity was 91.9% (CrI: 83.6%–97.4%). Over 90% of the local reservoir was in stable endemic TB areas identified through previous work and its spatial distribution was largely consistent with local veterinary knowledge. Uncertainty in the reservoir spatial distribution was explored through its recalculation in spatial units shifted in different directions. We recommend that the definition is re‐evaluated as further data on badger infection with M. bovis become available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara H Downs
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Stuart Ashfield
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Mark Arnold
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Tony Roberts
- Veterinary Advice Services, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Alison Prosser
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Andy Robertson
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall, TR10 9FE, UK.,National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodchester Park, Gloucestershire, UK
| | - Susanne Frost
- Veterinary Advice Services, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Kate Harris
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Rachelle Avigad
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey, KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Graham C Smith
- National Wildlife Management Centre, Animal and Plant Health Agency, York, UK
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Orrico M, van Schaik G, Koets A, van den Broek J, Montizaan M, La Haye M, Rijks JM. The effectiveness of bovine tuberculosis surveillance in Dutch badgers. Transbound Emerg Dis 2021; 69:2008-2020. [PMID: 34110708 PMCID: PMC9546121 DOI: 10.1111/tbed.14186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 06/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Countries survey wildlife for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to ensure case detection or to ascertain a high probability of freedom from bTB in wildlife. The Eurasian badger (Meles meles) is a potential bTB reservoir host. Between 2008 and 2019, 282 badgers were examined post‐mortem in the context of general wildlife disease and targeted bTB surveillance programmes in the Netherlands, and no bTB cases were detected. However, it was unclear how effective this surveillance effort was to demonstrate freedom from Mycobacterium bovis infection in the badger population of ±6000 or to detect cases if present. Therefore, surveillance effectiveness was assessed using scenario tree modelling. For lack of standards for wildlife, the models were run against three assumed levels of disease in the population called design prevalence P*: 0.1%, 0.5%, and 3%. A small risk of introduction (0.015/year) was applied, because the Netherlands are officially free from bTB in cattle, with rare import of bTB‐infected cattle and no bTB‐infected wildlife reported along the Belgian and German borders with the Netherlands. Surveillance more readily picks up bTB presence in badgers when case detection sensitivity tends towards 100% and demonstrates freedom best when the probability of freedom tends towards 100%. For P* 0.1%, 0.5% and 3%, respectively, maximum case detection sensitivity during 2008–2019 was 8%, 35% and 94% and the probability of freedom in 2019 was 46%, 67%, and 95%. At P* = 3%, performing targeted surveillance on 300 badgers in a year would make it extremely unlikely to miss a case (case detection sensitivity > 99.9%); and if no cases are detected, the adjusted probability of freedom would then reach nearly 98.5%. Stakeholders should be made aware that at P* = 3%, one case detected implies around 3% infected badgers. Additional surveillance system components to assess bTB in wildlife and its economics are to be explored further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Orrico
- One Health, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Gerdien van Schaik
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Royal GD, Deventer, The Netherlands
| | - Ad Koets
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Wageningen Bioveterinary Research, Wageningen University and Research, Lelystad, The Netherlands
| | - Jan van den Broek
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Margriet Montizaan
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maurice La Haye
- Zoogdiervereniging/Dutch Mammal Society, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jolianne M Rijks
- Dutch Wildlife Health Centre, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Allen AR, Ford T, Skuce RA. Does Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. bovis Survival in the Environment Confound Bovine Tuberculosis Control and Eradication? A Literature Review. Vet Med Int 2021; 2021:8812898. [PMID: 33628412 PMCID: PMC7880718 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8812898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is one of the globe's most common, multihost zoonoses and results in substantial socioeconomic costs for governments, farming industries, and tax payers. Despite decades of surveillance and research, surprisingly, little is known about the exact mechanisms of transmission. In particular, as a facultative intracellular pathogen, to what extent does survival of the causative agent, Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. bovis (M. bovis), in the environment constitute an epidemiological risk for livestock and wildlife? Due largely to the classical pathology of cattle cases, the received wisdom was that bTB was spread by direct inhalation and exchange of bioaerosols containing droplets laden with bacteria. Other members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) exhibit differing host ranges, an apparent capacity to persist in environmental fomites, and they favour a range of different transmission routes. It is possible, therefore, that infection