the centre for veterinary epidemiology and risk … · diagnostics and immunology research centre...

The Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis

The TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre

The Badger Vaccine Project

Biennial Report, 2008-09




Biennial Report, 2008-09S.J. More and D.M. Collins (editors)

ISBN: 978-1-905254-44-6

Biennial Report, 2008/20092

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Preface

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) provides ongoing financial support to three research units within the UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine at University College Dublin:

• TheCentreforVeterinaryEpidemiologyandRiskAnalysis(CVERA); • TheTBDiagnosticsandImmunologyResearchCentre;and • TheBadgerVaccineProject.

TheseunitseachworktosupportDAFFpolicy,inspectorateandlaboratorystaffintheareaofanimalhealth.TheTBDiagnosticsandImmunologyResearchCentreandtheBadgerVaccineProjectfocusonbovinetuberculosisresearch.CVERAisanationalresourcecentre,providingpolicyadviceandconductingepidemiologicalresearchonawiderangeofanimalhealthissues.Inaddition,CVERAprovidesgeneralsupporttogovernment,industryandtheveterinaryprofes-sion(pre-andpost-graduation)ontheseandotheranimalhealthissues.

Thisreportdocumentsworkconductedby,orinassociationwith,thesethreeUCD-basedresearchunitsduring2008and2009.

SimonJ.MoreEamonnGormleyLeigh Corner

Veterinary Sciences CentreUCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary MedicineUniversity College DublinBelfield,Dublin4,Ireland

The UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre. Photograph by D.M. Collins.

Biennial Report, 2008/2009 3

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Acknowledgements


CVERAworkscloselywithcolleaguesfromawiderangeoforganisations,aslistedbelow,bothinIrelandandinterna-tionally.Theirinputisgratefullyacknowledged.

• In Ireland–DAFF(veterinarypolicy,inspectorateandlaboratorystaff–central,regional,local),theTBDiagnosticsandImmunologyResearchCentre,theBadgerVaccineProject,UCDSchoolofAgriculture,FoodScienceandVeterinary Medicine, UCD School of Applied Social Science, UCD School of Mathematical Sciences, UCD School ofPublicHealth,PhysiotherapyandPopulationScience,UCDGearyInstitute,UniversityCollegeCork,TrinityCollegeDublin,theNationalParksandWildlifeService(withintheDepartmentofEnvironment,HeritageandLocalGovernment),Teagasc,theMarineInstitute,Safefood,CorkCountyCouncil,WexfordGeneralHospital,VeterinaryIrelandandindividualprivateveterinarypractitioners,MonaghanVeterinaryConsultants,EnferScientific,BirdWatchIreland,theIrishEquineCentre,theIrishCattleBreedingFederation,AnimalHealthIreland,awiderangeofindustryorganisations,andindividualIrishfarmers

• In Australia–AusVetAnimalHealthServices,CamperdownVeterinaryCentre,HarrisParkGroup• In Canada–theUniversityofGuelph• In Chile–ServicioAgrícolayGanadero• In Denmark – the University of Copenhagen• In France–EcoleNationaleVétérinairedeToulouse• In Germany–FederalInstituteforRiskAssessment• In Italy–EuropeanFoodSafetyAuthority,IstitutoZooprofilatticoSperimentaledellaLombardiaedell’Emilia

Romagna• In Korea–theNationalVeterinaryResearchandQuarantineService• In Kyrgyzstan–theKyrgyzStateVeterinaryDepartment,theEUBudgetSupportProgrammeinKyrgyzstan• In the Netherlands–GDAnimalHealthServiceDeventer,IDLelystad,UniversiteitUtrecht,Wageningen

University • In New Zealand–AgResearch,MasseyUniversity• In Norway–Norgesveterinærhøgskole(NorwegianSchoolofVeterinaryScience)• In Spain – Universidad Complutense• In Sweden – Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences• In the UK–theAgri-FoodandBioscienceInstitute,theDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentof

NorthernIreland,veterinaryorganisationsinNorthernIreland(NorthofIrelandVeterinaryAssociation,AssociationofVeterinarySurgeonsPracticinginNorthernIreland),Defra(theUKDepartmentofEnvironment,FoodandRuralAffairs),OfficeoftheChiefVeterinaryOfficerintheWelshAssemblygovernment,CentreforEnvironment,FisheriesandAquacultureScience,FusionAntibodiesLtd.,theRoslinInstituteoftheUniversityofEdinburgh,RoyalVeterinaryCollege,ScottishAgriculturalCollege,ScottishGovernment,VeterinaryLaboratoriesAgency,UniversityofEdinburgh

• In the US–ColoradoStateUniversity,ColoradoSchoolofPublicHealth.


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StafffromtheCentreacknowledgethehelpandsupportofDistrictVeterinaryOffice(DVO)staffinprovidingsamplesfortheIFN-gtest.


StaffworkingontheBadgerVaccineProjectacknowledgethecontributionandsupportofFrancesQuigleyandcolleaguesatthemycobacteriologylaboratory(CentralVeterinaryResearchLaboratory,Backweston,Celbridge,CoKildare,Ireland),andPaddySleemanofUniversityCollegeCorkforfieldcraft.GlynHewinson,MarkChambers,SandrineLesellier,andstaffatVeterinaryLaboratoriesAgency(VLA,UK)arealsothankedfordevelopingandcarryingoutmanyoftheimmunoassaysusedinthebadgervaccinestudies,andforcontributingtechnicalexpertiseandadvicefortheresearchprogramme.

Some photographs in this report, including those on pages 9, 15 and 119, were kindly supplied by An Bord Bia.Photographs on pages 8, 62 and 108 were taken by S.J. More. Photographs on pages 84 and 118 were taken by D.M. Collins.Unless stated otherwise, all other images are copyright of Fotolia.com

further information

Inthisreport,projectsareeither:

• Complete,whichincludesthoseprojectswhererelevantpeer-reviewedpapers,orequivalent,havebeenpublished,or• Current,whichincludesthebalancecoveringthespectrumfromconceptualthroughtofinalwrite-up.

ManuscriptpreparationisconductedinaccordancewithUniformRequirementsforManuscriptsSubmittedtoBiomedicalJournalsoftheInternationalCommitteeofMedicalJournalEditors(previouslytheVancouverGroup).Forfurther information, see www.icmje.org.Guidelinesforthetransparentreportingofspecificstudytypes(forexample,theCONSORTstatementfortransparentreportingoftrials,www.consort-statement.org)arefollowed.

Anup-to-datelistofallpeer-reviewpapersproducedby,orinassociationwith,theCentreforVeterinaryEpidemiologyandRiskAnalysis,theTBDiagnosticsandImmunologyResearchCentreandtheBadgerVaccineProjectisavailableatwww.ucd.ie/cvera.


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Affiliated staff members


Board of managementMartinBlake(DAFF) SimonJ.More(UCD)MargaretGood(DAFF) MichaelSheridan(DAFF)SéamusHealy(DAFF)(toMarch2009) PhilipCarroll(DAFF)(fromJuly2009)

Members (full-time)SimonJ.More(UCD)(Director) DanielM.Collins(UCD)InmaAznar(DAFF) IsabellaHiggins(UCD)MaryCanty(DAFF) ElizabethLane(DAFF)TracyA.Clegg(UCD) GuyMcGrath(UCD)

AssociatesSeánAshe(DAFF) RobDoyle(DAFF)DamienBarrett(DAFF) MartinHayes(DAFF)JoeCollins(UCD) JarlathO’Connor(DAFF)AnthonyDuignan(DAFF) JamesO’Keeffe(DAFF)MartinDownes(UCD) PaulWhite(DAFF)

ConsultantsDan Collins, UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland(ProfessorEmeritus)GabrielleKellyandDavidWilliams,UCDSchoolofMathematicalSciences,UniversityCollegeDublin,IrelandPaddySleeman,DepartmentofZoology,EcologyandPlantScience,UniversityCollegeCorkWayneMartin,UniversityofGuelph,CanadaFranciscoOlea-Popelka,DepartmentofClinicalSciences,ColoradoStateUniversity,UnitedStatesofAmericaMartdeJongandKlaasFrankena,UniversityofWageningen,TheNetherlands


EamonnGormley(UCD) TaraFitzsimons(UCD)MairéadDoyle(UCD) KevinaMcGill(UCD)


EamonnGormley(UCD) MarionBarrett(UCD)LeighCorner(UCD) ElviraRamovic(UCD)Denise Murphy (DAFF) Marian Teeling (UCD)EamonCostello(DAFF)


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Overview


TheCentreforVeterinaryEpidemiologyandRiskAnalysis(CVERA)isthenationalresourcecentreforveterinaryepide-miologyinIreland,locatedwithintheUCDSchoolofAgriculture,FoodScienceandVeterinaryMedicineatUniversityCollegeDublin.TheCentrewasinitiallyestablishedastheTuberculosisInvestigationUnit,butinrecentyearshasbroadened its remit to cover a wide range of international, national and local animal health matters, including:

• Epidemiologicalsupportforthecontrolanderadicationofregulatoryanimaldiseases,whichincludesnationalprogrammesforbovinetuberculosis,bovinebrucellosisandbovinespongiformencephalopathy;

• Epidemiologicalsupportforabroadrangeofotheranimalhealthandwelfareissuesrelatingtoemergencyanimaldiseasepreparednessandresponse(forexample,avianinfluenza,bluetongueandequineinfectiousanaemia),on-farminvestigations,welfareoffarmedlivestockandhorses,healthofcompanionanimalsandfarmedfish,andinternationalcollaboration;and

• WorkinsupportofAnimalHealthIreland,whichisseekingtoprovideaproactive,coordinatedandindustry-ledapproachinIrelandtonon-regulatoryanimalhealthconcerns(suchasmastitis,fertilityandinfectiousbovinerhinotracheitis).

CVERAstaffworkcloselywithnationalpolicy-makers,bothingovernmentandindustry.IncollaborationwithstafffromtheUCDSchoolofAgriculture,FoodScienceandVeterinaryMedicine,CVERAstaffalsocontributetoon-farmanimalhealthinvestigationsthroughoutIreland.AbroadrangeofexpertiseisrepresentedwithintheCentre,includingagriculture and animal sciences, database development and management, geographic information systems, statistics, veterinarymedicineandepidemiology.TheCentreisstaffedbyemployeesofUniversityCollegeDublinandoftheDepartmentofAgriculture,FisheriesandFood(DAFF).


Thegamma-interferon(IFN-g)assay(Bovigam)isusedasatooltoassistintheeradicationofbovinetuberculosisfromthenationalcattleherd.AllofthetestingiscarriedoutinthelaboratorybasedatUCD.Intheperiod2008-2009,over28,000bloodsamplesweresubmittedtothelaboratoryfortesting,including1,300goats.Themajorityofsamplesorigi-natedfrombovinereactorre-restherdswherethetestwasusedtoidentifyinfectedanimalsthatweremissedbytheskintest.Otherstrategicusesofthetestweretargetedatinconclusivereactorre-tests.TheapparentsensitivityandspecificityoftheIFN-gtestwasre-assessedinalarge-scalestudyinvolvingseveralthousandcattle.Thiswaspartofalargerprojecttocomparetheperformanceoftheskintest,IFN-gtestandanewserologytestdevelopedbyEnferGroup.Theresultsofthisstudyhavehelpedourunderstandingofhowthetestperformsinthecohortstested.In2010weawaitthedeliveryofthenextgenerationBovigamtestbeingdevelopedbyPrionicsLtd.Thetestpromisesimprovedspecificitywithoutlossofsensitivity.ThelaboratoryatUCDwillbeinvolvedinevaluatingthistestunderIrishconditions.


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TheBadgerVaccineProjectisacomprehensiveprogrammeofresearchthatseekstodevelopavaccinetocontroltuber-culosisinbadgersandtobreakthelinkofinfectiontocattle.WehavedemonstratedthatvaccinationofbadgerswithBCGbyanumberofroutes,includingoraldelivery,generateshighlevelsofprotectiveimmunityagainstchallengewithM. bovis.Thekeytothesuccessofthevaccineliesintheencapsulationofthevaccineinaspecificlipidformulationthatprotectsitfromdegradationasitpassesthroughthestomach.TheencapsulationtechnologydesignedforthispurposehasbeendevelopedbycollaboratorsinOtago,NewZealand.Wearecontinuingtocarryoutstudieswithcaptivepopu-lation of badgers to refine the vaccine and address issues relating to the eventual registration of the vaccine as a veterinary medicine.WearealsodevelopingandevaluatingdiagnostictestswithcolleaguesatVLA(WeybridgeUK).Theresultsof our studies to date have increased our understanding of the progression of the disease following infection and have improved our ability to accurately diagnose M. bovisinfectioninbadgers.Afieldtrialcommencedin2009totesttheefficacyoftheoralBCGvaccinewithalargenumberofbadgersoverawidegeographicareainCo.Kilkenny.Successinthefieldtrialwillleadtoimplementationofavaccinationstrategyintothenationalcontrolprogramme.

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8 Biennial Report, 2008/2009


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Bovine tuberculosis

Tuberculosis in cattle

Improving surveillance ................................................................................................. 10

Improving management of high risk herds .................................................................. 16

Supporting studies ...................................................................................................... 24

The role of wildlife in bovine TB

Improved understanding of ecology and TB epidemiology ........................................... 30

Infection control strategies .......................................................................................... 38

Supporting studies ...................................................................................................... 51

Contributing to national TB policy

The national programme ............................................................................................. 54

Quality control ............................................................................................................ 55

Public health ............................................................................................................... 56

North-South linkages .................................................................................................. 57

National maps

Density of TB incidence ............................................................................................... 58

APT per DED ............................................................................................................... 60


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Improving surveillance

Field-based surveillance

Multiplex immunoassay for serological diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle

Whelan, C.1, Shuralev, E.1, O’Keeffe, G.1, Hyland, P.1, Kwok, H.F.2, Snoddy, P.2, O’Brien, A.1, Connolly, M.1,

Quinn, P.1, Groll, M.3, Watterson, T.3, Call, S.3, Kenny, K.4, Duignan, A.5, 8, Hamilton, M.J.6, Buddle, B.M.7,

Johnston, J.A.2, Davis, W.C.6, Olwill, S.A.2, Clarke, J.1

1 Enfer Scientific, 2 Fusion Antibodies Ltd., Northern Ireland, 3 Quansys Biosciences, Utah, USA, 4 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory,

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 5 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 6 Washington State University, USA,

7 AgResearch, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand, 8 UCD CVERA

Clinical and Vaccine Immunology 15, 1834-1838 (2008)

Effortstodevelopabetterdiagnosticassayforbovinetuberculosishaveshownthatthesensitivityandspecificityofanassaycanbeimprovedbytheuseoftwoormoreantigens.Asreportedhere,wedevelopedamultiplexchemiluminescentimmunoassay that can simultaneously detect antibody activity to 25 antigens in a single well in a 96-well plate array format.ThechemiluminescentsignaliscapturedwithadigitalimagingsystemandanalyzedwithamacroprogramthattrackseachserumforitspatternofantibodyactivityforMycobacterium bovisantigens.Thecomparisonofserafrom522infectedand1,489uninfectedanimalsshowedthatasensitivityof93.1%andaspecificityof98.4%canbeachievedwithacombinationofantigens.Theassaysystemisrapidandcanbeautomatedforuseinacentralizedlaboratory.

Reproduced with permission from the American Society for Microbiology.

