The scavenging behaviour of ferrets (Mustela furo), feral cats (Felis domesticus), possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and harrier hawks (Circus approximans) on pastoral farmland in New Zealand: Implications for bovine tuberculosis transmission

Ragg, J. R.; Mackintosh, C.G.; Møller, Henrik

doi:10.1080/00480169.2000.36188

Cited by 54 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Both the wild boar and red deer have shared free access to watering sites, although more research is needed concerning the use and inter and intraspecific interactions at these points. For some potential hosts the main route of TB infection may be ingestion of infected carrion [28], and in the study sites described here TB-infected carcasses and subsequent scavenging by wild boars both occur (the authors, unpublished observations). In addition, severe droughts in Mediterranean habitats and seasonal scarcity of water resources may exacerbate the effect of TB infection on hosts [3] and, watering (and also feeding) sites may attract tuberculous animals in the advanced stages of infection (the authors, unpublished observations).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Risk factors associated with the prevalence of tuberculosis-like lesions in fenced wild boar and red deer in south central Spain

et al. 2007

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-In recent decades the management of large game mammals has become increasingly intensive in south central Spain (SCS), resulting in complex epidemiological scenarios for disease maintenance, and has probably impeded schemes to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) in domestic livestock. We conducted an analysis of risk factors which investigated associations between the pattern of tuberculosis-like lesions (TBL) in wild boar (Sus scrofa) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) across 19 hunting estates from SCS and an extensive set of variables related to game management, land use and habitat structure. The aggregation of wild boar at artificial watering sites was significantly associated with an increasing risk of detecting TBL in both species, which probably relates to enhanced opportunities for transmission. Aggregation of wild boar at feeding sites was also associated with increased risks of TBL in red deer. Hardwood Quercus spp. forest availability was marginally associated with an increased risk of TB in both species, whereas scrubland cover was associated with a reduced individual risk of TBL in the wild boar. It is concluded that management practices that encourage the aggregation of hosts, and some characteristics of Mediterranean habitats could increase the frequency and probability of both direct and indirect transmission of TB. These findings are of concern for both veterinary and public health authorities, and reveal tuberculosis itself as a potential limiting factor for the development and sustainability of such intensive game management systems in Spanish Mediterranean habitats.Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex / red deer / risk factors / tuberculosis / wild boar

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Risk factors associated with the prevalence of tuberculosis-like lesions in fenced wild boar and red deer in south central Spain

et al. 2007

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“…Once infected, released pigs appear extremely unlikely to then contribute to TB maintenance in an area if the pigs are recovered after a few months, long before they could potentially die of TB and be eaten by possums or other scavengers, a potential route of infection identified for red deer (G. Nugent unpubl. data) and ferrets (Mustela furo; Ragg et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Released Pigs as Sentinels for Mycobacterium Bovis

Nugent

Whitford

Young

2002

Journal of Wildlife Diseases

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Identifying the presence of bovine tuberculosis (TB; Mycobacterium bovis) in wildlife is crucial in guiding management aimed at eradicating the disease from New Zealand. Unfortunately, surveys of the principal wildlife host, the introduced brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), require large samples (Ͼ95% of the population) before they can provide reasonable confidence that the disease is absent. In this study, we tested the feasibility of using a more wideranging species, feral pig (Sus scrofa), as an alternative sentinel capable of indicating TB presence. In January 2000, 17 pigs in four groups were released into a forested area with a low density of possums in which TB was known to be present. The pigs were radiotracked at 2 wk intervals from February to October 2000, and some of them were killed and necropsied at various intervals after release. Of the 15 pigs successfully recovered and necropsied, one killed 2 mo after release had no gross lesions typical of TB, and the only other pig killed at that time had greatly enlarged mandibular lymph nodes. The remainder were killed at longer intervals after release and all had gross lesions typical of TB. Mycobacterium bovis was isolated from all 15 pigs by mycobacterial culture. Home range sizes of pigs varied widely and increased with the length of time the pigs were in the forest, with minimum convex polygon range-size estimates averaging 10.7 km 2 (range 4.7-20.3 km 2 ) for the pigs killed after 6 mo. A 6 km radius around the kill site of each pig would have encompassed 95% of all of their previous locations at which they could have become infected. However, one pig shifted 35 km, highlighting the main limitation of using unmarked feral pigs as sentinels. This trial indicates use of resident and/or released free-ranging pigs is a feasible alternative to direct prevalence surveys of possums for detecting TB presence.

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“…Livestock carcasses from different clinical settings as well as dairies in Bikaner city are collected, dumped and skinned by resident workers. Such carcasses can be hubs for interactions between different host species that potentially harbour infectious agents [21]. Scavenging raptors’ diet in communal dumps are largely carcasses of farm animals which contain high rates of antimicrobial resistance [22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Temporal variations in patterns ofEscherichia colistrain diversity and antimicrobial resistance in the migrant Egyptian vulture

Sharma

Maherchandani

Shringi

et al. 2018

Infection Ecology & Epidemiology

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Aims: Multiple antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli of wild vertebrates is a global concern with scarce assessments on the subject from developing countries that have high human-wild species interactions. We studied the ecology of E. coli in a wintering population of Egyptian Vultures in India to understand temporal changes in both E. coli strains and patterns of antimicrobial resistance. Methods and Results: We ribotyped E. coli strains and assessed antimicrobial resistance from wintering vultures at a highly synanthropic carcass dump in north-west India. Both E. coli occurence (90.32%) and resistance to multiple antimicrobials (71.43%) were very high. Clear temporal patterns were apparent. Diversity of strains changed and homogenized at the end of the Vultures’ wintering period, while the resistance pattern showed significantly difference inter-annually, as well as between arrival and departing individuals within a wintering cycle. Significance of study: The carcass dump environment altered both E. coli strains and multiple antimicrobial resistance in migratory Egyptian Vultures within a season. Long-distance migratory species could therefore disseminate resistant E. coli strains across broad geographical scales rendering regional mitigation strategies to control multiple antimicrobial resistance in bacteria ineffective.

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The scavenging behaviour of ferrets (Mustela furo), feral cats (Felis domesticus), possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) and harrier hawks (Circus approximans) on pastoral farmland in New Zealand: Implications for bovine tuberculosis transmission

Cited by 54 publications

References 23 publications

Risk factors associated with the prevalence of tuberculosis-like lesions in fenced wild boar and red deer in south central Spain

Risk factors associated with the prevalence of tuberculosis-like lesions in fenced wild boar and red deer in south central Spain

Use of Released Pigs as Sentinels for Mycobacterium Bovis

Temporal variations in patterns ofEscherichia colistrain diversity and antimicrobial resistance in the migrant Egyptian vulture

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