from environmental sources of M. bovis could be a disease transmission risk. Recent evidence from GPS-collared cattle and badgers in Britain and Ireland suggests that direct transmission by infectious droplets or aerosols may not be the main mechanism for interspecies transmission, raising the possibility of indirect transmission involving a contaminated, shared environment. The possibility that classical pulmonary TB can be simulated and recapitulated in laboratory animal models by ingestion of contaminated feed is a further intriguing indication of potential environmental risk. Livestock and wildlife are known to shed M. bovis onto pasture, soil, feedstuffs, water, and other fomites; field and laboratory studies have indicated that persistence is possible, but variable, under differing environmental conditions. Given the potential infection risk, it is timely to review the available evidence, experimental approaches, and methodologies that could be deployed to address this potential blind spot and control point. Although we focus on evidence from Western Europe, the concepts are widely applicable to other multihost bTB episystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian R. Allen
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Tom Ford
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Robin A. Skuce
- Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Veterinary Sciences Division, Bacteriology Branch, Stoney Road Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SD, Northern Ireland, UK
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Long-term molecular surveillance provides clues on a cattle origin for Mycobacterium bovis in Portugal. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20856. [PMID: 33257726 PMCID: PMC7705689 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77713-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis, is maintained in Portugal in a multi-host system, with cattle, red deer and wild boar, playing a central role. However, the ecological processes driving transmission are not understood. The main aim of this study was thus to contribute to the reconstruction of the spatiotemporal history of animal TB and to refine knowledge on M. bovis population structure in order to inform novel intervention strategies. A collection of 948 M. bovis isolates obtained during long-term surveillance (2002–2016, 15 years) of cattle (n = 384), red deer (n = 303) and wild boar (n = 261), from the main TB hotspot areas, was characterized by spoligotyping and 8 to 12-loci MIRU-VNTR. Spoligotyping identified 64 profiles and MIRU-VNTR distinguished 2 to 36 subtypes within each spoligotype, enabling differentiation of mixed or clonal populations. Common genotypic profiles within and among livestock and wildlife in the same spatiotemporal context highlighted epidemiological links across hosts and regions, as for example the SB0119-M205 genotype shared by cattle in Beja district or SB0121-M34 shared by the three hosts in Castelo Branco and Beja districts. These genomic data, together with metadata, were integrated in a Bayesian inference framework, identifying five ancestral M. bovis populations. The phylogeographic segregation of M. bovis in specific areas of Portugal where the disease persists locally is postulated. Concurrently, robust statistics indicates an association of the most probable ancient population with cattle and Beja, providing a clue on the origin of animal TB epidemics. This relationship was further confirmed through a multinomial probability model that assessed the influence of host species on spatiotemporal clustering. Two significant clusters were identified, one that persisted between 2004 and 2010, in Beja district, with Barrancos county at the centre, overlapping the central TB core area of the Iberian Peninsula, and highlighting a significant higher risk associated to cattle. The second cluster was predominant in the 2012–2016 period, holding the county Rosmaninhal at the centre, in Castelo Branco district, for which wild boar contributed the most in relative risk. These results provide novel quantitative insights beyond empirical perceptions, that may inform adaptive TB control choices in different regions.
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Schroeder P, Hopkins B, Jones J, Galloway T, Pike R, Rolfe S, Hewinson G. Temporal and spatial Mycobacterium bovis prevalence patterns as evidenced in the All Wales Badgers Found Dead (AWBFD) survey of infection 2014-2016. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15214. [PMID: 32939017 PMCID: PMC7495426 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72297-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to better understand the spatial spread of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in Wales, an All Wales Badgers Found Dead (AWBFD) survey was carried out from 2014-2016. For Wales, as a whole, there was a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in prevalence of bTB in badgers since a similar survey was carried out in 2005-2006, with a drop from 13.3% to 7.3%. The highest prevalence was observed for the High TB Area East (18.6%), which shares its border with England, and differed significantly (p < 0.001) from the High TB Area West (7.4%). The lowest proportion of carcases diagnosed with the disease (0.7%) was in the Low TB Area, followed by the two Intermediate TB Areas of Wales (2.7%). The M. bovis isolates from badgers tended to be similar to the genotypes of cattle in the same area, except in the Low TB Area. The direction of any cross species transmission and the drivers for this cannot be determined from this study. The spatial variations described here support the need for regionally adapted surveillance and control measures for bovine tuberculosis in Wales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Schroeder
- Wales Bovine TB Epidemiology Team, APHA Wales, Carmarthen, UK.