Using latent class analysis to estimate the test characteristics of the interferon-g test, the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT) and a multiplex immunoassay under Irish conditions

Clegg, T.A.1, Duignan, A.1, 2, Whelan, C.3, Gormley, E.4, Good, M.2, Clarke, J.3, Toft, N.5, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 Enfer Scientific, 4 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre,

5 University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

Considerableefforthasbeendevotedtoimprovingexistingdiagnostictestsforbovinetuberculosis(singleintra-dermalcomparativetuberculintest[SICTT]andg-interferon assay [gIFN])andtodevelopnewtests.Previously,thediagnosticcharacteristics(sensitivity,specificity)havebeenestimatedinpopulationswithdefinedinfectionstatus.However,theseapproachescanbeproblematicastheremaybefewherdsinIrelandwherefreedomfrominfectionisguaranteed.Weusedlatentclassmodelstoestimatethediagnosticcharacteristicsofexisting(SICTTandgIFN)andnew(multipleximmunoassay[Enferplex-TB])diagnostictestsunderIrishfieldconditionswheretruediseasestatuswasunknown.ThestudypopulationconsistedofherdsrecruitedinareaswithnoknownTBproblems(2,197animals)andherdsexperiencingaconfirmedTBbreakdown(2,740animals).ABayesianmodelwasdeveloped,allowingfordependencebetweenSICTTandgIFN,whileassumingindependencefromtheEnferplex-TBtest.Differenttestinterpretationswereusedfortheanalysis:SICTT(standardandsevereinterpretation),gIFN(asingleinterpretation),andarangeofinterpretationsfortheEnferplex-TB(level-1[highsensitivityinterpretation]tolevel-5[highspecificityinterpretation]).Thesensitivityandspecificity(95%posteriorcredibilityintervals;95%PCI)ofSICTT[standard]relativetoEnferplex-TB[level-1]andgIFNwere52.9-60.8%and99.2-99.8%,respectively.EquivalentestimatesforgIFNrelativetoEnferplex-TB[level-1]andSICTTwere63.1-70.1%and86.8-89.4%,respectively.Sensitivityof


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rveillance

Enferplex-TB[level-1](95%PCI:64.8-71.9%)wassuperiortotheSICTT[standard],andspecificityoftheEnferplex-TB[level-5]wassuperiortogIFN(95%PCI:99.6-100.0%).TheseresultsproviderobustmeasuresofsensitivityandspecificityunderfieldconditionsinIrelandandsuggestthattheEnferplex-TBtesthasthepotentialtoimproveoncurrentdiagnosticsforTBinfectionincattle.

Further test characterisation (comparison of herd-level classification using SICTT and Enfer)

Good, M.1, Clegg, T.A.2

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA

ForthepurposeofthisstudyDVOssubmittedbloodsamplesforanalysisfromherdsundergoinghighriskorconse-quentialtesttypetests(i.e.notroundtests)andwhichrepresentthewholeofIreland.Sampleswerealso‘captured’fromtheBrucellosisLaboratoryforherdsundergoingroutineroundtests.Intotalsome100,000sampleswereanalysedbyEnferScientificinthelattermonthsof2009.Theprincipalresearchquestionstobeaddressedbythisstudy are as follows:• Isthereagreementintheherd-levelinterpretationoftheSICTTandEnferplextests?• Ifnot,whatistheconfirmationrateamongSICTTherdswherenoanimalswereEnferplexpositive?• Whatisthefutureoutcomeofherds/animalsthatwereEnferplexpositivebutSICTTnegative?

Meta-analysis of diagnostic tests and modelling to identify appropriate testing strategies to reduce Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle

Downs, S.1, Parry, J.1, Abernethy, D.2, Broughan, J.1, Cameron, A.3, Clifton-Hadley, R.1, Cook, A.1,

Cox, D.4, de la Rua-Domenech, R.5, Goodchild, T.1, Greiner, M.6, Gunn, J.1, More, S.J.7, Nunez-Garcia, J.1,

Sharp, M.1, Rhodes, S.1, Rolfe, S.8, Upton, P.1, Vordermeier, M.1, Watson, E.1, Welsh, M.9, Whelan, A.1,

Woolliams, J.10

1 Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, Surrey, England, 2 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Belfast, Northern Ireland, 3 AusVet

Animal Health Services, Cuiseaux, France, 4 Nuffield College, University of Oxford, Oxford, England, 5 Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs,

United Kingdom, 6 Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany, 7 UCD CVERA, 8 Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff, Wales,

9 Agri-Food & Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Belfast, Northern Ireland, 10 Roslin Institute of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland

Inthiscollaborativeproject,acomprehensivesystematicliteraturereviewhasbeenundertakenofstudiesthathavemeasuredtheperformanceoftestsfordiagnosingbovinetuberculosisincattle.Estimatesoftestperformanceandthecharacteristicsofthestudiesandpopulationsinwhichthestudieswereconductedhavebeenextractedfromthelitera-ture,followingastandardisedprocedure.Theresultswillbepooledandastatisticalmeta-analysisconductedtoobtainestimateswithdistributionsforthesensitivitiesandspecificitiesofthetests.Thesecondpartoftheprojectisthedevel-opmentofamodeltoexploretheimproveduseofthetestsinbovinetuberculosissurveillanceandcontrol.Themodelestimatestheprobabilitythataherdwithspecifiedcharacteristicsandsurveillancehistoryisfreefrominfection.Themodel will be used to evaluate a range of potential future surveillance options, based on sensitivity, specificity, the prob-abilityofintroductionofinfectionintoaherdandthetimerequiredtoachieveM. bovisinfectionfreestatus.


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The relative effectiveness of, and reporting accuracy among, testers during field surveillance for bovine tuberculosis in Ireland

Clegg, T.A.1, Good, M.2, Duignan, A.1, 2, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

InIreland,cattlearetestedannually,usingthesingleintradermalcomparativetuberculintest(SICTT).Qualitycontrol(QC)isanimportantpartofthenationalprogramme,andnewmethodsareprogressivelybeingintroduced.FieldsurveillanceusingtheSICTTispotentiallyproblematic,notingitsrelianceonarangeoffactors,includingtheskillsandexperienceofthetester.Theobjectiveofthecurrentstudywastoquantifytherelativeeffectivenessof,andreportingaccuracyamong,testersduringfieldsurveillancefortuberculosisinIreland.Alltesterswhocarriedoutatleastoneannualherdtestin2006wereincludedinthestudy.Relativetestingeffectivenesswasassessedbycomparingthenumberofobservedandexpectedherdrestrictionspertester.Thelatterwaspredicted,usingalogisticregressionmodelandtesterswereranked,basedonOEDIFF.ReportingaccuracywasbasedonthebovinemeasurementsinSICTTnegativeanimals.Intotal,983testerswereenrolledinthestudy,includingdatafrom92,402herds,including1,839(1.99%)withatleastonereactorattheeligibletest.OEDIFFvariedfrom-7.5to18.2;for43%oftesters,OEDIFFwasbetween-1.0and1.0.Therewasevidenceofreducedtestingeffectivenessamongasmallnumberoftesters.Reportingaccuracywaslowsuggestingunder-reportingofbovinemeasurements.Thisstudyprovidesobjectivedataontherelativeperform-anceoftestersduringfieldsurveillanceinIreland.OutputfromthesemodelswillbeusedaspartofongoingQCactivi-tiesinthenationalprogramme.

A review of quality control in the national bovine tuberculosis eradication programme in Ireland

Duignan, A.1, 2, Good, M.1, More, S.J.2


Qualitycontrol(QC)isarecognisedprocessinthedeliveryofqualityproductsorservices.TheapplicationofQCinveterinarylaboratorieshasbeendescribedinsomedetail;asyet,however,littlehasbeenwrittenaboutQCinotheraspectsofnationalanimaldiseasecontrolprogrammes.ThispaperpresentsareviewofQCinthenationalbovinetuberculosis(BTB)eradicationprogrammeinIreland,withparticularemphasisonQCprocessesforPrivateVeterinaryPractitioners(PVPs)whocarryoutmuchofthefieldsurveillanceusingtheSingleIntradermalComparativeTuberculinTest(SICTT).TheIrishBTBeradicationprogrammeoperatesundernationallegislationandatthesametimefulfilstherequirementsoftheEUtradeDirective64/432.TheprogrammeincludesannualSICTTscreeningofallherds,promptremovaloftestreactorsandfurtherconsequentialretestingofherds.Continuousevaluationofallrelevantactivitiesisessentialtodeliveraneffectivenationalprogrammeandtoreassureallstakeholdersincludingtaxpayers,producersandexportmarketsthatthehighestpossiblestandardsareattained.AbroadrangeofprogrammeelementssubjectedtoQC,aredescribed,includingpersonnel,training,equipment,tuberculinsandlaboratory.Eachelementisrelevanttoactivitieswithinbothfieldandabattoirsurveillance.Particularattentionispaidtofieldsurveillance(specifically,PVPperformance),followingtherecentintroductionofthenationalAnimalHealthComputerSystem(AHCS).Specialistperformancereportshavebeenproduced,focusingonmeasuresrelatingtoadministrativefunctionsanddiseasecontrol.Themeasureswerechosenasobjectiveandmeasurable.Theyareperceivedasthebestavailableandtheprocessisconstantlyevolvingaspartofaworkinprogress.WhileattentionhasbeendirectedtotheissueofstandardsofSICTTdeliverybyPVPs,littlehasbeendocumentedinpublishedliteratureonthesubjectofQualityControlandQualityAssuranceindiseaseeradicationprogrammes.Thispaperseekstofillthatgap.


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Factory surveillance

Quantification of the relative efficiency of factory surveillance in the disclosure of tuberculosis lesions in attested Irish cattle, 2005-2007

Olea-Popelka, F.J.1, Freeman, Z.1, White, P.2, 3, Costello, E.4, O’Keeffe, J.2, 3,

Frankena, K.5, Martin, S.W.6, More, S.J.3

1 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Colorado, USA, 2 Department of

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD CVERA, 4 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 5 Wageningen

Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, 6 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of

Guelph, Ontario, Canada

InIreland,aspartoftheongoingBovineTuberculosis(BTB)eradicationscheme,everyanimalisexaminedatslaughterforitsfitnessforhumanconsumption.Between1982and1999,theannualriskofBTBlesiondetectionamonganimalsfromherdsconsideredtobefreeofBTBwas0.12%(onaverage1,638animalsperyear)(Byrne,2000).Theaimofthisstudywastodeterminetherelativeefficiencyoffactoriesindetecting,submittingandsubsequentlyconfirmingBTBlesionascausedbyMycobacterium bovisamongattestedcattle(consideredfreeofBTB)betweenyears2005-2007.Factorieswererankedaccordingtheirsubmissionandconfirmationrisk,adjustingfortheriskprofileofthe animals slaughtered, including potential confounding factors such as age, gender, whether they were homebred orpurchased,thetesthistoryoftheirherd,theprevalenceofBTBintheherdgeographicalareaandtheseasonofslaughter.Approximately,4.9millioncattlewereslaughteredin37Irishexport-licensedfactoriesinthesethreeyears.Completedatawereavailablefor3,344,057animalsfrom89,870attestedherdsin2830DistrictElectoralDivisions.Samplesfrom11,530attestedanimalswithsuspectedBTBlesionsweresubmittedforlaboratoryexamination,7,900(68.5%)werepositive,3,238werenegativeand392wereinconclusive.Samplesfrom8,178animalswithcompleteinformationregardingpotentialconfoundingfactorswithsuspectedBTBlesionsweresubmittedforlaboratoryexami-nation,andfromthese5,456(66.7%)werepositive,2453werenegativeand269wereinconclusive.Theaverageunadjustedsubmissionriskforallthefactorieswas25per10,000,rangingfrom0to52per10,000.Theunadjustedconfirmationriskvariedbetween30.3%and91.3%.

Incised lung during factory surveillance. Photograph by A. Duignan.


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Supporting work

Antigen stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle yields evidence for a novel gene expression program

Meade, K.G.1, Gormley, E.2, O’Farrelly, C.1, Park, S.D.3, Costello, E.4, Keane, J.5, Zhao, Y.6, MacHugh, D.E.3, 7

1 School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, 2 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre, 3 UCD School of Agriculture,

Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 4 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 5 School of Medicine, Trinity

College Dublin, 6 Computational and Systems Biology Group, Biometric Research Branch, National Cancer Institute, Maryland, USA, 7 UCD Conway Institute

of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research

BMC Genomics 9, 447 (2008)

Bovinetuberculosis(BTB)causedbyMycobacterium bovis continues to cause substantial losses to global agriculture and hassignificantrepercussionsforhumanhealth.Theadventofhighthroughputgenomicshasfacilitatedlargescalegeneexpressionanalysesthatpresentanovelopportunityforrevealingthemolecularmechanismsunderlyingmycobacterialinfection.Usingthisapproach,wehavepreviouslyshownthatinnateimmunegenesinperipheralbloodmononuclearcells(PBMC)fromBTB-infectedanimalsarerepressedinvivointheabsenceofexogenousantigenstimulation.Inthepresentstudy,wehypothesizedthatthePBMCfromBTB-infectedcattlewoulddisplayadistinctgeneexpres-sionprogramresultingfromexposuretoM. bovis.AfunctionalgenomicsapproachwasusedtoexaminetheimmuneresponseofBTB-infected(n=6)andhealthycontrol(n=6)cattletostimulationwithbovinetuberculin(purifiedproteinderivative-PPD-b)invitro.PBMCwereharvestedbefore,andat3hand12hpostinvitrostimulationwithbovinetuberculin.GeneexpressionchangeswerecataloguedwithineachgroupusingareferencehybridizationdesignandatargetedimmunospecificcDNAmicroarrayplatform(BOTL-5)with4,800spotfeaturesrepresenting1,391genes.250genespotfeaturesweresignificantlydifferentiallyexpressedinBTB-infectedanimalsat3hpost-stimulationcontrastingwithonly88genespotfeaturesinthenon-infectedcontrolanimals(P<or=0.05).At12hpost-stimulation,56and80genespotfeaturesweredifferentiallyexpressedinbothgroupsrespectively.TheresultsprovidedevidenceofaproinflammatorygeneexpressionprofileinPBMCfromBTB-infectedanimalsinresponsetoantigenstimulation.Furthermore,acommonpanelofeighteengenes,includingtranscriptionfactorsweresignificantlyexpressedinoppositedirectionsinbothgroups.Real-timequantitativereversetranscriptionPCR(qRT-PCR)demonstratedthatmanyinnateimmunegenes,includingcomponentsoftheTLRpathwayandcytokinesweredifferentiallyexpressedinBTB-infected(n=8)versuscontrolanimals(n=8)afterstimulationwithbovinetuberculin.ThePBMCfromBTB-infectedanimalsexhibitdifferenttranscriptionalprofilescomparedwithPBMCfromhealthycontrolanimalsinresponsetoM. bovis antigenstimulation,providingevidenceofanovelgeneexpressionprogramduetoM. bovisexposure.

Printed with permission from BioMed Central and authors.


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rveillance

Gene expression profiling of the host response to Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle

MacHugh, D.E.1, 2, Gormley, E.3, Park, S.D.1, Browne, J.A.1, Taraktsoglou, M.1, O’Farrelly, C.4, Meade, K.G.4

1 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 2 UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, 3 UCD TB Diagnostics

and Immunology Research Centre, 4 Comparative Immunology Group, School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin

Transboundary and Emerging Disease 56, 204-214 (2009)

Bovinetuberculosis(BTB),causedbyMycobacterium bovis,continuestoposeathreattolivestockworldwideand,asazoonoticinfection,alsohasseriousimplicationsforhumanhealth.TheimplementationofcomprehensivesurveillanceprogrammestodetectBTBhasbeensuccessfulinreducingtheincidenceofinfectioninmanycountries,yetBTBhasremainedrecalcitranttoeradicationinseveralEUstates,particularlyinIrelandandtheUK.Therearewell-recognizedlimitations in the use of the current diagnostics to detect all infected animals and this has led to renewed efforts to uncovernoveldiagnosticbiomarkersthatmayservetoenhancetheperformanceofthetests.Studiesofsingleimmuno-logicalparametershavesofarbeenunabletounlockthecomplexitiesoftheimmuneresponsetomycobacterialinfection.However,thedevelopmentofhigh-throughputmethodsincludingpan-genomicgeneexpressiontechnologiessuchasDNA microarrays has facilitated the simultaneous identification and analysis of thousands of genes and their interac-tionsduringtheimmuneresponse.Inaddition,theapplicationofthesenewgenomictechnologiestoBTBhasidentifiedpathogen-associatedimmuneresponsesignaturesofhostinfection.Theobjectiveoftheseinvestigationsistounderstandthechangingprofileofimmuneresponsesthroughoutthecourseofinfectionandtoidentifybiomarkersforsensitivediagnosis,particularlyduringtheearlystagesofinfection.Transcriptionalprofilingviamicroarrayandmorerecentlyvianext-generationsequencingtechnologiesmayleadtothedevelopmentofspecificandsensitivediagnosticsforM. bovis infectionandwillenhancetheprospectoferadicationoftuberculosisfromcattlepopulations.

