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Funding awarded to develop rapid TB detector
“The impact of TB is devastating, so developing a rapid diagnosis method could be truly transformative” – Glyn Hewinson.
The new test could be quicker than PCR and microscopy testing.

A project to develop a new point-of-care TB detector for humans and animals that can produce a result within one hour has received almost £1.2 million in funding.

The project, led by Adrian Porch of Cardiff University and involving researchers from Aberystwyth University, has received the funding from UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

The new technology is expected to be quicker than both PCR and microscopy testing and will be able to be used by healthcare workers, veterinary surgeons and farmers.

The interdisciplinary research team includes experts in veterinary medicine, microbiology, and microwave and photonic engineering.

Bovine TB continues to have a significant impact on cattle farms in the UK. Efforts to eradicate the disease through surveillance, diagnostic testing, badger culling and vaccination cost the UK government around £100 million per year.

TB also remains a major cause of death in humans worldwide. Around 10 million human infections are recorded each year, leading to around 1.8 million deaths annually.

Les Baillie, professor of microbiology at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at Cardiff University and co-lead on the project, said: “Tuberculosis is a particular problem for farmers in Wales who have seen bovine TB decimate herds across the country. Diagnosis of the early stages of infection is challenging due to the lack of rapid, accurate tests.

“To address this, we are working with colleagues from Aberystwyth University to advance the development of a real-time test capable to detecting the presence of the pathogen in clinical and environmental samples.”

Glyn Hewinson, Sêr Cymru research chair in the Centre of Excellence for Bovine Tuberculosis at Aberystwyth University, added: “The impact of TB is devastating, so developing a rapid diagnosis method could be truly transformative.

“Eliminating the human TB epidemic by 2050 is a key UN Sustainable Development Goal, and the World Health Organization highlights the need for more effective rapid diagnostic tests as a critical step.”

Image © Shutterstock

 

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Free CPD announced for BVNA members

News Story 1
 Zoetis is to present a CPD event for free to members of the British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA).

Led by veterinary consultant Ruth Moxon, the one-hour online session is designed to help veterinary nurses discuss parasiticide options with clients. It will advise on structuring recommendations, factors for product choice and moving away from 'selling'.

'How do you recommend parasite treatments to your clients?' will be presented on Tuesday, 20 May at 7.30pm. It is free for BVNA members, with £15.00 tickets for non-members.

Veterinary nurses can email cpd@bvna.co.uk to book their place. 

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News Shorts
DAERA to reduce BVD 'grace period'

DAERA has reminded herd keepers of an upcoming reduction to the 'grace period' to avoid BVD herd restrictions.

From 1 May 2025, herd keepers will have seven days to cull any BVD positive or inconclusive animals to avoid restrictions being applied to their herd.

It follows legislation introduced on 1 February, as DAERA introduces herd movement restrictions through a phased approach. Herd keepers originally had 28 days to cull BVD positive or inconclusive animals.

DAERA says that, providing herd keepers use the seven-day grace period, no herds should be restricted within the first year of these measures.

Additional measures, which will target herds with animals over 30 days old that haven't been tested for BVD, will be introduced from 1 June 2025.

More information is available on the DAERA website.