| | | | | | - Terry Galloway
- Wales Bovine TB Epidemiology Team, APHA Wales, Carmarthen, UK
| | - Ryan Pike
- TB Team, Welsh Government, Cardiff, UK
| | | | - Glyn Hewinson
- Centre of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis, IBERS, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, UK
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Milne G, Allen A, Graham J, Kirke R, McCormick C, Presho E, Skuce R, Byrne AW. Mycobacterium bovis Population Structure in Cattle and Local Badgers: Co-Localisation and Variation by Farm Type. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9070592. [PMID: 32708155 PMCID: PMC7400278 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9070592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis surveillance in Northern Ireland includes Multiple-Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA) to determine the Mycobacterium bovis genetic type present in both cattle and the predominant wildlife host, the European badger (Meles meles). These data are useful for investigating clusters of infection and understanding the scale at which interspecific transmission may occur. We utilised a comprehensive dataset of routinely sampled isolates from infected cattle and from badgers killed in road-traffic accidents to investigate the spatial co-location of MLVA types in, and between, the badger and cattle populations. Furthermore, we investigated the hypothesis that the type of farming enterprise might explain some variation in this relationship. MLVA types were spatially co-localised in cattle and road-traffic accident (RTA) badger hosts, indicative of a shared epidemic. Dairy herds were more likely to have at least one MLVA type in common with nearby RTA badgers, compared to non-dairy herd types. Marginally more MLVA spatial clustering was observed in non-dairy herds, which may be a consequence of relatively more between-herd movements. For the cattle population, local transmission mechanisms such as infection from contiguous herds, infectious wildlife and short-range between-herd cattle movements appear primarily to drive the epidemic: there appears to be a more limited role for long-range movements. Animal management practices are likely to be the driving force behind this observation, as beef rearing is associated with elevated numbers of animal movements compared to dairy herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina Milne
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast BT4 3SD, UK; (A.A.); (J.G.); (E.P.); (R.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Adrian Allen
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast BT4 3SD, UK; (A.A.); (J.G.); (E.P.); (R.S.)
| | - Jordon Graham
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast BT4 3SD, UK; (A.A.); (J.G.); (E.P.); (R.S.)
| | - Raymond Kirke
- Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Belfast BT4 3SB, UK;
| | - Carl McCormick
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Veterinary Service Animal Health, Coleraine BT52 2AJ, UK;
| | - Eleanor Presho
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast BT4 3SD, UK; (A.A.); (J.G.); (E.P.); (R.S.)
| | - Robin Skuce
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast BT4 3SD, UK; (A.A.); (J.G.); (E.P.); (R.S.)
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK;
| | - Andrew W. Byrne
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, UK;
- One-Health Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Agriculture House, Dublin, Ireland
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Crispell J, Benton CH, Balaz D, De Maio N, Ahkmetova A, Allen A, Biek R, Presho EL, Dale J, Hewinson G, Lycett SJ, Nunez-Garcia J, Skuce RA, Trewby H, Wilson DJ, Zadoks RN, Delahay RJ, Kao RR. Combining genomics and epidemiology to analyse bi-directional transmission of Mycobacterium bovis in a multi-host system. eLife 2019; 8:e45833. [PMID: 31843054 PMCID: PMC6917503 DOI: 10.7554/elife.45833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Quantifying pathogen transmission in multi-host systems is difficult, as exemplified in bovine tuberculosis (bTB) systems, but is crucial for control. The agent of bTB, Mycobacterium bovis, persists in cattle populations worldwide, often where potential wildlife reservoirs exist. However, the relative contribution of different host species to bTB persistence is generally unknown. In Britain, the role of badgers in infection persistence in cattle is highly contentious, despite decades of research and control efforts. We applied Bayesian phylogenetic and machine-learning approaches to bacterial genome data to quantify the roles of badgers and cattle in M. bovis infection dynamics in the presence of data biases. Our results suggest that transmission occurs more frequently from badgers to cattle than vice versa (10.4x in the most likely model) and that within-species transmission occurs at higher rates than between-species transmission for both. If representative, our results suggest that control operations should target both cattle and badgers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Crispell