Printed with permission from John Wiley & Sons, Inc. The original article can be found at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/122404541/abstract

Photograph courtesy of Bord Bia.


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Improving management of high risk herds

TB epidemiology

Risk of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) for cattle sold out from attested herds during year 2005 in Ireland

Berrian, A.M.1, O’Keeffe, J.2, 3, White, P.2, 3, Olea-Popelka, F.4

1 Colorado School of Public Health, Colorado, USA, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD CVERA, 4 Department of Clinical Sciences,

College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Colorado, USA

Bovinetuberculosis(BTB)isaninfectiouscontagiousdiseasecausedbyabacteriumMycobacterium bovis.Thesignifi-canceofBTBliesintradeimplicationsanditszoonoticpotential.Althoughindustrializedcountrieshavesignificantlyreduced the prevalence of M. bovisinfectioninbothhumansandanimals,BTBpersistsinmanydevelopedcountries,includingtheRepublicofIreland.AretrospectivecohortstudywasconductedtodeterminetheriskofBTBamonganimalssoldoutfromattested(BTB“free”)herdsduringtheyear2005.Herdsfromwhichtheanimalsweresoldoutwereclassifiedas“exposed”and“non-exposed”toBTBaccordingtotheirBTBhistoryduringtheyear2005.Thestudysamplewascomprisedof338,960animals,fromwhich124,360weresoldoutfrom“exposed”herdsand214,600animalsweresoldoutfrom“non-exposed”herds.Afterthesellingdateduringtheyear2005,animalswerefolloweduntiltheendoftheyear2007.AllanimalsreactingpositivetotheSingleIntradermalComparativeTuberculinTest(SICTT)aswellasallanimalsthatdisclosedaBTBlesionatslaughterthatsubsequentlywasconfirmedasM. bovis posi-tiveatthelaboratorywereclassifiedasBTBpositive.TheoverallriskofBTBduringthestudyperiodaftertheanimalsweresoldoutwas0.69%.LogisticregressionanalysisindicatedthattheoddsofbeingfoundBTBpositivewasgreaterforanimalssoldoutfrom“exposed”herdscomparedtoanimalssoldoutfrom“non-exposed”herds(OR=1.94,95%CI=1.79-2.11,p=<0.0001).Otherriskfactors,suchasageandgender,werealsosignificantlyassociatedwiththeriskofBTBattheanimallevelinIreland.DuetothecontagiousnatureofBTB,theidentificationandquantificationofriskfactorsassociatedwiththedevelopmentofthediseaseisessentialtoitscontrolattheanimallevel.Thesearepreliminaryfindingsfromastudytobecompletedduringtheyear2010.Thisstudywillprovidequantitativeepidemiologicalinfor-mationattheanimallevelthatcanbeusedtofurtherassessIreland’sprogresstowardsBTBeradication.

Tuberculosis in a dairy farm in Ireland: a case study

Meaney, L.1, Kenny, K.2, Johnson, A.3, Good, M.1

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

3 Limerick Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Inanumberofcountries,bovinetuberculosis(BTB;duetoinfectionwithMycobacterium bovis) is a significant animal healthproblem.InIreland,BTBisaprobleminthenationalcattleherd,andisendemicinbadgers(Meles meles).However,fewcasereportsfromIrelandareavailable.Theaimofthispaperistodescribeanoutbreakofbovinetubercu-losisinadairyherdonafarminIreland,where3%oftheherdwasSICTT-positiveatinitialdetectionbutwhereinfec-tionwaseventuallyevidentinallgroupswithintheherd.Theepidemiologicalinvestigationwasconductedinanefforttodeterminetheoriginoftheoutbreakandwithin-herdspread,includingconsiderationofthepossibilityofspreadtoandfrompeopleontheholding.


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How important is introduced infection?

Potential infection-control benefit for Ireland from pre-movement testing of cattle for tuberculosis

Clegg, T.A.1, More, S.J.1, Higgins, I.1, Good, M.2, Blake, M.2, Williams, D.H.3

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD School of Mathematical Sciences

Preventive Veterinary Medicine 84, 94-111 (2008)

Pre-movementtestingforbovinetuberculosis(BTB)wascompulsoryinIrelanduntil1996.Wedeterminedthepropor-tionofherdrestrictions(losingBTB-freestatus)attributabletotherecentintroductionofaninfectedbovid;describedeventsbetweenrestorationofBTB-freestatus(de-restriction)andthenextherd-leveltestforBTB;estimatedtheproportionofundetectedinfectedcattlepresentatde-restriction;identifiedhigh-riskmovementsbetweenherds(move-mentsmostlikelytoinvolveinfectedcattle);anddeterminedthepotentialyieldofinfectedcattlediscovered(orherdsthatwouldnotlosetheirBTB-freestatus)bypre-movementtesting,relativetothenumbersofcattleandherdstested.Weusednationaldataforall6252herdswithanewBTBrestrictioninthe12monthsfrom1April2003and3947herdsdeclaredBTBfreeinthe12monthsfrom1October2001.Weidentifiedhigher-riskanimalsfromourlogisticgeneralizedestimating-equationmodels.Weattributed6–7%ofcurrentherdrestrictionstotherecentintroductionofaninfectedanimal.Therewereconsiderablechangestoherdstructurebetweende-restrictionandthenextfull-herdtest,andinfectionwasdetectedin10%ofherdsatthefirstassessment(full-herdtestorabattoirsurveillance)followingde-restriction.Followingmovementfromade-restrictedherd,theoddsofananimalbeingpositiveatthenexttestincreasedwithincreasingtimeinthesourceherdpriortomovement,increasingtimebetweende-restrictionandthenextfull-herdtestandincreasingseverityofthesourceherdrestriction.Theoddsdecreasedwithincreasingsizeofthesourceherd.Weestimatedthat15.9destination-herdrestrictionsperyearcouldbepreventedforevery10,000cattletestedpre-movementandthat3.3destination-herdrestrictionsperyearcouldbepreventedforevery100sourceherdstestedpre-movement.Theyieldperpre-movementtestcanbeincreasedbyfocusingonhigh-riskmovements;however,thiswouldresultinasubstantialdecreaseinthetotalnumberofpotentialrestrictionsidentified.

This article was published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 84, Clegg, T.A., More, S.J., Higgins, I., Good, M., Blake, M., Williams, D.H., Potential infection-control benefit for Ireland from pre-movement testing of cattle for tuberculosis, 94-111, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2008.

Predictors of the first between-herd animal movement for cattle born in 2002 in Ireland - the implications for control/eradication of bovine tuberculosis

White, P.1, 2, Frankena, K.3, de Jong, M.3, O’Keeffe, J.1, 2, Martin, W.4

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands,

4 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada

Themovementofcattlebetweenherdsmayconstituteariskforthetransmissionofbovinetuberculosis(BTB)andotherdiseasetransmission.Theobjectivesofthisstudyweretoidentifyandquantifytheriskfactorsassociatedwiththefirstbetween-herdmovementofanimals(denotedasriskmove)asanaidetocontrolBTBinIreland.Arandomsampleof1percentofIrishcalfbirthsregisteredfor2002(20,182animals)wasselected.Descriptiveandsurvivalanalysisonmove-mentovertheperiod2002-2005wasperformed.Overthe4-yearstudyperiod,12,119(60%)ofanimalsexperiencedariskmove.Amongthosethatmoved,57%didsowithinthefirst12monthsofage.Foranimalsindairyherds,anearlypeakinriskmoveeventswasobservedwithinthefirst12weeksofage;whereasinanimalsfromsucklerherds,alaterriskmovepeakwasobservedbetween21and36weeksofage.Thesurvivalmodelsidentifiedanumberofriskfactors:


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twothatappearedmostimportantinpredictingariskmoveweregenderandenterprisetype.Maleshadahazardratioof2.6timesthatoffemales.Thehazardsforenterprisetype,variedovertime,thusatime-varyingcovariate(ent_typexln(time))wasincludedintheCoxmodel.At7daysofage,femalesinsucklerherdswereat0.14timesthehazardoffemalesindairyherdsforriskmove,andovertime,thehazardsconverged,equalisedbyday140,andthendiverged,sothatby4yearsofage,femalesinsucklerherdswereat4.64timesthehazardoffemalesindairyherds.Herdswithahistoryofsellinganimalsinpreviousyearsmaintainedthatrecordduringthestudyperiodwithincreasedhazardofriskmove.Enterprisetypeinteractedwithgendersothatrelativetofemales,malesfromdairyherdswereatgreaterhazardofriskmovethanmalesfromsucklerherds.Hazardofriskmovewasalsoafunctionofln(herdarea),sothateachdoublingoffarmareawasaccompaniedbya30.6%decreaseinthehazards.WhentheBTBoutcomefortheselectedanimalswasexaminedfortheperiod2002-2005,cattlethathadariskmovewerelesslikelytoeitherfailatuberculintest,orshowconfirmedfactorylesion(s)atslaughterthanthosewithoutariskmove(0.52%and0.97%respectively).

The BTB risk associated with purchasing cattle during a herd restriction

Higgins, I.1, Clegg, T.A.1, Valy, L.2, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Toulouse, France

InIreland,herdsarerestrictedfromtradingfora(defined)periodafterTBhasbeendetected.Insomeofthesecases,the purchasing of animals into the restricted herd is allowed under permit to replace animals (production units) that werelostasaresultofTBortoenableroutinemanagementpractices(suchaswinterfeedingofcalves)tocontinue‘asnormal’(inspiteoftheTBrestrictionsimposed).Concernhasbeenraisedastowhetherthispracticeextendstherestrictionperiod.

Therefore,theobjectivesofthisstudyarethree-fold:• TodeterminewhetherthepurchasingofanimalsintoarestrictedherdisassociatedwithincreasedTBrisk• Toprovideanoverviewofeventsassociatedwitheachpurchasingepisodeandtoclarifytheinfectionstatusof

animals that are introduced during restrictions• IfthereisevidenceofanincreasedTBrisk,toidentifythepracticesrelatingtothepurchasingofanimalsthatare

themostriskyandtodeterminewhethertheincreasedriskisassociatedwiththesourceherdorthepurchasingherdunder restriction

Todate,datahasbeenextractedtoidentifytheeligiblepopulationthatwerenotrestrictedatthestartof2006,butexperiencedaTBepisodeduringthatyear.Herdswithunusualpatternsoftradingwereexcluded.Preliminarydataanalyseshavebeenperformedandfurtherworkisnecessarytodetermine:• Whichpracticesrelatingtopurchasingofanimalsduringarestrictionarethemostrisky,and• Whetherthereisanincreasedriskassociatedwiththesourceherd,thepurchasingherdunderrestrictionorboth.Two outcomes of interest have been identified, including duration of restriction (based on start and end dates) and time fromde-restrictiontosubsequentbreakdownorendofstudy[31DEC08],whicheveroccurredfirst.


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Disentangling the relative importance of residual infection, contiguous spread and locality

Risk factors for disclosure of additional tuberculous cattle in attested-clear herds that had one animal with a confirmed lesion of tuberculosis at slaughter during 2003 in Ireland

Olea-Popelka, F.P.1, 2, Costello, E.3, White, P.4, 5, McGrath, G.5, Collins, J.D.5, O’Keeffe, J.4, 5, Kelton, D.F.1,

Berke, O.1, More, S.5, Martin, S.W.1

1 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, 2 Department of Clinical Sciences, College

of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Colorado, USA, 3 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of

Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 4 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 5 UCD CVERA


AlltheIrishcattleherdsconsidered‘‘clear’’ofbovinetuberculosis(BTB)havingasingleanimalwithatuberculouslesionatslaughterduring2003wereidentified.Weperformedadescriptiveandlogisticregressionanalysistoinvestigatewhetherselectedriskfactorshadanassociationwiththeresultoftheherdtestimmediatelyafterthetuberculouslesionwasfound(‘‘FactoryLesionTest’’,FLT).AttheFLT,only19.7%(n=338)ofthese1713herdshad1ormorestandardreactors.Thelesionedanimalwashome-bredin46%ofthe‘‘source’’herds;theseherdshadanincreasedrisk(23.4%)ofhavingatleast1standardreactoranimalrelativetoherdswithapurchased-lesionedanimal(16.6%)(RR=1.41).Ourlogisticmodelsidentifiedanumberofimportantriskfactors;twothatappearedmostimportantinpredictingtheFLToutcomewerethetimespent(residency)bythelesionedanimalinthe‘‘source’’herd,andthepresence,ornot,ofthelesionedanimalinapreviousBTBepisodeineitherthe‘‘source’’herd,ortheseller’sherdinthecasethelesionedanimalwaspurchased.OurmodelsfitthedatawellbasedontheHosmer–Lemeshowtest,howevertheirsensitivityandspecificitywereverylow(57%and61%respectively).SurveillanceofthecattlepopulationforBTBusinglesionsfoundatslaughterisanessentialcomponentofanoverallcontrolprogram.Nonetheless,duetothepoorpredictabilityofthevariableswemeasured,completeherdinvestigationsareneededtohelpexplaintheFLToutcomeofaherd.

This article was published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 85, Olea-Popelka, F.P., Costello, E., White, P., McGrath, G., Collins, J.D., O’Keeffe, J., Kelton, D.F., Berke, O., More, S., Martin, S.W., Risk factors for disclosure of additional tuber-culous cattle in attested-clear herds that had one animal with a confirmed lesion of tuberculosis at slaughter during 2003 in Ireland, 81-91, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2008.

Estimation of the between-herd reproduction ratio for contiguous spread of bovine tuberculosis

White, P.1, 2, Frankena, K.3, O’Keeffe, J.1, 2, More, S.J.2, de Jong, M.3, Martin, S.W.4



Theaimofanyeradicationprogrammeistobringthereproductiveratioforthediseasebelow1.TuberculintestingdataisavailablefromtheAnimalHealthComputerSystem(AHCS)databaseforyears1989to2007.TogetherwithcontiguousdatafromtheLandParcelInformationSystem,thesedatawillbeusedfortheanalysisofpossibletransmis-sionpathwaysforbovinetuberculosisbetweenneighbouringherdsfollowinginitialinfection.Afterback-calculationtodeterminethesequenceofinfectionbetweenherds,thelikelihoodofbetween-herdtransmissionwillbeevaluatedandanoverallreproductionratiocalculatedforcontiguousspread.


