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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 10th June 2014
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Scientists warn against new TB control strategy
Badger
Scientists have warned against the Test-Vaccinate/Remove (TVR) pilot.
Small-scale, selective culling could lead to increased badger dispersal
Scientists have warned that a new bovine TB control strategy due to be piloted in Northern Ireland, may spread the disease further rather than control it.
 
The Test-Vaccinate/Remove (TVR) pilot plans to carry out live TB tests on badgers, culling any that are infected, and vaccinating healthy ones.
 
Limitations to this method have already been recognised, as live testing has previously been shown to be inconsistent, with many carriers of TB being missed. 
 
A team of researchers from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), Imperial College London and the University of Sheffield have warned that this method of small-scale, selective culling may also have an effect on badger behaviour, similar to that seen during the Randomised Badger Culling Trial, which caused increased ranging of badgers.
 
Researchers analysed badger movement in 826 territories where small-scale culling took place between 1986 and 1998. The results showed that removing a small number of badgers from a social group led to increased dispersal and ranging of the remaining badgers, lower genetic relatedness of individuals within a group and an elevated prevalence of the bacterium that causes bovine TB. This is likely to result in higher infection rates of the disease in cattle.
 
Dr Job Bielby, research fellow at ZSL, said: “Our research is the first to look at the effects of removing small numbers of badgers from social groups. The results reinforce the need to fully understand the consequences of methods to control the spread of bovine TB before we embark on them. Otherwise we risk complicating what is already a very complex issue.” 
 
If the pilot goes ahead, scientists have recommended intensive monitoring of badger behaviour, and stopping rules enforced if any significant changes are observed.
 
The research paper has recently been published in the journal PNAS.
 

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Birmingham Dogs Home makes urgent appeal

News Story 1
 Birmingham Dogs Home has issued an urgent winter appeal as it faces more challenges over the Christmas period.

The rescue centre has seen a dramatic increase in dogs coming into its care, and is currently caring for over 200 dogs. With rising costs and dropping temperatures, the charity is calling for urgent support.

It costs the charity £6,000 per day to continue its work.

Fi Harrison, head of fundraising and communications, said: "It's heart-breaking for our team to see the conditions some dogs arrive in. We really are their last chance and hope of survival."

More information about the appeal can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Avian flu confirmed at premises in Cornwall

A case of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 has been detected in commercial poultry at a premises near Rosudgeon, Cornwall.

All poultry on the infected site will be humanely culled, and a 3km protection zone and 10km surveillance zone have been put in place. Poultry and other captive birds in the 3km protection zone must be housed.

The case is the second avian flu case confirmed in commercial poultry this month. The H5N5 strain was detected in a premises near Hornsea, East Riding of Yorkshire, in early November. Before then, the disease had not been confirmed in captive birds in England since February.

The UK chief veterinary officer has urged bird keepers to remain alert and practise robust biosecurity.

A map of the disease control zones can be found here.