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences CentreUniversity College DublinDublinIreland
| | - Clare H Benton
- National Wildlife Management CentreAnimal & Plant Health Agency (APHA)LondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Daniel Balaz
- Roslin InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
| | - Nicola De Maio
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI)CambridgeUnited Kingdom
| | - Assel Ahkmetova
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Adrian Allen
- Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBNI)BelfastUnited Kingdom
| | - Roman Biek
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Eleanor L Presho
- Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBNI)BelfastUnited Kingdom
| | - James Dale
- Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA)LondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Glyn Hewinson
- Centre for Bovine Tuberculosis, Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural SciencesUniversity of AberystwythAberystwythUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | - Robin A Skuce
- Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute Northern Ireland (AFBNI)BelfastUnited Kingdom
| | | | - Daniel J Wilson
- Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, Nuffield Department of Population HealthUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Ruth N Zadoks
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life SciencesUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowUnited Kingdom
| | - Richard J Delahay
- National Wildlife Management CentreAnimal & Plant Health Agency (APHA)LondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Rowland Raymond Kao
- Roslin InstituteUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary StudiesUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUnited Kingdom
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12
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Milne MG, Graham J, Allen A, McCormick C, Presho E, Skuce R, Byrne AW. Variation in Mycobacterium bovis genetic richness suggests that inwards cattle movements are a more important source of infection in beef herds than in dairy herds. BMC Microbiol 2019; 19:154. [PMID: 31277578 PMCID: PMC6612228 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-019-1530-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We used genetic Multi-Locus VNTR Analysis (MLVA) data gathered from surveillance efforts to better understand the ongoing bovine tuberculosis (bTB) epidemic in Northern Irish cattle herds. We modelled the factors associated with Mycobacterium bovis MLVA genotype richness at three analytical scales; breakdown level, herd level, and patch level, and compared the results between dairy and non-dairy production types. Results In 83% of breakdowns and in 63% of herds, a single MLVA genotype was isolated. Five or more MLVA genotypes were found in less than 3 % of herds. Herd size and the total number of reactors were important explanatory variables, suggesting that increasing MLVA genotype richness was positively related to increases in the number of host animals. Despite their smaller relative size, however, the highest MLVA genotype richness values were observed in non-dairy herds. Increasing inwards cattle movements were important positive predictors of MLVA genotype richness, but mainly in non-dairy settings. Conclusions The principal finding is that low MLVA genotype richness indicates that small-scale epidemics, e.g. wildlife, contiguous farms, and within-herd recrudescence, are important routes of M. bovis infection in cattle herds. We hypothesise that these mechanisms will maintain, but may not explicitly increase, MLVA genotype richness. The presence of elevated MLVA richness is relatively rare and likely indicates beef fattening enterprises, which purchase cattle from over long distances. Cattle movements were furthermore an important predictor of MLVA genotype richness in non-dairy herds, but not in dairy herds; this may represent reduced cattle purchasing levels in dairy enterprises, compared to beef. These observations allude to the relative contribution of different routes of bTB infection between production types; we posit that infection associated with local factors may be more evident in dairy herds than beef herds, however in beef herds, inwards movements offer additional opportunities for introducing M. bovis into the herd. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12866-019-1530-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Milne
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), 12 Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SD, UK.