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An evaluation of the Irish single reactor breakdown protocol for 2005 to 2008 and its use as a monitor of tuberculin test performance

Good, M.1, Duignan, A.1, 2


UndertheIrishBovineTuberculosis(BTB)EradicationProgramme,allherdsaresubjectedtoatleastonetestperannum.TheSingleIntra-dermalComparativeTuberculinTest(SICTT)isusedinIrelandforthedetectionofcattleinfected with Mycobacterium bovis.TherehavebeenconcernsregardingthespecificityoftheSICTT,notablybyfarmers,andparticularlyinherdswherethedetectionofasinglepositiveanimalintheabsenceofanobvioussourceof(BTB)infectioncouldbeperceivedasa“false”positive.Toaddressthisissue,theso-called‘SingletonProtocol’wasestablishedaspartoftheIrishBTBeradicationprogramme.Thisprotocolallowsfortheearlyrestorationoffreetradingstatustoherds where a single positive animal was detected and where the herd was not confirmed as infected with M. bovis by epidemiological investigation, by post mortem,bylaboratoryexamination,orbyfurthertest.Thispaperpresents:• datafromthe2005to2008BTBprogrammesonthenumberofherdswhichwereassessedandwhichqualifiedfor

inclusionunderthe‘SingletonProtocol’,and• theoutcomeforqualifyingherdsuptoandincludinghavingstatusrestoredearlyasaconsequenceofinclusionin

thatprogramme.TheoutcomeofthisprotocolreaffirmsthereliabilityoftheSICTTatcurrentlevelsofinfection.However,asoverallinfectionlevelsofBTBfall,itisadvocatedthatthe‘SingletonProtocol’becontinuedasamonitorofherdsinwhichasinglepositiveanimalisdisclosed,toassessprogresstowardsBTBeradicationinIreland.

Future risk of Mycobacterium bovis infection following an inconclusive diagnosis

Clegg, T.A.1, Good, M.2, Duignan, A.1, 2, Doyle, R.2, More, S.J.1


Apreviousstudyhasfoundthattheriskofananimalbeingremovedasareactorwasgreaterataninconclusivereactorretest(91.9reactorsper1000animalstested)comparedtotheannualtest(1.5animalsper1000animalstested).Thecause of the higher reactor rate at an inconclusive reactor retest could be either due to the animals being truly infected or toapropensityforthetestertobe“risk-averse”towardstheseanimals.Theobjectiveofthisstudyistofollowinconclu-sivereactoranimalsovertheirlifetime.Threespecifictimeperiodswillbeexamined:• thetimefromtheinconclusivediagnosistotheinconclusiveretest;• theresultsoftheinconclusiveretest;and• thetimefromretestuntilslaughterorthelatestSICTTresult.Inparticular,wewillexaminewhetherinconclusivesaremorelikelytobeslaughteredpriortotheinconclusivereactorretest, have lesions following a positive inconclusive reactor retest, be sold to another herd or slaughtered in the imme-diateperiodfollowinganegativeinconclusivereactorretest,failtheSICTTatsomepointinthefutureand/orhavedetectable Mycobacterium bovisinfectionatslaughter.


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The risk of a positive test for bovine tuberculosis in cattle purchased from herds with and without a recent history of bovine tuberculosis in Ireland

Wolfe, D.M.1, Berke, O.1, More, S.J.2, Kelton, D.F.1, White, P.W.2, 3, O’Keeffe, J.J.2, 3, Martin, S.W.1

1 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Department of Agriculture,

Fisheries and Food


AretrospectivecohortstudywasconductedtoassessifcattlesoldfromIrishdairyherdswithin7monthsofherdde-restriction(clearancetotrade)fromabovine-tuberculosis(BTB)episodehadanexcessriskoftestingpositiveforBTBduringthefollowing2years,andtodetermineotherriskfactorsassociatedwiththisoutcome.Ifpossible,apredictivemetricforherdsathighriskofsellingfutureBTB-positivecattlewouldbegenerated.Theunexposedcohortincluded all cattle sold within 7 months of the annual herd test in a random sample of dairy herds that did not test posi-tiveforBTBin2003.Theexposedcohortconsistedofallcattlesoldwithin7monthsofthedateofde-restrictioninalldairyherdsthatclearedaBTBepisodein2003.OnlycattlesoldfromherdsthatwereinitiallyfoundtotestpositiveforBTBusingthesingleintradermalcomparativetuberculintest(SICTT)—andnotduetodiscoveryofaBTB-positiveanimalatslaughter—wereincludedasexposedcattle.Toaidinthedevelopmentofapredictivemetric,theexposedcohortwassubcategorizedbasedonthenumberofreactorstotheSICTTintheherdoforiginduringtheBTBepisodeimmediatelypriortosale.Thefinalexposurecategoriesof0(unexposed),1–7,and>=8totalreactorswereconsideredtheunexposed,mildlyexposed,andseverelyexposedcohorts,respectively.AmultivariablelogisticregressionmodelwasfittothefinalBTBstatusoftheanimalusingageneralizedestimatingequationmethod(GEE),assuminganexchange-ablecorrelationstructureofanimalswithinherds,andusingrobuststandarderrors.Exposurelevelandtheotheravail-ableherd-andanimal-levelinformationweremodeled.Aftercontrollingforotherriskfactorsincludingthesizeoftheherdoforiginandthesexandageoftheanimal,thethree-levelexposurevariablesignificantlyimprovedthemodel(basedonachangeinQuasi-AkaikeInformationCriteriaof2.2)anddemonstratedatrendofincreasingriskofafuturepositiveBTBtestwithincreasingexposurecategory.TheseverelyexposedcohortofanimalshadsignificantlyhigherriskofafuturepositiveBTBtestthantheunexposedcohort(OR=1.78,p=0.030).

This article was published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 92, Wolfe, D.M., Berke, O., More, S.J., Kelton, D.F., White, P.W., O’Keeffe, J.J., Martin, S.W., The risk of a positive test for bovine tuberculosis in cattle purchased from herds with and without a recent history of bovine tuberculosis in Ireland, 99-105, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2009.


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Predictive models

From explanation to prediction: a model for recurrent bovine tuberculosis in Irish cattle herds

Wolfe, D.M.1, Berke, O.1, Kelton, D.F.1, White, P.W.2, 3, More, S.J.3, O’Keeffe, J.J.2, 3, Martin, S.W.1

1 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada,


Preventive Veterinary Medicine, in press

Thereisagoodunderstandingoffactorsassociatedwithbovinetuberculosis(BTB)riskinIrishherds.Asyet,however,thisknowledgehasnotbeenincorporatedintopredictivemodelswiththepotentialforimproved,risk-basedsurveillance.ThegoalofthestudywastoenhancethenationalherdscoringsystemforBTBrisk,thusleadingtoimprovedidentifi-cationofcattleherdsathighriskofrecurrentBTBepisodes.AretrospectivecohortstudywasconductedtodevelopastatisticalmodelpredictiveofrecurrentbovinetuberculosisepisodesincattleherdsintheRepublicofIreland.Herd-leveldisease history data for the previous 12 years, the previous 3 years, the previous episode, and the current-episode were usedinsurvivalanalysestodeterminetheaspectsofdiseasehistorythatwerepredictiveofarecurrentbreakdownwithin3yearsofaclearedBTBepisode.Relativetoherdswith0–1standardreactorsinthecurrentBTBepisode,hazardratiosincreasedto1.3and1.6forherdswith2–5and>5standardreactors,respectively.Comparedtoherdswith<30animals,hazardratiosincreasedfrom1.8to2.5andthento3.1forherdswith30–79,80–173,and>174animalsrespectively.Relativetoherdswith<4herd-leveltestsintheprevious3years,herdswith4–5and>5testshad1.1and1.4timesgreaterhazardofaBTBbreakdown.HerdsthatdidnothaveaBTBepisodeinthe5yearspriortotheir2001episodewere0.8timeslesslikelytobreakdowninthenextthreeyearsthanherdsthatdid.Herdsbreakingdowninthespringorsummerwere0.8timeslesslikelytosufferarecurrentbreakdownthanherdsbreakingdowninautumnorwinter(thiswaslikelyduetoseasonalityintestingregimes).ThepresenceofaconfirmedBTBlesionwasnotpredictiveofincreasedriskofrecurrentBTB.Despitetheavailabilityofdetaileddiseasehistory,thepredictiveabilityofthemodelwaspoor.OneexplanationforthiswasthatherdssufferingarecurrenceofBTBontheirfirsttestafterclearingaBTBepisodeweredifferentfromherdsthatbrokedownlaterintheperiodatrisk.FutureresearchmightneedtoincludeadditionalvariablestoidentifywhichsubsetsofherdBTBepisodes,ifany,haveidentifiablefeaturesthatarepredictiveofrecurrentbreakdowns.

This article will be published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Wolfe, D.M., Berke, O., Kelton, D.F., White, P.W., More, S.J., O’Keeffe, J.J., Martin, S.W., From explanation to prediction: a model for recurrent bovine tuberculosis in Irish cattle herds, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2010.


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A case control study of temporal and spatial risk factors associated with bovine tuberculosis breakdown herds in Irish cattle herds in 2006

White, P.1, 2, Frankena, K.3, O’Keeffe, J.1, 2, More, S.J.1, de Jong, M.3

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Althoughthetemporal-spatialdistribution(clustering)ofBTBbreakdownherdsarewellrecognisedinIreland,andalsothechronicnatureofBTBinfectionwithinindividualherds,littleworkhasbeenpublishedtodateonthepersist-enceofBTBinfectionwithinneighbourhoods.Usingalogisticregressionmodel,thispaperaimstoquantifytheeffectoftheBTBinfectionstatusinneighbouringherdsontheriskofnewBTBoutbreaks,whilecontrollingforpotentialconfoundingfactors.Basedon2006testdata,herdsexperiencingabreakdownwithatminimum1standardreactorareclassedascaseherds,whileherdsthatremainedunrestrictedthroughout2006areclassedascontrolherds.Neighbouringherdswithin1kmofeachstudyherd,willbezonedaccordingtoEuclideandistancetothenearestrelatedfragment(within25m,26-150m,151-500m,and501-1,000mofastudyherd)basedonlandparcelclaimsfor2005.BTBherdhistoryofneighbouringherdswithineachzonewillbeassessedovertheperiod1989-2005asapotentialriskfactorforaherdbreakdownin2006.Otherherdfactorswillbecontrolledforwithinthemodel,includingownherdBTBhistoryovertheperiod1989-2005,purchasinghistory,herdsize,andenterprisetype.Thepredictivevalueofvariouscompetingmodels will be compared, and using a final model and an assessment made of the contribution of neighbourhood factors tofutureBTBrisk.

The number of TB reactors detected in Ireland each year between 1959 and 2009.


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Supporting studies

Genetics, milk production

Evidence of genetic resistance of cattle to infection with Mycobacterium bovis

Brotherstone, S.1, White, I.M.S.1, Coffey, M.2, Downs, S.H.3, Mitchell, A.P.3, Clifton-Hadley, R.S.3, More, S.J.4,

Good, M.5, Woolliams, J.A.6

1 School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, 2 Scottish Agricultural College, Midlothian, Scotland, 3 Veterinary Laboratories Agency,

Weybridge, Surrey, United Kingdom, 4 UCD CVERA, 5 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 6 The Roslin Institute, Midlothian, Scotland

Journal of Dairy Science, in press

Anecdotal evidence points to genetic variation in resistance of cattle to infection with Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agentofbovinetuberculosis(BTB),andpublishedexperimentalevidenceindeerandcattlesuggestssignificantgeneticvariationinresistanceandreactivitytodiagnostictests.However,suchgeneticvariationhasnotbeenproperlyquanti-fiedintheUnitedKingdomdairycattlepopulationanditispossiblethatitexistsandmaybeafactorinfluencingtheoccurrenceofBTB.Usingmodelsbasedontheoutcomeoftheprocessofdiagnosis(ultimatefatemodels),andontheoutcome of a single stage of diagnosis (continuation ratio models, herd test-date models), this study shows that there is heritablevariationinindividualcowsusceptibilitytoBTB,andthatselectionformilkyieldisunlikelytohavecontrib-utedtothecurrentepidemic.ResultsdemonstratethatgeneticscouldplayanimportantroleincontrollingBTBbyreducingboththeincidenceandtheseverityofherdbreakdowns.

This article will be published in the Journal of Dairy Science, 93, Brotherstone, S., White, I.M.S., Coffey, M., Downs, S.H., Mitchell, A.P., Clifton-Hadley, R.S., More, S.J., Good, M., Woolliams, J.A., Evidence of genetic resistance of cattle to infection with Mycobacterium bovis, 1234-1242, Copyright American Dairy Science Association, 2010.

Genetics of tuberculosis in Irish Holstein-Friesian dairy herds

Bermingham, M.L.1, More, S.J.2, Good, M.3, Cromie, A.R.4, Higgins, I.2, Brotherstone, S.5, Berry, D.P.1

1 Teagasc Moorepark Production Research Centre, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

4 Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Ltd., 5 Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland

Journal of Dairy Science 92, 3447-3456 (2009)

Informationislackingongeneticparametersfortuberculosis(TB)susceptibilityindairycattle.Mycobacterium bovis istheprincipalagentoftuberculosisincattle.TheobjectiveofthisstudywastoquantifythegeneticvariationpresentamongIrishHolstein-FriesiandairyherdsintheirsusceptibilitytoM. bovisinfection.Atotalof15,182cowand8,104heifersingleintradermalcomparativetuberculintest(SICTT,atestforM. bovisexposureandpresumedinfection)recordsfromNovember1,2002,toOctober31,2005,wereavailableforinclusionintheanalysis.DataonobservedcarcassTBlesionsfromabattoirswerealsoavailableforinclusionintheanalysis.Theonlyanimalsretainedwerethosepresentinaherdduringepisodesinwhichatleast2animalsshowedevidenceofinfection;thisensuredahighlikelihoodofexposuretoM. bovis.Linearanimalmodels,andsireandanimalthresholdmodelswereusedtoestimatethevari-ance components for susceptibility to M. bovis-purifiedproteinderivative(PPD)responsivenessandconfirmedM. bovis infection.Theheritabilityestimatesfromthethresholdsiremodelswerebiasedupwardbecausetherelatednessbetweendam-daughterpairswasignored.Thethresholdanimalmodelproducedheritabilityestimatesof0.14incowsand0.12in heifers for susceptibility to M. bovis-PPDresponsiveness,and0.18incowsforconfirmedM. bovis infection suscepti-bility.Therefore,exploitablegeneticvariationexistsamongIrishdairycowsforsusceptibilitytoM. bovisinfection.Sire


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rankingsfromthelinearandthresholdanimalmodelsweresimilar,indicatingthateithermodelcouldbeusedfortheanalysis of susceptibility to M. bovis-PPDresponsiveness.Afavorablegeneticcorrelationclosetounitywasobservedbetween susceptibility to confirmed M. bovis infection and M. bovis-PPDresponsiveness,indicatingthatdirectselectionfor resistance to M. bovis-PPDresponsivenesswillindirectlyreducesusceptibilitytoconfirmedM. bovisinfection.DatafromthenationalTBeradicationprogramcouldbeusedroutinelytoestimatebreedingvaluesforsusceptibilityto M. bovisinfection.

This article was published in Journal of Dairy Science, 92, Bermingham, M.L., More, S.J., Good, M., Cromie, A.R., Higgins, I., Brotherstone, S., Berry, D.P., Genetics of tuberculosis in Irish Holstein-Friesian dairy herds, 3447-3456, Copyright American Dairy Science Association, 2009.

Genetic correlations between measures of Mycobacterium bovis infection and economically important traits in Irish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows

Bermingham, M.L.1, More, S.J.2, Good, M.3, Cromie, A.R.4, Higgins, I.M.2, Berry, D.P.1

1 Teagasc Moorepark Production Research Centre, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

4 Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Ltd.

