Courtenay, Orin, Reilly, L. A., Sweeney, F. P., Hibberd, V. (Victoria), Bryan, S., Ul-Hassan, Atiya, Newman, C., Macdonald, D. W., Delahay, R. J., Wilson, G. J. and Wellington, E. M. H. (Elizabeth M. H.). (2006) Is Mycobacterium bovis in the environment important for the persistence of bovine tuberculosis? Biology Letters, Vol.2 (No.3). pp. 460-462. ISSN 1744-9561

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Abstract

Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle and wildlife. Direct aerosol contact is thought to be the primary route of infection between conspecifics, whereas indirect transmission via an environmental reservoir of M. bovis is generally perceived not to be a significant source for infection. Here, we report on the application of molecular technology (PCR) to quantify the prevalence of M. bovis in the environment and to explore its epidemiological significance. We show that the detectability of viable M. bovis at badger setts and latrines is strongly linked to the frequency of M. bovis excretion by infected badgers, and that putative M. bovis in the environment is prevalent on a large proportion of endemic cattle farms in Britain. These results raise important questions about the role of an environmental reservoir in bTB persistence.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- )
Journal or Publication Title:	Biology Letters
Publisher:	Royal Society
ISSN:	1744-9561
Date:	22 September 2006
Volume:	Vol.2
Number:	No.3
Number of Pages:	3
Page Range:	pp. 460-462
Identification Number:	10.1098/rsbl.2006.0468
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/32833

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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