| | - J Graham
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), 12 Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SD, UK
| | - A Allen
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), 12 Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SD, UK
| | - C McCormick
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), 12 Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SD, UK.,Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Veterinary Service Animal Health, Coleraine, UK
| | - E Presho
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), 12 Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SD, UK
| | - R Skuce
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), 12 Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SD, UK
| | - A W Byrne
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), 12 Stoney Road, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SD, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, UK.,Present Address: Surveillance, Animal By-Products, and TSEs (SAT) Division, Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine (DAFM), Agriculture House, Dublin 2, Ireland
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13
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Sandoval Barron E, Swift B, Chantrey J, Christley R, Gardner R, Jewell C, McGrath I, Mitchell A, O'Cathail C, Prosser A, Ridout S, Sanchez-Cabezudo G, Smith N, Timofte D, Williams N, Bennett M. A study of tuberculosis in road traffic-killed badgers on the edge of the British bovine TB epidemic area. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17206. [PMID: 30523345 PMCID: PMC6283848 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35652-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of badgers in the geographic expansion of the bovine tuberculosis (bTB) epidemic in England is unknown: indeed there have been few published studies of bTB in badgers outside of the Southwest of England where the infection is now endemic in cattle. Cheshire is now on the edge of the expanding area of England in which bTB is considered endemic in cattle. Previous studies, over a decade ago when bovine infection was rare in Cheshire, found no or only few infected badgers in the south eastern area of the county. In this study, carried out in 2014, road-killed badgers were collected through a network of local stakeholders (farmers, veterinarians, wildlife groups, government agencies), and Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from 21% (20/94) badger carcasses. Furthermore, there was strong evidence for co-localisation of M. bovis SB0129 (genotype 25) infection in both badgers and cattle herds at a county scale. While these findings suggest that both badgers and cattle are part of the same geographically expanding epidemic, the direction of any cross-species transmission and the drivers of this expansion cannot be determined. The study also demonstrated the utility of using road-killed badgers collected by stakeholders as a means of wildlife TB surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Sandoval Barron
- School Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
| | - Ben Swift
- Royal Veterinary College, London, UK
| | - Julian Chantrey
- Institutes of Infection and Global Health and Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Robert Christley
- Institutes of Infection and Global Health and Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Colman O'Cathail
- School Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - Dorina Timofte
- Institutes of Infection and Global Health and Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Nicola Williams
- Institutes of Infection and Global Health and Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Malcolm Bennett
- School Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
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14
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Allen AR, Skuce RA, Byrne AW. Bovine Tuberculosis in Britain and Ireland - A Perfect Storm? the Confluence of Potential Ecological and Epidemiological Impediments to Controlling a Chronic Infectious Disease. Front Vet Sci 2018; 5:109. [PMID: 29951489 PMCID: PMC6008655 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful eradication schemes for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) have been implemented in a number of European and other countries over the last 50 years. However, the islands of Britain and Ireland remain a significant aberration to this trend, with the recent exception of Scotland. Why have eradication schemes failed within these countries, while apparently similar programs have been successful elsewhere? While significant socio-economic and political factors have been discussed elsewhere as key determinants of disease eradication, here we review some of the potential ecological and epidemiological constraints that are present in these islands relative to other parts of Europe. We argue that the convergence of these potential factors may interact additively to diminish the potential of the present control programs to achieve eradication. Issues identified include heterogeneity of diagnostic testing approaches, the presence of an abundant wildlife reservoir of infection and the challenge of sustainably managing this risk effectively; the nature, size, density and network structure of cattle farming; potential effects of Mycobacterium bovis strain heterogeneity on disease transmission dynamics; possible impacts of concurrent endemic infections on the disclosure of truly infected animals; climatological differences and change coupled with environmental contamination. We further argue that control and eradication of this complex disease may benefit from an ecosystem level approach to management. We hope that this perspective can stimulate a new conversation about the many factors potentially impacting bTB eradication schemes in Britain and Ireland and possibly stimulate new research in the areas identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R. A. Skuce
- Veterinary Science Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, United Kingdom
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15
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Hancox M. Badgers caught TB from cows. Vet Rec 2018; 182:553. [PMID: 29752370 DOI: 10.1136/vr.k2051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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16
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Courcier EA, Menzies FD, Strain SAJ, Skuce RA, Robinson PA, Patterson IAP, McBride KR, McCormick CM, Walton E, McDowell SWJ, Abernethy DA. Monitoring Mycobacterium bovis in Eurasian badgers ( Meles meles) killed by vehicles in Northern Ireland between 1998 and 2011. Vet Rec 2017; 182:259. [PMID: 29273602 DOI: 10.1136/vr.103934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Courcier