PreviousresearchhasshownthatthereisconsiderablegeneticvariationforsusceptibilitytothemeasuresofMycobacterium bovis infection, confirmed M. bovis infection and M. bovis-purifiedproteinderivative(PPD)respon-sivenessinIrishHolstein-Friesiandairycattle.Theobjectiveofthisstudywastoestimatethegeneticandphenotypiccorrelations between economically important traits and these measures of M. bovisinfection.Atotalof20,148and17,178 cows with confirmed M. bovis infection and M. bovis-PPDresponsivenessrecordsrespectivelywereavailableforinclusionintheanalysis.Firsttothirdparitymilk,fat,andproteinyield,somaticcellcount,calvingintervalandsurvival,aswellasfirstparitybodyconditionscorerecordswereavailableoncowscalvingbetween1985and2007.Bivariatelinearsiremixedmodelswereusedtoestimate(co)variancecomponents.Thegeneticcorrelationsbetweensuscepti-bility to confirmed M. bovisinfectionandeconomicallyimportanttraitsinvestigatedinthisstudywereallclosetozero.Susceptibility to M. bovis-PPDresponsivenesswaspositivelygeneticallycorrelatedwithfatproduction(0.39)andbodyconditionscore(0.36),andnegativelycorrelatedwithsomaticcellscore(-0.34)andsurvival(-0.62).Hence,selectionfor increased survival may indirectly reduce susceptibility to M. bovis infection, while selection for reduced somatic cell count and increased fat production and body condition score may increase susceptibility to M. bovisinfection.


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Bovine tuberculosis and milk production in infected dairy herds in Ireland

Boland, F.1, Kelly, G.E.1, Good, M.2, More, S.J.3

1 UCD School of Mathematical Sciences, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD CVERA

Preventive Veterinary Medicine, in press

Thisstudydescribestherelationshipbetweenbovinetuberculosis(TB)andmilkyieldinTB-infecteddairyherdsinIreland.Thestudyhadtwoobjectives:todeterminewhethercowsdetectedasTBreactors(andthussubjecttoimme-diateslaughter)werelikelytobethehighermilk-producingcows,andtodeterminewhethersubclinicalTBinfectionwasassociatedwithreducedmilkproductionatoraroundthetimeofdisclosure(detection).AllIrishdairyherdsrestrictedfromtradingbetweenthe1stJune2004andthe31stMay2005asaresultoftwoormoreTBreactorsbytheSingleIntradermalComparativeTuberculinTest(SICTT)wereconsideredforstudy.Thedataconsistedof419herds.DatawerecollectedonallTBreactorsandarandomsampleof5non-reactorcowsintheseherds:adatasetof4340cows(2342TBreactorsand1998non-reactors).Previousmilkdataforthecowsweretakenintoconsiderationandthusalllactationsonacowwereanalysedtogetherwiththeyearsoflactations.Therewasaninherenthierarchicalstructureinthedata,withlactationsnestedwithincowsandcowswithinherdsandthusalinearmixedmodelwithtworandomeffectswasusedtodescribethedata.Theresultsofthisstudyshowedthatforalllactationsandyearsunderinvestigation,milkyieldwassignificantlylowerforTBreactorcows,withdifferencesrangingfrom120kg(2003,lactation3)to573kg(2001,lactation1),whencomparedtothenon-reactorcows.

This article will be published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 93, Boland, F., Kelly, G.E., Good, M., More, S.J., Bovine tuberculosis and milk production in infected dairy herds in Ireland, 153-161, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2010.

Tuberculosis in other farmed livestock species

Control of Mycobacterium bovis infection in two sika deer herds in Ireland

Partridge, T.1, Toolan, D.2, Egan, J.1, More, S.J.3

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 Kilkenny Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD CVERA

Irish Veterinary Journal 61, 27-32 (2008)

Inanumberofcountries,tuberculosis(duetoinfectionwithMycobacterium bovis) is a significant health problem of captivedeer.Thispaperdescribesoutbreaksofbovinetuberculosisinsikadeer(Cervus nippon)ontwofarmsinIrelandandthemethodsusedtocontrolthedisease.OnFarmA,infectionwasfirstdetectedduring1993.Theinfectionwaseradicatedusingaprogrammeoftestandremoval,inassociationwithsegregationofyounganimals.Asecondoutbreak(also due to infection with M. bovis,butadifferentRFLPprofile)wasdetectedin2002.Inthelatteroutbreak,infec-tionwasparticularlyprevalentintwogroupsofyoungdeer.M. boviswiththesameRFLPprofilewasalsoisolatedinabadgerfounddeadonthefarm.Controlwasachievedbytestandremovalinassociationwithherdmanagementchanges.InHerdB,infectionwasfirstdetectedin1995,andsubsequentlyeradicatedusingtestandremovalalone.InherdA,re-infectionremainsanongoingrisk.Controlratherthaneradicationofinfectionmaybemorerealisticintheshort-tomedium-term.

Printed with permission from the Irish Veterinary Journal.


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Tuberculosis in alpaca (Lama pacos) on a farm in Ireland. 1. A clinical report

Ryan, E.G.1, Dwyer, P.J.2, Connolly, D.J.3, Fagan, J.2, Costello, E.4, More, S.J.5

1 Private veterinary practitioner, 2 Athlone Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

3 Private consultant, 4 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 5 UCD CVERA


Thiscasereportdescribestuberculosis(TB)duetoinfectionwithMycobacterium bovis in alpaca (Lama pacos) on a farm inIreland.TwoseverelydebilitatedalpacawerepresentedtotheUniversityVeterinaryHospital,UniversityCollegeDublininNovember2004.Bloodsweretaken,andhaematologyandbiochemistryresultswereindicativeofchronicinfection.Radiologicalexaminationshowedevidenceofdiffusegranulomatouspneumoniasuggestiveoftuberculosis.Onnecropsythereweregranulomatouslesionspresentthroughoutmanybodyorgansincludinglung,liver,kidney,intestineaswellonperitoneumandmesentery.Cultureofacid-fastbacillifromlesionsledtoadiagnosisoftuberculosisdue to M. bovis.Theuseofintradermalskintestingprovedinefficientandunreliableforantemortemdiagnosisoftuber-culosisinalpaca.InfectionduetoM. bovis should be considered among the differential diagnoses of debilitating diseases inalpaca,particularlythosefarmedinareasknowntobetraditionalblackspotsfortuberculosisincattle.


Lateral radiograph (x-ray) from an alpaca with pulmonary tuberculosis. Radiograph taken at the UCD Veterinary Hospital.


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Tuberculosis in alpaca (Lama pacos) on a farm in Ireland. 2. Results of an epidemiological investigation

Connolly, D.J.1, Dwyer, P.J.2, Fagan, J.2, Hayes, M.3, Ryan, E.G.4, Costello, E.5, Kilroy, A.3, More, S.J.6

1 Private consultant, 2 Athlone Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and

Food, 4 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 5 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries

and Food, 6 UCD CVERA


Tuberculosis(TB),duetoinfectionwithMycobacterium boviswasdiagnosedinaflockofalpacainIrelandin2004.AnepidemiologicalinvestigationwasconductedtoidentifytheriskofTBforfarmedalpacawhereTBisendemic,theoriginoftheinfection,thepotentialforalpaca-to-alpacatransmissionandappropriatecontrolmeasures.Theinvestiga-tionfocusedonthealpacaflock(includingthefarm,animalmovementsandbreeding,feedingandflockhealthpractice),thediseaseepisode(includinganimaldiseaseeventsandsubsequentcontrolmeasures)andTBinfectionriskinthelocality.TheTBrisktoalpacaishighinareaswhereinfectionisendemicincattleandbadgersandwherebiosecurityisinadequate.ItismostlikelythatthesourceofinfectionforthealpacawasalocalstrainofM. bovis, present in cattle in thisareasinceatleast2001.Genotypingofisolatesidentifiedasinglevariablenumbertandemrepeat(VNTR)profileinbothcattleandalpacainthisregion.Althoughatuberculousbadgerwasalsoremovedfromthevicinity,bacterialisola-tionwasnotattempted.Onthisfarm,infectioninalpacawasprobablyderivedfromacommonsource.Alpaca-to-alpacatransmissionseemsunlikely.Twobroadcontrolstrategieswereimplemented,aimedattherapidremovalofinfected(andpotentiallyinfectious)animalsandtheimplementationofmeasurestolimittransmission.Teststhatprovedusefulin detecting potentially-infected animals included measurement of the albumin-to-globulin ratio and regular body condi-tionscoring.Skintestingwastimeconsumingandunproductive,andearlydetectionofinfectedanimalsremainsachal-lenge.Theflockwasmanagedasaseriesofseparategroupings,basedonperceivedinfectionrisk.NofurtherTBcaseshavebeendetected.



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Tuberculosis in goats on a farm in Ireland: epidemiological investigation and control

Shanahan, A.1, Good, M.1, Duignan, A.1, 2, Curtin, T.1, More, S.J.2


Inanumberofcountries,bovinetuberculosis(BTB;duetoinfectionwithMycobacterium bovis) is a significant health problemoffarmedgoats.However,fewcasereportsareavailable.InIreland,BTBisaprobleminthenationalcattleherd, and is endemic in badgers (Meles meles).Infectionhasalsobeenperiodicallyconfirmedingoats.UnderEURegulation853/2004/EC,IrelandrequiresfoodbusinessoperatorscollectingorproducingrawmilkfromspeciessusceptibletoBTB,whichincludesgoats,tohaveacontrolplanfortuberculosisinplaceandapprovedbythecompe-tentAuthority.ThispaperdescribesanoutbreakofbovinetuberculosisinadairygoatherdonafarminIreland,where66.3%oftheherdwasSICTT-positiveatinitialdetection.Anepidemiologicalinvestigationwasconductedtodeterminetheoriginoftheoutbreak.Theinvestigationconsideredarangeofissuesincludinganimalmovementsandherdmanage-mentpractices.InfectionwasintroducedtotheholdingwithaconsignmentofgoatsasdeterminedbytheVNTR(vari-ablenumbertandemrepeat)profile.TheinfectionwaseradicatedusingaprogrammeoftestandremovalinvolvingtheSICTT(singleintradermalcomparativetuberculintest),theg-interferonassayandamultipleximmunoassay(EnferplexTB).ThesetestsarestillatdevelopmentstageforuseingoatsinIreland.Therewasgoodcorrelationbetweentests,andinfectionwasrapidlyclearedfromthisheavilyinfectedherd.

Alpaca, the west of Ireland. Photograph by S.J. More.


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Improved understanding of ecology and TB epidemiology

Badger ecology

How many Eurasian badgers Meles meles L. are there in the Republic of Ireland?

Sleeman, D.P.1, Davenport, J.1, More, S.J.2, Clegg, T.A.2, Collins, J.D.2, Martin, S.W.3, Williams, D.H.4, Griffin,

J.M.5, O’Boyle, I.5

1 Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary

College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, 4 UCD School of Mathematical Sciences, 5 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

European Journal of wildlife Research 55, 333-344 (2009)

InIreland,thebadgerMeles melesL.isareservoirspeciesforMycobacterium bovis and, as such, contributes to the main-tenanceofbovinetuberculosisincattle.ApreviousestimateofthebadgerpopulationintheRepublicwas200,000badgers.Inthecurrentstudy,weobtaineddataonbadgernumbersfromalarge-scalebadgerremovalproject(theFour-Areaproject).TheremovalareasoftheFour-AreaProjectweresurroundedbybarriers(eitherwaterorbufferareaswhereremovalswerealsoconducted)topreventbadgerimmigration.Withintheseareas,agridof0.25km2 was created within whichweknewthebadgernumbersandhabitattypes(basedonCorinedata).Associationsbetweenbadgernumbersandhabitattypewereinvestigatedusingnegativebinomialmodeling.ExtrapolationsfromthemodelyieldedanestimatedbadgerpopulationintheRepublicofapproximately84,000badgers.Theimplicationsofthesefindingsarediscussed.

With kind permission of Springer Science+Business Media. The full paper can be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10344-008-0244-1


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The effectiveness of barriers to badger Meles meles immigration in the Irish four area project

Sleeman, D.P.1, Davenport, J.1, More, S.J.2, Clegg, T.A.2, Griffin, J.M.3, O’Boyle, I.3

1 Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

European Journal of wildlife Research 55, 267-278 (2009)

Thisstudy’sobjectivewastoestimatethepermeabilityofbarrierstobadgerimmigrationduringtheIrishFourAreaproject.Thesebarrierswereattheboundariesofremovalareas,wheretherewasproactivecullingofbadgers.Datafromthelast3yearsofthestudywereused.Eachlengthofbarrierwasallocatedaspacewithintheremovalarea.Thesewerefurthersub-dividedintospacesof0–2,2–5kmandsometimesofmorethan5kmfromtheedgeoftheremovalarea.Itisassumedthatall,orsome,ofthebadgerscaughtwithinthesespacescameacrossthebarriers.Thebarrierswereoneofthefollowing:externalbuffers,sea,riversandpoliticalboundaries.Thetotallengthsofthebarriersinallareaswere:externalbuffer128.5km;sea70.9km;river78.6km;political32.2km.Weassumethreescenarios:(1)allbadgerscaughtinthefinal3yearswereimmigrants,(2)75%wereimmigrantsor(3)50%wereimmigrants.Wetestthesescenariosusingchi-squaretests,applyinginternalbuffersof1kmtocountermovementsofbadgersacrosszones.Usingthisapproachandmultivariateanalysis,wefoundthatthepermeabilityofbarriertypesvaried,withseaandexternalbuffersbeingthemosteffectivebarriers.Thecombinedcapturedataarefurtherexaminedbythesexratioineachrange,andthenthesexratiointotal.Equalnumbersofmalesandfemaleswerefound,butthesourcepopulationswereprob-ablypredominantlyfemale.Ifbadgermanagementoptionsaretoachievemaximumbenefits,thenthefieldeffectivenessofsuchbarriersneedstobeunderstood.

With kind permission of Springer Science+Business Media.The full paper can be found at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10344-008-0241-4

The small-bodied badgers (Meles meles L.) of Rutland Island, Co. Donegal

Sleeman, D.P.1, Davenport, J.1, Cussen, R.E.1, Hammond, R.F.2

1 Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, 2 UCD CVERA

Irish Naturalists’ Journal 30, 1-6 (2009)

Badgersfoundonanisland,RutlandIsland,Co.Donegalwereinvestigated.WhencomparedwithbadgersfromtheDonegalmainlandtheyaresignificantlysmallerinbothlengthandweight.Twenty-eightsettswerefoundinasurveyin1998andfifteenBadgersweretrappedin1999.GPSwasusedtomapandre-locatesettsandlatrines.Bait-markingin2003showedthatthereweretwosocialgroupsontheislandatthattime.Theresultsarediscussedwithreferencetothebadgers’adaptationtotheisland,theirpopulationstructure,useofsettsandtheresearchopportunities,forbothbadgermanagementandconservation,ontheisland.

Printed with permission from The Irish Naturalists’ Journal Ltd.


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The diet of the badger Meles meles in the Republic of Ireland

Cleary, G.P.1, Corner, L.A.L.2, O’Keeffe, J.3, 4, Marples, N.M.1

1 School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, 2 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre,


Mammalian Biology 74, 438-447 (2009)

ThedietoftheEurasianbadger(Meles meles)intheRepublicofIrelandwasstudiedbyexaminationofthestomachofthecontentsof686badgers,collectedbetweenMarch2005andSeptember2006.Itwasfoundthattherelativeimportanceofdifferentfoodtypes,asindicatedbytheirfrequencyofoccurrenceandingestedbulkinthediet,fluctu-atedseasonally.Tipulidlarvae(Cl.Insecta,Ord.Tipulidae)dominatedthedietinspring;Anura(Cl.Amphibia)andAculeata(Ord.Hymenoptera)duringthesummer;andNoctuidlarvae(Cl.Insecta,Ord.Noctuidae)inautumnandwinter.Thusthistypeofforagingbehavioursupportsthecontentionthatbadgersaregeneralistforagerswithseasonalfoodpreferences.ThisfeedingbehaviourismoresimilartothatofbadgersinItalyandSpainthantobadgersinEngland.

This article was published in Mammalian Biology, 74, Cleary, G.P., Corner, L.A.L., O’Keeffe, J., Marples, N.M., The diet of the badger Meles meles in the Republic of Ireland, 438-447, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Säugetierkunde. Published by Elsevier GmbH. 2009.

