Research Ideas 6 to 10
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Here are some research or discussion ideas for further study.6. Stress and Infectivity
With many mammals, if you subject them to physical or
environmental stress, you can effectively induce altered behaviour
patterns and reduced the ability of the animal to cope with infections and
illnesses.
7. Mathematical Model - Badger TB
Research has shown that a greater proportion of male
badgers leave their birth sett than female badgers.
8. Mathematical Model - Bovine TB
The incidence of tuberculosis in cattle depends on a
variety of factors, including: the lack of testing, the unreliability of
any test, general cattle health, living conditions of the cattle, organic
status of the herd, distance to market, travel stress, herd mixing,
biosecurity, neighbouring herds TB status, weather conditions, cattle
passports, husbandry skills, regular veterinary inspections and other
factors.
9. TB in Saliva
There is anecdotal evidence that, when farmers have
ineffective fencing, animals like rats, badgers and deer can gain access
to fields and barns; and sometimes eat cattle food. How might you test the
hypothesis that saliva from wild rats, badgers or deer can contaminate
cattle feed.
10. Weather-related TB infections
There is some evidence that the incidence of bovine
tuberculosis is affected by the weather in the winter and early spring;
the acidity of the soil, the soil type, the biosecurity precautions taken by the farmer, the proportion of cattle
incoming to the herd, the tuberculosis status of the herd and nearby herds
and (controversially) the nearby presence of badgers who have
tuberculosis.
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