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Belfast, UK
| | - Fraser D Menzies
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Belfast, UK
| | - Sam A J Strain
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK.,Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland, Dungannon, UK
| | - Robin A Skuce
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK.,Department of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Philip A Robinson
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Belfast, UK.,Department of Animal Production, Welfare and Vet Sciences, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, UK
| | - Ivan A P Patterson
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK
| | - Kathryn R McBride
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Belfast, UK
| | - Carl M McCormick
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK
| | - Eric Walton
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, UK
| | | | - Darrell A Abernethy
- Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Belfast, UK.,Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
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17
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Trewby H, Wright DM, Skuce RA, McCormick C, Mallon TR, Presho EL, Kao RR, Haydon DT, Biek R. Relative abundance of Mycobacterium bovis molecular types in cattle: a simulation study of potential epidemiological drivers. BMC Vet Res 2017; 13:268. [PMID: 28830547 PMCID: PMC5567634 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-1190-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The patterns of relative species abundance are commonly studied in ecology and epidemiology to provide insights into underlying dynamical processes. Molecular types (MVLA-types) of Mycobacterium bovis, the causal agent of bovine tuberculosis, are now routinely recorded in culture-confirmed bovine tuberculosis cases in Northern Ireland. In this study, we use ecological approaches and simulation modelling to investigate the distribution of relative abundances of MVLA-types and its potential drivers. We explore four biologically plausible hypotheses regarding the processes driving molecular type relative abundances: sampling and speciation; structuring of the pathogen population; historical changes in population size; and transmission heterogeneity (superspreading). Results Northern Irish herd-level MVLA-type surveillance shows a right-skewed distribution of MVLA-types, with a small number of types present at very high frequencies and the majority of types very rare. We demonstrate that this skew is too extreme to be accounted for by simple neutral ecological processes. Simulation results indicate that the process of MVLA-type speciation and the manner in which the MVLA-typing loci were chosen in Northern Ireland cannot account for the observed skew. Similarly, we find that pathogen population structure, assuming for example a reservoir of infection in a separate host, would drive the relative abundance distribution in the opposite direction to that observed, generating more even abundances of molecular types. However, we find that historical increases in bovine tuberculosis prevalence and/or transmission heterogeneity (superspreading) are both capable of generating the skewed MVLA-type distribution, consistent with findings of previous work examining the distribution of molecular types in human tuberculosis. Conclusion Although the distribution of MVLA-type abundances does not fit classical neutral predictions, our simulations show that increases in pathogen population size and/or superspreading are consistent with the pattern observed, even in the absence of selective pressures acting on the system. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12917-017-1190-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Trewby
- Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity and Animal Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
| | - David M Wright
- School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Biomedical Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Robin A Skuce
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Belfast, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Carl McCormick
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Belfast, UK
| | - Thomas R Mallon
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Belfast, UK
| | - Eleanor L Presho
- Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Stormont, Belfast, UK
| | - Rowland R Kao
- Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity and Animal Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Daniel T Haydon
- Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity and Animal Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Roman Biek
- Boyd Orr Centre for Population and Ecosystem Health, Institute of Biodiversity and Animal Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
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18
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A review of risk factors for bovine tuberculosis infection in cattle in the UK and Ireland. Epidemiol Infect 2016; 144:2899-2926. [DOI: 10.1017/s095026881600131x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYBovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important disease of cattle caused by infection withMycobacterium bovis, a pathogen that may be extremely difficult to eradicate in the presence of a true wildlife reservoir. Our objective was to identify and review relevant literature and provide a succinct summary of current knowledge of risk factors for transmission of infection of cattle. Search strings were developed to identify publications from electronic databases to February 2015. Abstracts of 4255 papers identified were reviewed by three reviewers to determine whether the entire article was likely to contain relevant information. Risk factors could be broadly grouped as follows: animal (including nutrition and genetics), herd (including bTB and testing history), environment, wildlife and social factors. Many risk factors are inter-related and study designs often do not enable differentiation between cause and consequence of infection. Despite differences in study design and location, some risk factors are consistently identified, e.g. herd size, bTB history, presence of infected wildlife, whereas the evidence for others is less consistent and coherent, e.g. nutrition, local cattle movements. We have identified knowledge gaps where further research may result in an improved understanding of bTB transmission dynamics. The application of targeted, multifactorial disease control regimens that address a range of risk factors simultaneously is likely to be a key to effective, evidence-informed control strategies.
