The use and assessment of ketamine–medetomidine–butorphanol combinations for field anaesthesia in wild European badgers (Meles meles)

McLaren, Graeme W; Thornton, Peter D.; Newman, Chris; Buesching, Christina D.; Baker, Sandra E.; Mathews, Fiona; Macdonald, David W.

doi:10.1111/j.1467-2995.2005.00206.x

Cited by 37 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Trapping has been undertaken three or four times per year since 1987, for two to three consecutive days per social group. Trapped badgers were anaesthetised using an intramuscular injection of 0.2 ml ketamine hydrochloride per kg bodyweight (McLaren et al, ) and identified by a unique tattoo number on the left inguinal region. Capture date, sett, social group (comprising several setts, i.e., burrow systems), sex, age‐class (cub < 1 year old; adult ≥ 1 year old) and morphometric measurements (i.e., length, weight, tooth wear; Macdonald et al, ; da Silva & Macdonald, ) were recorded for each badger.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual variation in early‐life telomere length and survival in a wild mammal

et al. 2019

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Individual variation in survival probability due to differential responses to early‐life environmental conditions is important in the evolution of life histories and senescence. A biomarker allowing quantification of such individual variation, and which links early‐life environmental conditions with survival by providing a measure of conditions experienced, is telomere length. Here, we examined telomere dynamics among 24 cohorts of European badgers (Meles meles). We found a complex cross‐sectional relationship between telomere length and age, with no apparent loss over the first 29 months, but with both decreases and increases in telomere length at older ages. Overall, we found low within‐individual consistency in telomere length across individual lifetimes. Importantly, we also observed increases in telomere length within individuals, which could not be explained by measurement error alone. We found no significant sex differences in telomere length, and provide evidence that early‐life telomere length predicts lifespan. However, while early‐life telomere length predicted survival to adulthood (≥1 year old), early‐life telomere length did not predict adult survival probability. Furthermore, adult telomere length did not predict survival to the subsequent year. These results show that the relationship between early‐life telomere length and lifespan was driven by conditions in early‐life, where early‐life telomere length varied strongly among cohorts. Our data provide evidence for associations between early‐life telomere length and individual life history, and highlight the dynamics of telomere length across individual lifetimes due to individuals experiencing different early‐life environments.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual variation in early‐life telomere length and survival in a wild mammal

et al. 2019

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“…Badgers were caught in mesh traps baited with peanuts, placed near the entrances of active setts Macdonald et al 2009). Captured badgers were transported to a central handling facility and sedated by intramuscular injection of ketamine hydrochloride (McLaren et al 2005). Upon first capture, all badgers were tattooed with a unique number on the left inguinal region for permanent individual identification.…”

Section: Study Population and Sample Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathogen burden, co‐infection and major histocompatibility complex variability in the European badger (Meles meles)

et al. 2014

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Pathogen-mediated selection is thought to maintain the extreme diversity in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes, operating through the heterozygote advantage, rare-allele advantage and fluctuating selection mechanisms. Heterozygote advantage (i.e. recognizing and binding a wider range of antigens than homozygotes) is expected to be more detectable when multiple pathogens are considered simultaneously. Here, we test whether MHC diversity in a wild population of European badgers (Meles meles) is driven by pathogen-mediated selection. We examined individual prevalence (infected or not), infection intensity and co-infection of 13 pathogens from a range of taxa and examined their relationships with MHC class I and class II variability. This population has a variable, but relatively low, number of MHC alleles and is infected by a variety of naturally occurring pathogens, making it very suitable for the investigation of MHC-pathogen relationships. We found associations between pathogen infections and specific MHC haplotypes and alleles. Co-infection status was not correlated with MHC heterozygosity, but there was evidence of heterozygote advantage against individual pathogen infections. This suggests that rare-allele advantages and/or fluctuating selection, and heterozygote advantage are probably the selective forces shaping MHC diversity in this species. We show stronger evidence for MHC associations with infection intensity than for prevalence and conclude that examining both pathogen prevalence and infection intensity is important. Moreover, examination of a large number and diversity of pathogens, and both MHC class I and II genes (which have different functions), provide an improved understanding of the mechanisms driving MHC diversity.

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“…Further details of the trapping methodology are provided in Macdonald and Newman (2002). Briefly, badgers were sedated by an intra-muscular injection of approximately 0.2 ml/kg ketamine hydrochloride (McLaren et al 2005;Thornton et al 2005). We identified individuals through a unique number tattooed on their inguinal area (Cheeseman and Harris 1982), classified them as a cub (<1 year old), yearling (≥1 to <2 years), or adult (≥2 years), and sexed them.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Female teat size is a reliable indicator of annual breeding success in European badgers: Genetic validation

et al. 2011

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Researchers have applied teat measurements previously to assess whether females, in a 4 variety of mammalian species, have bred; however, this technique has not been validated 5 genetically. Furthermore, several analytical techniques are available to classify 6 individuals, but their misclassification rates have not been compared. We used 22 7 microsatellite loci to assign maternity, with 95% confidence, within a high-density 8 population of European badgers Meles meles, as plural and subterranean breeding means 9 that maternity cannot be inferred from behavioural observations. The teat lengths and 10 diameters of 136 females, measured May-July 1994-2005, from social groups in which 11 all offspring were assigned a mother, were reliable indicators of recent breeding success. 12 A Generalised Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) classified both breeding and non-breeding 13 females with lower error rates than discriminant analyses and crude teat-size criteria. The 14 GLMM model logit probability = -20 + 1.8 month + 1.6 mean teat length + 1.0 mean 15 teat diameter can be applied quickly in the field to assess the probability with which a 16 female badger should be assigned maternity. This is a low-cost measure which, after 17 validation, could be used in other badger or mammalian populations to assess the 18 breeding success of females. This may be a particularly useful welfare tool for veterinary 19 practitioners, especially during badger culls. 20 21

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The use and assessment of ketamine–medetomidine–butorphanol combinations for field anaesthesia in wild European badgers (Meles meles)

Cited by 37 publications

References 10 publications

Individual variation in early‐life telomere length and survival in a wild mammal

Individual variation in early‐life telomere length and survival in a wild mammal

Pathogen burden, co‐infection and major histocompatibility complex variability in the European badger (Meles meles)

Female teat size is a reliable indicator of annual breeding success in European badgers: Genetic validation

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