Diet of the badger (Meles meles) in the Republic of Ireland: a comparison of results from an analysis of stomach contents and rectal faeces

Cleary, G.P.1, Corner, L.A.L.2, O’Keeffe, J.3, 4, Marples, N.M.1



Thedietsofmammalshavebeeninvestigatedprimarilythroughtheanalysisoffaecalsamples.Inourstudyweanalysedbothstomachcontents,andrectalfaecesfromEuropeanbadgers.Thisapproachenabledadirectcomparisonoftheinformationderivedfromthesetwosources.Thedietarycomponentsfoundfromeachsourcewerethesame.However,it was found that, compared to stomach contents, the contribution to the diet, by volume, of plant litter, earthworms, Tipulid larvae and adult Carabid beetles were significantly overestimated by faecal analysis, while those of Noctuid larvaeandCarabidbeetlelarvaeweresignificantlyunderestimated.Theanalysisofstomachcontentsshowedclearevidenceofseasonalityintheconsumptionofearthworms,Carabidbeetlelarvae,TipulidlarvaeandNoctuidlarvae.Thisseasonalitywasnotasevidentwhenthedietwasinferredbytheanalysisoffaeces.Weproposethatananalysisofstomach contents rather than of faeces, more accurately reflects the relative proportions of ingested food types, and the seasonalityofthediet.


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The reproductive cycle of the male and female Eurasian badger

Stuart, L.1, Corner, L.A.L.2, O’Keeffe, J.3, 4, Marples, N.M.1



Thenationwidecontrolprogrammeofreactivebadgerremovalprovidedanexcellentopportunitytodetailthereproduc-tivecycleofthemaleandfemalebadgerinIreland,asacomparisontopreviousstudiesfromEnglandandpartsofmain-landEurope.BadgerswereobtainedfromageographicallywiderangeofsitesinIrelandduringallmonthsoftheyear,makingitpossibletodescribetheannualreproductivecycleofthemaleandfemalebadgerinfull,utilisingalargesamplesize.Thereproductivetractswereobtainedfrompostmortemexaminationsofthebadger.Bothgrossexaminationandin-depthhistologicalexaminationswerecarriedoutonalltissues;assayswereconductedtodetermineindividuallevelsofreproductivehormones.Anumberofdemographicmeasurementswerealsotakentohelpwithidentificationoftrendsorvaryingpopulationdynamicswithinthestudypopulation.ThebadgerpopulationinIrelandisoflow-mediumdensityconsistingofsmallsocialgroups.Thelackofaggressionobservedsuggeststhattheremaybehighlevelsoftolerancebothwithinandbetweensocialgroups;possiblyowingtosmallgroupsizes,highlevelsofphilopatry,inter-grouprelatedness,andrelativelylowlevelsoftestosterone.Mateguardingbehaviourmaybeabandonedduetohighlevelsofphilopatryoraninabilitytomonopolisepaternity.Acomparisonofmaleandfemalebadgerssuggeststhateachhasadoptedaverydifferentbreedingstrategy.Themajorityofmalesshowabreedingpatternthatisreminiscentofaseasonalbreeder,withhigh fertility associated with the early oestrous cycles of the female in Feb-April and declining fertility for the remainder oftheyear.Bycontrastthefemalehasadoptedastrategywherebytheyarelactatingduringaperiodofnutritionalabun-danceinFeb-March,andcubsarealsoweanedduringfavourableconditions.Thisisachievableduetothelongperiodofdelayedimplantationemployedbythisspecies,suchthatimplantationtakesplaceinDec-Jan.Badgershavecontinuedoestrous cycles throughout the breeding year, providing replacement or additional blastocysts, which increases the prob-abilityofsuccessfulconceptionattheendoftheperiodofdelay.Furthermore,continuedoestrouscyclesmayprovideadditionalcorporaluteaasasourceofprogesterone,neededtosustainthediapausingblastocysts.Thisfemalestrategyalso increases the probability of superfetation and polyandry which leads to an increase in female fitness and increased cubsurvival.Approximately40%ofmaturefemalesbredsuccessfullyandasthenumberofblastocystsperfemalewassimilartothenumberoffoetuses,thepotentialwasmaintainedthroughtoparturition.Failureatthefertilisationstageofthereproductivecyclewasresponsibleforthegreatestlossestoreproductivepotential.


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The effects of culling on the badger (Meles meles) population in Ireland

Carroll, R.1, Corner, L.A.L.2, Marples, N.M.1

1 School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, 2 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre

Since the interim ban on culling implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (DAFF) is set to continue,itisessentialthatittakesplaceatthemostappropriatetimeofyear.Ifnotthenthereisadangerofsucklingfemalesbeingcapturedwhentheystillhavedependentcubs,thusleavingthecubstostarve.Whendeterminingthemostopportunetimeforthisclosedseasontotakeplaceitisimportanttoestablishwhethercubbingoccursatthesametimeeachyearandifnot,thenwhatfactorsaffectthebirthingdates.

The information gathered from the postmortems carried out on these badgers enabled us to describe the cubbing season ofbadgersinIreland,andsopreventthecullingofsucklingsows.ThereforethefirstaimofthisprojectwastopredicttheannualcubbingtrendsinIrelandandinvestigatethedifferencesinsocialgroupsizeandreproductivesuccessfoundbetweenareasofpreviouslyundisturbedgroupsandnewlyestablishedgroups.ThesecondaimwastoinvestigatewhetherthebovineTB(bTB)eradicationschemehaschangedthebadgerpopulationinIrelandwithregardtosocialgrouporganisationandreproductivepotential.Wefurtheraimedtoinvestigatesocialgroupdynamics,focusingmainlyonsettdensitiesandusage,andrecoverytimesafterculling.FinallywehopetodevelopamethodologywhichwillsuccessfullyageasubsectionoftheIrishbadgerpopulation,usingteethsectioningandx-rayimagingtechniques,usingbothknownandunknownagejaws.

Incidence of visits by badgers to farmyards in Ireland in winter

Sleeman, D.P.1, Davenport, J.1, Fitzgerald, A.2

1 Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, 2 Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College Cork

Veterinary Record 163, 734 (2008)

Visits by infected badgers to yards where cattle are housed in winter may provide opportunities for transmission of tuber-culosistocattle.Usingwintersurveyperiodsin2005/06and2006/07,thisstudyquantifiedthebadgeractivityincattleyardsinCo.Cork.Itwasfoundtobeveryrare.

Printed with permission from BVA Publications.

Mammalian road casualties in the Cork four area project

O’Shea, F.1, Sleeman, D.P.2, Davenport, J.2

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork

Recordsofafiveyearsurveyofmammalianroadcasualtiesintwodifferentparts(removalandreferenceareas)oftheCountyCorkportionoftheFourAreaBadgerProjectarereported.Thereweremorehedgehog,catandfoxcasualtiesintheremovalarea,butonlythefirsttwospeciesdifferedtoastatisticallysignificantextentfromthereferencearea.Howsuchstudiesmightbeimprovedandthepossibleimplicationsforepidemiologyandbiodiversityarediscussed.


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Estimating the extent of spatial association of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers in Ireland

Kelly, G.E.1, McGrath, G.E.2, More, S.J.2

1 School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Dublin, 2 UCD CVERA

Epidemiology and Infection, in press

Mycobacterium bovis infects the wildlife species badgers Meles meleswhoarelinkedwiththespreadoftheassociateddiseasetuberculosis(TB)incattle.Controloflivestockinfectionsdependsinpartonthespatialandsocialstructureofthewildlifehost.HerewedescribespatialassociationofM. bovis infection in a badger population using data from the firstyearoftheFourAreaProjectinIreland.Usingsecond-orderintensityfunctions,weshowthereisstrongevidenceofclusteringofTBcasesineachthefourareas,i.e.aglobaltendencyforinfectedcasestooccurnearotherinfectedcases.Usingestimatedintensityfunctions,weidentifylocationswhereparticularstrainsofTBcluster.Generalizedlineargeo-statisticalmodelsareusedtoassessthepracticalrangeatwhichspatialcorrelationoccursandisfoundtoexceed6inallareas.Thestudyisofrelevanceconcerningthescaleoflocalizedbadgercullinginthecontrolofthediseaseincattle.

Printed with permission from Cambridge University Press. Epidemiology and Infection 138, 270-279 (2010).

The prevalence and distribution of Mycobacterium bovis infection in European badgers (Meles meles) as determined by enhanced post mortem examination and bacteriological culture

Murphy, D.1, Gormley, E.1, Costello, E.2, O’Meara, D.2, Corner, L.A.L.1

1 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre, 2 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Research in Veterinary Science, in press

The accurate diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovisinfectioninbadgersiskeytounderstandingtheepidemiologyoftuber-culosisinthisspeciesandhassignificantimplicationsfordevisingstrategiestolimitspreadofthedisease.Inthisstudy,badgers (n=215)intheRepublicofIrelandwereexaminedatpostmortemandtissueswerecollectedfromarangeofanatomical locations and pooled into groups for bacterial culture of M. bovis.Byassessingconfirmedgrossvisiblelesions(VL)alone,infectionwasdetectedin12.1%ofbadgers.However,byincludingtheresultsofallculturepositivepooledsamples,theoverallinfectionprevalenceincreasedsignificantlyto36.3%.Two-thirds(66.7%)ofinfectedanimalshadnovisiblelesions(NVL).Whilethethoraciccavity(lungsandpulmonarylymphnodes)wasfoundtobethemostcommon site of infection, in a proportion of animals infection was absent from the lungs and draining lymph nodes and wasconfinedtothelymphnodesofthecarcaseorthehead.Thismayindicateanearlyextra-pulmonarydisseminationofinfection or alternatively, in the case of the head lymph nodes, a secondary pathogenic pathway involving the lymphoid tissuesoftheupperrespiratorytract(URT).

This article will be published in Research in Veterinary Science, 88, Murphy, D., Gormley, E., Costello, E., O’Meara, D., Corner, L.A.L., The prevalence and distribution of Mycobacterium bovis infection in European badgers (Meles meles) as determined by enhanced post mortem examination and bacteriological culture, 1-5, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2010.


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Tuberculosis in cattle herds are sentinels for Mycobacterium bovis infection in European badgers (Meles meles): the Irish greenfield study

Murphy, D.1, Gormley, E.1, Collins, D.M.2, McGrath, G.2, Sorvic, E.3, Costello, E.3, Corner, L.A.L.3

1 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre, 2 UCD CVERA,

3 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

InIrelandbadgersareremovedinresponsetotuberculosisbreakdownsincattleherds(focalculling).Prevalencestudies,conductedusingadetailedpostmortemandbacteriologicalexamination,showedthat36-50%ofbadgerswereinfectedwith Mycobacterium bovis.FocalcullingformspartofthemediumtermnationalstrategyforthecontrolofbovineTBincattleandisbasedonthepremisethatbadgersinareaswithherdbreakdownshaveahigherprevalenceofinfectionthanthebadgerpopulationatlarge.However,thehypothesisthatcattlecanbeusedassentinelsforinfectioninthebadgerpopulationhasneverbeenformallytested.Inthisstudywetestedthehypothesisbydeterminingtheinfectionprevalenceinbadgersinareaswheretherehadbeenhistorically,aconsistentlylowprevalenceofinfectionincattle.LowcattleTBprevalenceareasweredefinedasthoseherdswith≤2standardreactorsintheannualroundofskintestingoverthepreceding5years(Greenfieldsites).UsingGIS,andadjustingforvariationinlanduse,previouscullingandcattledensity,198Greenfieldsiteswereidentifiedandsurveyed,and138areaswithbadgersettsorsignsofbadgeractivitywereidentified.Asinglebadgerwasremovedfrom87sitesandallwereexaminedusingdetailedpostmortemandbacteriologicalprocedures.AprevalenceofM. bovisinfectionof14.9%wasfoundintheGreenfieldsitebadgers.Thisprevalence was significantly lower (P<0.001)thaninbadgersremovedduringfocalculling(36.6%).TheresultsvalidatetheuseofcattleassentinelsforTBinbadgersandsupportthemediumtermnationalstrategyforthecontrolofbovineTB.ThegeographicvariationinprevalenceintheIrishbadgerpopulationswillbeusedwhendevisingstrategiesfortheincorporationofbadgervaccinationintothelongtermbovineTBcontrolprogramme.

The Irish redfield study

Murphy, D.1, Gormley, E.1, Collins, D.M.2, McGrath, G.2, Sorvic, E.3, Costello, E.3, Corner, L.A.L.3

1 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre, 2 UCD CVERA,


InparalleltotheGreenfieldstudy,astudyhasbeingconductedofbadgersremovedfromroutinefirsteventcullsasso-ciatedwithherdbreakdowns.TheRedfieldstudyexaminestheinfectionprevalenceinbadgersremovedinthefirsttrappingeventinareasofhighprevalenceofinfectionincattle.Bacterialcultureresultsarepending.Whilenotdirectlycomparable due to different selection criteria, the results of the studies will identify any significant difference in the prevalenceofinfectioninthetwobadgerpopulations.


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Spatial clustering of TB-infected cattle herds in Ireland prior to and following pro-active badger removal

Kelly, G.E.1, More, S.J.2

1 School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Dublin, 2 UCD CVERA

Bovinetuberculosis(TB;causedbyinfectionwithMycobacterium bovis)isprimarilyadiseaseofcattle.InbothIrelandand the UK, badgers (Meles meles)contributetotheepidemiologyofinfectionincattle.Controlofinfectiondependsinpartonourunderstandingofthespatialstructureofthedisease.DatafromtheFourAreaProject,alarge-scaleinterven-tionstudyaimedatassessingtheeffectofproactivebadgercullingonbovineTBincidenceincattleherds,areanalyzedforthefirsttimeusinglogisticmodelsthatexplicitlyincludespatialrandomeffectsi.e.generalizedlineargeostatisticalmodels.Weestablishthatinfectedherdsarespatiallycorrelated(thescaleofspatialcorrelationispresented),butatascalethatvarieswithtimeandindifferentareas.Spatialcorrelationisshowntopersistfollowingproactivebadgerremoval,consistentwithongoingresidualherdinfection.TheresultsareusefulininformingTBcontrolpolicy.


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Infection control strategies

Badger removal

Controlling wildlife reservoirs for bovine TB

Hewinson, G.1, Buddle, B.2, More, S.J.3, Clifton-Hadley, R.1

1 Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, Surrey, England, 2 AgResearch, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand, 3 UCD CVERA

Bovinetuberculosis(bTB)iscausedbyMycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the M. tuberculosis-complex.Theseorganismshaveanextensivehostrangethatincludesbovines,otherlivestockincludingsmallruminantssuchasgoats,awiderangeofwildlifeandhumans.Eradicationprogrammesbasedoncattletest-and-slaughterpolicyhaveproved successful in some countries but have failed to eradicate disease in others due, at least in part, to the presence of reservoirsofTBinwildlife.TherearethreemainapproachestocontrollingthespreadofTBfromwildlifetolivestock:keepinglivestockandwildlifeapart,cullingorvaccination.However,thecontroloftuberculosisinwildlifeisacomplexprocess and involves an understanding of the mechanisms of transmission of M. bovis between wildlife, and from wildlife tolivestock,aswellastheecology,biologyandbehaviorofthewildlifereservoir.Withoutsuchknowledgeimplementa-tionofcontrolstrategiescanleadtounexpectedconsequences.ApproachestothecontrolofTBinwildlifereservoirswillbediscussedinthecontextofthesuccessfulAustralianTBeradicationscheme,TBcontrolinpossumsinNewZealandandthebadgercullingtrialsthathavebeenconductedinGreatBritain.