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19
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Brooks-Pollock E, Wood JLN. Eliminating bovine tuberculosis in cattle and badgers: insight from a dynamic model. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:20150374. [PMID: 25972466 PMCID: PMC4455805 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.0374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is a multi-species infection that commonly affects cattle and badgers in Great Britain. Despite years of study, the impact of badgers on BTB incidence in cattle is poorly understood. Using a two-host transmission model of BTB in cattle and badgers, we find that published data and parameter estimates are most consistent with a system at the threshold of control. The most consistent explanation for data obtained from cattle and badger populations includes within-host reproduction numbers close to 1 and between-host reproduction numbers of approximately 0.05. In terms of controlling infection in cattle, reducing cattle-to-cattle transmission is essential. In some regions, even large reductions in badger prevalence can have a modest impact on cattle infection and a multi-stranded approach is necessary that also targets badger-to-cattle transmission directly. The new perspective highlighted by this two-host approach provides insight into the control of BTB in Great Britain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Brooks-Pollock
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Oakfield House, Oakfield Grove, Bristol BS8 2BN, UK
| | - James L N Wood
- Disease Dynamics Unit, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
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20
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Byrne A, Kenny K, Fogarty U, O’Keeffe J, More S, McGrath G, Teeling M, Martin S, Dohoo I. Spatial and temporal analyses of metrics of tuberculosis infection in badgers ( Meles meles ) from the Republic of Ireland: Trends in apparent prevalence. Prev Vet Med 2015; 122:345-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2015.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2015] [Revised: 10/18/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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21
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What has molecular epidemiology ever done for wildlife disease research? Past contributions and future directions. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-014-0882-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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22
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Barnett JEF, Booth P, Brewer JI, Chanter J, Cooper T, Crawshaw T, Davison NJ, Greenwood A, Riley P, Smith NH, Wessels M. Mycobacterium bovis infection in a grey seal pup (Halichoerus grypus). Vet Rec 2013; 173:168. [PMID: 23764843 DOI: 10.1136/vr.101480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J E F Barnett
- Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Polwhele, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9AD, UK
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23
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Balseiro A, González-Quirós P, Rodríguez Ó, Francisca Copano M, Merediz I, de Juan L, Chambers MA, Delahay RJ, Marreros N, Royo LJ, Bezos J, Prieto JM, Gortázar C. Spatial relationships between Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) and cattle infected with Mycobacterium bovis in Northern Spain. Vet J 2013; 197:739-45. [PMID: 23602422 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2012] [Revised: 02/15/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that badgers may be a potential reservoir of Mycobacterium bovis infection for cattle in Northern Spain. The objective of this study was to investigate potential epidemiological links between cattle and badgers. Culture and molecular typing data were available for cattle culled during the national tuberculosis (TB) eradication campaigns between 2008 and 2012, as well as from 171 necropsied badgers and 60 live animals trapped and examined over the same time period. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains were isolated from pooled tissues of 14 (8.2%) necropsied badgers, of which 11 were identified as M. bovis: six different spoligotypes of M. bovis were subsequently identified. In two geographical locations where these isolates were shared between cattle and badgers, infected cattle herds and badgers lived in close contact. Although it remains unclear if badgers are a maintenance or spill-over host of M. bovis in this setting, it would appear prudent to have precautionary measures in place to reduce contact between cattle and badgers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Balseiro
- SERIDA, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario, Centro de Biotecnología Animal, 33394 Deva-Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
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24
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Abstract
The European badger (Meles meles) has been identified as a wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis and a source of transmission to cattle in Britain and Ireland. Both behavioural ecology and statistical ecological modelling have indicated the long-term persistence of the disease in some badger communities, and this is postulated to account for the high incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle across large tracts of England and Wales. This paper questions this consensus by using historical cartographic evidence to show that tuberculosis in cattle had a very different spatial distribution before 1960 to the present day. Since few of the badgers collected in road traffic accidents between 1972 and 1990 had tuberculosis in counties such as Cheshire, where the disease had until shortly before that been rife in the cattle population, the role of badgers as reservoirs in spreading disease in similar counties outside the south-west of England has to be questioned.
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25
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Berrian AM, O'Keeffe J, White PW, Norris J, Litt J, More SJ, Olea-Popelka FJ. Risk of bovine tuberculosis for cattle sold out from herds during 2005 in Ireland. Vet Rec 2012; 170:620. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.100674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. M. Berrian
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Colorado State University; Fort Collins CO USA
| | - J. O'Keeffe
- Centre of Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis; UCD School of Veterinary Medicine; University College Dublin, Belfield; Ireland
- the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Dublin Ireland
| | - P. W. White
- Centre of Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis; UCD School of Veterinary Medicine; University College Dublin, Belfield; Ireland
| | - J. Norris
- Colorado School of Public Health; University of Colorado; Denver CO USA
| | - J. Litt
- Colorado School of Public Health; University of Colorado; Denver CO USA
| | - S. J. More
- Centre of Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis; UCD School of Veterinary Medicine; University College Dublin, Belfield; Ireland
| | - F. J. Olea-Popelka
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences; Colorado State University; Fort Collins CO USA
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