Four Areas Study in Ireland
Journal
Preventive
Veterinary Medicine - Volume
59, Issues 1-2 , 30 May 2003, Pages 103-111
Authors
F. J. Olea-Popelka, J. M. Griffin, J. D. Collins, G. McGrath
and S. W. Martin from the Department of Population Medicine, Ontario
Veterinary College, Canada and the Veterinary Epidemiology and
Tuberculosis Investigation Unit, University College Dublin
Abstract
Bovine tuberculosis in badgers in four areas in Ireland: does tuberculosis
cluster?
We described the distribution of badger populations in four different areas
in the Republic of Ireland. The data came from periodic targeted badger-removal
and subsequent post-mortem examinations conducted between 1989 and September
1997, and from a formal badger-removal project in the same areas from 1997
through 1999. Records were complete for 2292 badgers regarding the date of
capture, tuberculosis status, geographical area and specific sett from where the
badgers were snared. Of 3187 setts, 2290 had no badgers recorded against them
(i.e. were inactive).
The badger-level prevalence of tuberculosis differed among areas (range
13–29%). Badger populations were highly clustered by sett, and this result was
similar over the four study areas. The median number of badgers per active sett
was 2. Tuberculous badgers also clustered within a sett. The third quartile of
tuberculous badgers was 1 per active sett. The prevalence of tuberculous badgers
within a sett was not related to the total number of badgers. There was little
evidence of spatial clustering with only one local cluster of tuberculous setts
in each of three areas, and none in the fourth area. After adjusting for the
number of badgers per sett, only one area had spatial clusters identified.
Keywords
Spatial; Distribution; Bovine tuberculosis; Badgers;
Ireland; Cluster
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