The effect of varying levels of population control on the prevalence of tuberculosis in badgers in Ireland

Corner, L.A.L.1, Clegg, T.A.2, More, S.J.2, Williams, D.H.3, O’Boyle, I.4,

Costello, E.5, Sleeman, D.P.6, Griffin, J.M.4

1 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Dublin,

4 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 5 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

6 Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork

Research in Veterinary Science 85, 238-249 (2008)

WeexaminedtheeffectofvaryinglevelsofbadgerpopulationcontrolontheprevalenceofMycobacterium bovis infection inbadgersinfourcountiesofIreland.Inthe‘Removal’and‘Buffer’areas,proactivecullingwasconductedtosubstan-tiallyreduceandsubsequentlymaintainbadgerpopulationsatalowlevelforfiveyears.Inthe‘Reference’areas,localisedreactivecullingwasconductedinassociationwithherdbreakdowns.Theinfectionstatusofbadgerswasdeterminedusingbacteriology.Atotalof2,696badgerswererecruitedintothestudy,and19.0%werefoundtobeinfectedwith M. bovis.Thetwopopulationcontrolstrategieshaddifferingeffectsonthesubsequentprevalenceoftuberculosisinbadgerpopulations.Proactivecullingledtoalongtermdecreaseintheprevalenceoftuberculosisinthere-emergentpopulations.Althoughtherewasanoveralldeclineinthediseaseprevalence,noconsistenttrendindiseaseprevalenceasaresultofreactivecullingwasobserved.

This article was published in Research in Veterinary Science, 85, Corner, L.A.L., Clegg, T.A., More, S.J., Williams, D.H., O’Boyle, I., Costello, E., Sleeman, D.P., Griffin, J.M., The effect of varying levels of population control on the prevalence of tuberculosis in badgers in Ireland, 238-249, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2008.


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A long-term observational study of the impact of badger removal on herd restrictions due to bovine TB in the Irish midlands during 1989–2004

Kelly, G.E.1, Condon, J.2, More, S.J.3, Dolan, L.4, Higgins, I.3, Eves, J.4

1 School of Mathematical Sciences, University College Dublin, 2 School of Mathematical Sciences, Dublin Institute of Technology,


Epidemiology and Infection 136, 1362-1373 (2008)

Anobservationalstudywascarriedout,usingdatacollectedfromfourareasintheIrishmidlands,between1989and2004,tocriticallyevaluatethelong-termeffectsofproactivebadgercullingandtoprovideinsightsintoreactivebadgercullingtuberculosis(TB)prevalenceincattle.ConfirmedcattleherdTBincidenceistheoutcomemeasureusedthroughout.Relativetoreactiveculling,proactivebadgercullingwasassociatedwithadecreaseinincidenceineachofthe16yearsofobservation,whichencompassedperiodsofbothintensiveandless-intensivebadgerremoval.By2004,weobservedadecreaseof22%[95%confidenceinterval(CI)15–29,P<0.001]intheentireproactiveand37%(95%CI25–47,P<0.001),intheinnerproactiveremovalareas.Thesizeofthedecreaseincreasedwithtime(P=0.055).Therewasadecrease(constantovertime)ofatleast14%(95%CI76–97,P=0.013)inincidenceintheinnercomparedtotheoutercontrolarea(herds<=2km,>2km,fromproactiveremovalareaboundaries,respectively).Incidenceintheouterproactiveremovalarea(herds<1.6kmfromtheproactiveremovalboundary)wassimilartotheinnercontrolarea(P=0.890).Incidenceintheoutercontrolareaandtotalcontrolarea,comparedtoaneighbouringareasomedistanceaway,increasedoverthecourseofthestudy.Differenceswiththetotalcontrolareawerenotstatisticallysignificantbuttheoutercontrolareawas11%higherthantheneighbouringareaby2004(borderlinesignificanceP=0.057).

Printed with permission from Cambridge University Press.

Targeted badger removal and the subsequent risk of bovine tuberculosis in cattle herds in county Laois, Ireland

Olea-Popelka, F.P.1, 2, Fitzgerald, P.3, White, P.3, 4, McGrath, G.4, Collins, J.D.4, O’Keeffe, J.3, 4, Kelton, D.F.1,

Berke, O.1, More, S.J.4, Martin S.W.1

1 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, 2 Department of Clinical Sciences, College of

Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Colorado, USA, 3 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 4 UCD CVERA


Weinvestigatedtheimpactoftargetedremovalofbadgersonthesubsequentbovinetuberculosis(BTB)riskincattleherdsincountyLaois,Ireland.Thestudyperiodwas1989–2005.Foreachof122targetedbadger-removallicenses(permittoremovebadgersintheproximityofcattleherdsundergoingaseriousBTBepisode),theherdnumber(indexherd)forwhichthelicensewasgivenwasobtained.Theherdsintheproximityoftheindexherdwereidentifiedfromanotherdatabase.Themain‘‘exposure’’inourstudywasthegeographicallocationofherdsrelativetotheareainwhichtargetedbadgerremovalwasconducted.Wecategorizedherdsintofivedifferentexposuregroups:herdswereclassifiedasnon-exposedanddenotedasgroup0(referencegroup)iftheywerelocated500mormorefromtheedgeofanyparceloflandoftheindexherd;group1,wastheindexherds,group2theimmediate(contiguous)neighborsoftheindexherd,group3herdswerenotimmediateneighborsbutwithin150mandgroup4herdswerebetween150mand500mdistancefromtheedgeofanyparceloflandoftheindexherd,respectively.Weconductedasurvivalanalysis(allowingmultiplefailuresperherd)tocomparethehazardofhavingaBTBepisodeinanyofthefourgroupsofexposedherdsvs.thehazardinherdsinthereferencegroup.Wecontrolledforotherknownriskfactorsaswelltakingintoaccountatemporalcomponent.Ouranalysisshowedthatthehazardratiofortheindexherds(group1)werenon-significantly


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increased,indicatingthattherewasnodifferenceinthehazardoffailingaBTBtest(afterthetargetedbadgerremovalwasconducted)betweenindexherdsandreferenceherds.Fortherestoftheherdsfartherawayfrombadgerremovalactivitiesthehazardswerelowerthanherdsinareasnotunderbadgerremoval.Thehazardinthereferencegroupdecreasedoverthestudyperiod.

This article was published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 88, Olea-Popelka, F.P., Fitzgerald, P., White, P., McGrath, G., Collins, J.D., O’Keeffe, J., Kelton, D.F., Berke, O., More, S.J., Martin S.W., Targeted badger removal and the subsequent risk of bovine tuberculosis in cattle herds in county Laois, Ireland, 178-184, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2009.

The impact of targeted badger removal on tuberculosis in cattle herds in Co. Monaghan

White, P.1, 2, Frankena, K.3, O’Keeffe, J.1, 2, More, S.J.2, de Jong, M.3, Martin, S.W.4



FollowingtheestablishmentoftheWildlifeUnitinOctober2003,apolicyoftargetedbadgerremovalintheareassurroundingTBbreakdownherdswasimplementedintheRepublicofIreland.ThisstudywillassesstheimpactoftargetedbadgerremovalonthesubsequentlevelsofTBinherdsinCo.Monaghan.

An assessment of injury to European badgers (Meles meles) due to capture in stopped restraints

Murphy, D.1, O’Keeffe, J.J.2, 3, Martin, S.W.4, Gormley, E.1, Corner, L.A.L.1

1 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD CVERA,


Journal of wildlife Diseases 45, 481-490 (2009)

Aspartofongoingcullingoperations,Europeanbadgers(Meles meles) were captured using stopped restraints in winter (OctobertoDecember2005)andsummer(MaytoJune2006)intheRepublicofIreland.Asubsetofthesebadgers,thosecaughtduringfourconsecutivenights,wasexaminedpostmortemtodeterminethefrequencyandseverityofphys-icalinjuriesresultingfromcaptureintherestraints.Theskinandthetissuesunderlyingtherestraintof343badgerswereassessedforinjurybyvisualexamination.Therewasanabsenceofskindamageoronlyminorskinabrasionsin88%ofbadgers;anabsenceofsubcutaneoustissueinjuryoronlylocalizedsubcutaneoustissueinjuryin69%;andanabsenceofmuscleinjuryoronlyslightmusclebruisingin99%ofbadgers.Only2%ofbadgershadcutstotheskinand5.5%hadextensivesubcutaneousedema,whereas1.2%hadareasofhemorrhageandtearingoftheunderlyingmuscle.Ourresultsshowthatthemajorityofbadgersexaminedsustainedminimalinjuriesattributabletocaptureinstoppedrestraints.

Printed with permission from the Wildlife Disease Association.


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Badger tuberculosis vaccine

Corner, L.A.L.1, Murphy, D.1, Costello, E.2, Gormley, E.1


TheresearchonBCGvaccinationagainsttuberculosisincaptivebadgers,anintegratedseriesofexperimentsandassociated studies is continuing, and a series of studies have been completed that has lead to commencement of field vaccinationtrialofwildbadgers.TheBCGvaccinewasinitiallychosenforusebasedonitsavailability,lowproductioncostandmuchexperienceofitsapplicationindomesticandwildanimals,andhumans.Tocarryoutthesestudiesinacontrolledenvironment,theBadgerResearchandObservationCentre(BROC)wasbuiltanddesignedtohold6-7smallgroupsofbadgers.Inparallelwiththecaptivebadgerexperiments,studieshavealsobeenundertakeninwild,naturallyinfectedbadgers,usingbadgersremovedduringcullingoperations.Aspartofthesestudies,wehelpeddevelopandassessa range of in vitro diagnostic assays based on the immunological responses to challenge with virulent M. bovis.InourstudiescarriedoutattheBROC,wehaveshownthattheBCGvaccineisprotectiveinbadgersbythesubcutaneousandmucosalroutes,andbytheoralroute.TheproblemofthepotentialdestructionofBCGbystomachacidsasitpassesthroughtheGItracthasbeenaddressedbythedevelopmentofthelipid-baseencapsulationmatrixthatisabletoresistdegradationbygastricenzymes(Dr.FrankAldwell,OtagoUniversity,NewZealand).

BROC 1: Experimental infection with M.bovis

Asafirststepindevelopmentofavaccine,aninfectionmodelwasrequiredtogeneratediseaseincaptivebadgers.TheobjectiveofBROC1wastoidentifyadoseofM. bovis which, when delivered by the endobronchial route to badgers, generatedadiseaseprofilethatmimickednaturaldisease.Theresultsshowedthatoverawiderangeofdoses,theendo-bronchialprocedureproduceddiseasethatwascharacteristicofnaturaldisease.

BROC 2: Progression of the experimental infection

Havingestablishedtheutilityoftheendobronchialrouteandaneffectivechallengedose,thisstudywasdesignedtousetheoptimalinfectivedose(derivedfromBROC1)andfollowtheprogressionofthediseaseovertime.Thiswasimportanttodeterminetheoptimaltimetoexaminethedifferencesintheprogressionofdiseasebetweenvaccinatesandcontrols.Followingexperimentalchallenge,infectionprogressedslowlywithauniformresultacrossthebadgersstudied.Theoptimaltimetoexaminediseaseinvaccinateswasfoundtobe12to18weeksafterinfection.

BROC 3: Establishing proof that BCG induces protection against tuberculosis in badgers

Withtheinfectionprocedureestablished,wesetouttodetermineifBCGwasprotectiveinbadgersandtoexaminepossibleroutesofvaccinationincludingthesubcutaneousandmucosalroutes.Theresultsshowedthatvaccinationbyeitherrouteledtosignificantprotectionofvaccinatedbadgerscomparedwithnon-vaccinatedcontrols.

BROC 4: Oral BCG vaccination and protection

TobeofpracticaluseinthefielddeliveryofBCG,anoralbaitislikelytobethemostcost-effectivemeansofdelivery.AlipidformulationthatprotectstheliveBCGfromgastricsecretionshasbeendevelopedbyDrFrankAldwell(UniversityofOtago,NewZealand).HavingdemonstratedthatBCGgeneratedprotectioninbadgers,andthatamucosalroutewashighlyeffective,wewantedtotesttheefficacyofBCGvaccinedeliveredbytheoralrouteafterchallengebytheendo-bronchialinfectionprocedure.Theoutcomewasthatvaccinationbytheoralrouteledtosignificantprotection.


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BROC 5: Duration of protection following oral BCG vaccination

HavingdemonstratedthatoraldeliveredBCGcouldinduceprotection,wesetouttodetermineifbadgersvaccinatedbyoralrouteswithalipid-encapsulatedBCGwouldinduceprotectionthatcouldbedetectedforupto12months.Thestudyisdueforcompletion.

BROC 6: Comparison of protection of badgers vaccinated with BCG-Pasteur and commercial BCG-Danish vaccine strains

Todate,allofourstudieshavebeenconductedusingtheBCG-Pasteurstrain.However,currentlytheonlyBCGvaccinestrainproducedandregisteredintheEUistheBCG-DanishstrainmanufacturedbyStatenSerumInstitute(Denmark).There is now an international consensus that the vaccine submitted for registration as veterinary medicine will use this strain.Inthisstudy,wecomparedoralvaccinationwiththetwoBCGstrainsbyfeedingbadgerswiththeBCGstrainsencapsulatedinasemi-solidlipidmatrixthatwaspreparedspecificallyforthispurposebythecollaboratinglaboratoryinNewZealand(DrFrankAldwell,UniversityofOtago).Theresultsindicatethatbothvaccinesgeneratedhighlevelsofprotectiveimmunity.TherearenosignificantdifferencesbetweenBCG-DanishandBCG-Pasteurstrains.

BROC 7: Protective efficacy of BCG vaccination against a low dose challenge with M.bovis

Inthewild,underconditionsofnaturaltransmission,badgersareexposedtoandcanbecomeinfectedwithlowdosesofM. bovis.InourinitialBROCexperimentalinfectionstudieswedemonstratedthatitwaspossibletoinfectabadgerwith

aslow<10colonyformingunits(CFU)of M. bovis.ThepurposeoftheBROC7study was to determine what effect vacci-nationwouldhaveontheexperimentaldisease following a low challenge dose andoveralongertimescale.BadgerswerevaccinatedwithBCG-Danishstrain encapsulated in a semi-solid lipid matrix.Thisallowsforthevaccinetobe delivered by the oral route and the matrixprotectsthevaccinefrombeingdegradedinthestomach.Acontrolgroupremainednon-vaccinated.Twelveweeksaftervaccination,thebadgerswere challenged by the endobronchial route with a low dose of M. bovis(3x102 CFU).At52weekspost-challengethebadgers were euthanased and protection assessedbypathologyandculture.Asmeasured by distribution and severity of lesions there was significant immune protection generated in the vaccinated groupofbadgers.Thedatahasgivenus a much better understanding of how thevaccineislikelytoperformundernaturalconditions.Thiswillfacilitatethe development of strategies to deliver thevaccinetobadgerpopulations.

Delivery of the oral vaccine. Photography by the Badger Vaccine Project.


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Immunological responses and protective immunity in BCG vaccinated badgers following endobronchial infection with Mycobacterium bovis

Lesellier, S.1, Corner, L.A.L.1, Costello, E.2, Lyashchenko, K.3, Greenwald, R.3, Esfandiari, J.3, Singh, M.4,

Hewinson, R.G.5, Chambers, M.5, Gormley, E.1

1 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre, 2 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

3 Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc., New York, USA, 4 LIONEX GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany,

5 Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, Surrey, England

Vaccine 27, 402-409 (2009)

Europeanbadgers(Meles meles) are a reservoir host of Mycobacterium bovis and are implicated in the transmission of tuberculosistocattleinIrelandandGreatBritain.Thedevelopmentofavaccineforuseinbadgersisconsideredakeyelementofanycampaigntoeradicatethediseaseinlivestockinbothcountries.Inthisstudywehavevaccinatedgroupsofbadgerswithapproximately5x105cfuoftheBCGvaccinedeliveredviatwoalternativeroutes,subcutaneousandmucosal(intranasal/conjunctival).Followingexperimentalendobronchialinfectionwithapproximately104 cfu of M. bovis,allbadgerswereeuthanisedat12weekspost-infection.Atpost-mortemexaminationbothvaccinatedgroupshadsignificantlyreducedseverityofdiseasecomparedwiththenon-vaccinatedcontrols.TheanalysisofimmuneresponsesthroughoutthestudyshowedthatvaccinationwithBCGdidnotgenerateanydetectableimmunologicalresponsesasmeasuredbyIFN-gammaproductioninantigen-stimulatedperipheralbloodmononuclearcells(PBMC)andIgGsero-logicalresponses.However,thelevelsoftheresponsesincreasedfollowingM. bovisinfection,andthekineticprofilescorrespondedtotheseverityoflesionsrecordedpost-mortem.Significantdifferenceswereobservedinthetimingofdevelopmentoftheimmuneresponsesbetweenvaccinatesandcontrols.Theresultssuggestthattheimmunologicalresponsesareassociatedwiththelevelsofprotectiveimmunityandcouldbeusedasmarkerstomonitorcontrolofdiseaseinbadgersfollowingvaccination.

This article was published in Vaccine, 27, Lesellier, S., Corner, L.A.L., Costello, E., Lyashchenko, K., Greenwald, R., Esfandiari, J., Singh, M., Hewinson, R.G., Chambers, M., Gormley, E., Immunological responses and protective immunity in BCG vacci-nated badgers following endobronchial infection with Mycobacterium bovis, 402-409, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2009.

Immunological responses following experimental endobronchial infection of badgers (Meles meles) with different doses of Mycobacterium bovis

Lesellier, S.1, Corner, L.A.L.1, Costello, E.2, Sleeman, D.P.3, Lyashchenko, K.P.4, Greenwald, R.4, Esfandiari, J.4,

Hewinson, R.G.5, Chambers, M.5, Gormley, E.1


3 Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, 4 Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc., New York, USA,

5 Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, Surrey, England

Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 127, (2009) 174-180

TheEurasianbadger(Meles meles) is a wildlife reservoir for Mycobacterium bovisinfectioninIrelandandGreatBritainandhasbeenimplicatedinthetransmissionoftuberculosistocattle.Vaccinationofbadgersisanoptionthatcouldbeusedaspartofastrategytocontrolthedisease.Inthisstudyweusedanendobronchialinfectionproceduretoinoculategroupsofbadgerswiththreedifferentdoses(3x103,2x102and<10ColonyFormingUnits(CFUs))ofM. bovis.After17weeksthediseasestatusofeachanimalwasdeterminedbypost-mortempathologyandcultureforM. bovis.Eachoftheinoculumdosesresultedinestablishmentofinfectioninthebadgers.Thecell-mediatedimmune(CMI)responsesweremeasuredbylymphocytetransformationassay(LTA)ofperipheralbloodmononuclearcells(PBMCs)culturedwith


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bovinetuberculin(PPD-B).IneachinfectedgrouptheCMIresponsesincreasedwithakineticprofilecorrespondingtothedelivereddoseandthepost-mortempathology.TheserologicalresponsesweremeasuredbyELISAandamulti-antigenprintimmunoassay(MAPIA)inordertoinvestigateanychangesintheantigenicrepertoireassociatedwithdifferentinfectivedoses.IncontrasttotheCMIresponses,theELISAandMAPIAshowedthattherecognitionofanti-gens by the badgers was intermittent and not strongly influenced by the dose of M. bovis.

This article was published in Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 127, Lesellier, S., Corner, L.A.L., Costello, E., Sleeman, D.P., Lyashchenko, K.P., Greenwald, R., Esfandiari, J., Hewinson, R.G., Chambers, M., Gormley, E., Immunological responses following experimental endobronchial infection of badgers (Meles meles) with different doses of Mycobacterium bovis, 174-180, Copyright Elsevier B.V 2009.

Vaccination of European badgers (Meles meles) with BCG by the subcutaneous and mucosal routes induces protective immunity against endobronchial challenge with Mycobacterium bovis

Corner, L.A.L.1, Costello, E.2, Lesellier, S.1, O’Meara, D.2, Gormley, E.1


Tuberculosis 88, 601-609 (2008)

Mycobacterium bovis is endemic in badger (Meles meles)populationsofIrelandandtheUnitedKingdomandinfectedbadgersareapotentialsourceofinfectionforcattle.Indomesticlivestocktuberculosiscauseseconomiclossesfromlostproductionandthecostsassociatedwitheradicationprogrammes,andinadditionthereisariskofzoonoticinfection.WhereascullingiscurrentlyusedtocontroltuberculousbadgerpopulationsinIreland,vaccination,ifitwereavailable,wouldbepreferred.Astudywasundertakentoexaminetheprotectiveresponsesofbadgersvaccinatedeitherbythesubcutaneousormucosal(intranasalandconjunctival)routeswithbacilleCalmette-Guérin(BCG),whenchallengedwith M. bovisbytheendobronchialroute.Threegroupsofbadgerswereused.Thefirstgroup(n=4)wasvaccinatedwithapproximately5x105colonyformingunits(cfu)ofBCGbysubcutaneousinjection.Inthesecondgroup(n=5)badgerswerevaccinatedviathemucosalroutebyinstilling1.0x105cfuintoeachconjunctivalsacandspraying1.0x105 cfu intoeachnostril(finalvaccinedoseof4x105 cfu).Thecontrol(n=5)badgersservedasanon-vaccinatedgroup.Twelveweekspost-vaccinationallbadgersinthethreegroupswerechallengedwithapproximately104 cfu of M. bovis by endo-bronchialinoculation.At12weekspost-infectionallbadgerswereexaminedpost-mortemtoassessthepathologicalandbacteriologicalresponsestochallenge.Grossandhistologicallesionsoftuberculosiswereseeninallchallengedbadgersand M. boviswasrecoveredfromallchallengedbadgers.However,acrosssixoftheeightparametersusedtomeasurediseaseseverity,theinfectioninthevaccinatedbadgerswassignificantlylessseverethaninthecontrolgroup.TheBCGvaccine induced a significant protective effect in the badgers and the protective immunity was generated by subcutaneous andmucosalvaccination.

This article was published in Tuberculosis, 88, Corner, L.A.L., Costello, E., Lesellier, S., O’Meara, D., Gormley, E., Vaccination of European badgers (Meles meles) with BCG by the subcutaneous and mucosal routes induces protective immu-nity against endobronchial challenge with Mycobacterium bovis, 601-609, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2008.


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Experimental tuberculosis in the European badger (Meles meles) after endobronchial inoculation with Mycobacterium bovis: II. Progression of infection

Corner, L.A.L.1, Costello, E.2, Lesellier, S.1, O’Meara, D.1, Gormley, E.1


Research in Veterinary Science 85, 481- 490 (2008)

Theaimofthestudywastodescribe,overaperiodof24weeks,thepathologicalandbacteriologicalchangesinbadgersexperimentallyinfectedwithMycobacterium bovis.Thebadgerswereinfectedbyendobronchialinstillationof2.5x104 colony forming units (cfu) M. bovis.Afterinfection,thebadgerswereexaminedat3weeklyintervalswhenbloodandtrachealaspirateswerecollected.At6,12,18and24weekspost-infection(pi)threeanimalswereeuthanizedandadetailedpathologicalandbacteriologicalexaminationwasperformedtoassessthenatureoftheexperimentaldisease.During the course of the study only one badger developed clinical signs of disease: a subcutaneous swelling on its head, firstobservedat18weekspi.Atpost-mortemexaminationgrossandhistologicallesionsoftuberculosiswereobservedand M. boviswasrecoveredfromall,exceptonebadger.Inthemajorityofbadgerstheendobronchialrouteofinocula-tionresultedintheestablishmentofinfectionthatover24weekswasnon-progressivewithlimiteddisseminationofinfectionfromthethoraciccavity,mainlytothehepaticandmesentericlymphnodes.However,inoneofthebadgersexaminedat18weekspiandoneat24weekspi,infectionwaswidelydisseminated.Thediseaseinducedbytheendo-bronchialinoculationdisplayedthecharacteristicsofdiseaseobservedinnaturallyinfectedbadgers.

This article was published in Research in Veterinary Science, 85, Corner, L.A.L., Costello, E., Lesellier, S., O’Meara, D., Gormley, E., Experimental tuberculosis in the European badger (Meles meles) after endobronchial inoculation with Mycobacterium bovis: II. Progression of infection, 481-490, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2008.


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Antigen specific immunological responses of badgers (Meles meles) experimentally infected with Mycobacterium bovis

Lesellier, S.1, 6, Corner, L.A.L.1, Costello, E.2, Sleeman, D.P.3, Lyashchenko, K.4, Greenwald, R.4, Esfandiari, J.4,

Singh, M.5, Hewinson, R.G.6, Chambers, M.6, Gormley, E.1


3 Department of Zoology, Ecology and Plant Science, University College Cork, 4 Chembio Diagnostic Systems, Inc., New York, USA, 5 Helmholtz Center for

Infectious Research; and LIONEX GmbH, Braunschweig, Germany, 6 Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, Surrey, England

Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 122, 35-45 (2008)

Europeanbadgers(Meles meles) are considered to be an important reservoir of infection for Mycobacterium bovis and are implicatedinthetransmissionoftuberculosistocattleinIrelandandGreatBritain.Accuratetestsarerequiredfortuber-culosis surveillance in badger populations and to provide a basis for the development of strategies, including vaccination, toreducetheincidenceoftheinfection.Inthisstudy,wehavedevelopedanendobronchialM. bovis infection model inbadgersinwhichwemeasuredcell-mediatedimmuneandserologicalresponsesforupto24weekspost-infection.Groupsofbadgersweresubjectedtonecropsyat6-weekintervalsandthegrosslesionseveritystatuscomparedwithimmuneresponsesmeasuredinbloodsamplestakenthroughoutthecourseofthestudy.Thepanelofantigensincludedbovineandaviantuberculins(PPD)aswellassingleantigens,ESAT-6,CFP-10,MPB70,Rv3019c,Rv3873,Rv3878andRv3879,allknowntoberecognisedbytheimmunesysteminotheranimalmodelsoftuberculosisinfection.Ourresults demonstrated that M. bovisinfectedbadgersrespondedtospecificantigensasearlyas6weekspost-infection,consistentwiththepresenceofvisiblelesions.ThedataalsorevealeduniquepatternsofantigenrecognitionwithhighlevelsofPBMCproliferationinthepresenceofCFP-10butlowproliferationlevelswithESAT-6.Usingamulti-antigenprintimmunoassay(MAPIA),wewereabletoconfirmthatMPB83isthedominantantigenrecognisedbyserumanti-bodiesininfectedbadgers.

This article was published in Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 122, Lesellier, S., , Corner, L.A.L., Costello, E., Sleeman, D.P., Lyashchenko, K., Greenwald, R., Esfandiari, J., Singh, M., Hewinson, R.G., Chambers, M., Gormley, E., Antigen specific immunological responses of badgers (Meles meles) experimentally infected with Mycobacterium bovis, 35-45, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2008.


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The vaccine field trial

Whereascaptivebadgerstudiesarethemostcosteffectivewayofexaminingtheprotectiveresponsetovaccination,suchstudiescannotbeusedtopredictwhetherBCGwillbeprotectiveinfree-rangingbadgersortoestimatevaccineefficacy.Estimatesofvaccineefficacyareextremelyvaluableinmodellingpotentialvaccinestrategies,butdatafromfieldtrialsareneededtoreliablyestimateprotectionandvaccineefficacyparameters.Anyfieldtrialwillbynecessityuseanoralvaccinedeliverysystem,becausethisisthelikelymethodofchoiceforanybroad-scalemassvaccinationoffree-rangingbadgerpopulations. TheBCGvaccinefieldtrialhastwoprincipalobjectives.ThesearetovalidatetheresultsofcaptivebadgerstudiesandshowthatBCGvaccineisprotectiveinnaturallyexposedwildbadgers,andtoestimatevaccineefficacyunderfieldconditions.TheseobjectiveswillbemetbycomparingtheprevalenceofM. bovis infection in vaccinated badgers with thatinnon-vaccinatedcontrols.AsecondaryoutcomeoffieldtrialswillbetomeasuretheeffectofBCGvaccineinbadgerswithpre-existingM. bovisinfection.Inadditiontoprovidingameasurementofprotectionandanestimateofvaccine efficacy, the field trial will provide a practical basis for understanding the logistics of oral vaccine delivery to wild badgerpopulations. InthefieldtrialareainCo.Kilkenny,differentproportions(0,50,and100%)ofthebadgerpopulationarebeingvaccinatedwithBCGorplacebo.Theadvantageofthisdesignisthateffectsonvaccineefficacyarisingfromchangesintheforceofinfectionasaresultofdifferentlevelsofvaccinationcoveragecanbeestimated.Therequiredproportionofvaccinatesisachievedbysystematicallytrappingthearea.Whenfirstencountered,individualbadgersareallocatedtoeitherthevaccinationorcontrolgroupasrequiredfortheparticulararea.Toallowforcontinuedexposuretoinfection,thetrialwillbeconductedovera3-yrperiod.Itisestimatedthataninitialpopulationof300badgers(100ineachofthetreatmentareas)willberequiredtoaccuratelyestimatevaccineefficacy,basedonanassumedinitialtuberculosispreva-lenceof20–30%andvaccineefficacyof50–70%foranindividualbadger. TheBCGDanishstrain,encapsulatedinalipidformulationfororaladministrationandcontainingabout108cfu/ml,isbeingusedinthefieldtrial.Badgersareindividuallyvaccinatedbyadministrationofthelipidvaccineorlipidplacebodirectlyintothepharynx.Vaccineandplacebocontrolsamplesare‘‘double-blind’’coded.Badgerswillberevaccinatedannuallyandthepopulationexaminedtwotimesperyearbytrappingtheentirestudysiteinacontinuousprocess.Throughout the trial, estimates of changing tuberculosis incidence will be made from the measurements of humoral immuneresponses. Attheendofthe3-yrstudyperiod,thetrialsitewillbedepopulatedandallbadgerswillbeexaminedfortuberculosisbydetailedpostmortemexaminationthatwillincludeanexaminationforvisiblelesions,histologiclesions,andmycobacte-riology to demonstrate infection with M. bovis.TheisolationofM. bovis from post-mortem or clinical samples (wound exudatesortrachealswabs)willbeusedtodefineacaseoftuberculosis.Theresultsandexperiencegainedfromthefieldtrialwillfacilitatethedevelopmentofstrategiesforintroductionofvaccinationintothenationalprogram.Thetrialcommencedin2009.


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Trial design to estimate the effect of vaccination on tuberculosis incidence in badgers

Aznar, I.1, McGrath, G.1, Murphy, D.2, Corner, L.A.L.2, Gormley, E.2, Frankena, K.3, More, S.J.1,

Martin, S.W.4, O’Keeffe, J.1, 5, de Jong, M.3

1 UCD CVERA, 2 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre, 3 Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands,

4 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, 5 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

The principal wildlife reservoir of Mycobacterium bovisinIrelandistheEuropeanbadger.StudiesintheRepublicofIreland(RoI)haveshownthatbadgersculledinassociationwithcattleherdtuberculosis(TB)breakdowns(focalculling)haveahigherprevalenceofinfectionthanthebadgerpopulationatlarge.Thisobservationisonerationaleforthemediumtermnationalstrategyoffocalbadgerculling.AvaccinationstrategyforthecontrolofTBinbadgersisapreferredlong-termoption.TheBacillusCalmette-Guérin(BCG)vaccinehasbeenshowntodecreasediseaseseverityincaptivebadgersundercontrolledconditions.Asthevaccinehasbeentestedinacontrolledenvironmentwithpreciseinformation on infection pressure, it cannot be assumed a priori that the effects of vaccination are similar in the wild, whereotherenvironmentaland/orecologicalfactorsprevail.ForthisreasonwehavedesignedavaccinefieldtrialtoassesstheimpactofvaccinationontheincidenceofTBinfectioninawildbadgerpopulation.Theselectedstudyareaforthevaccinetrial(approximately755squarekilometers)isdividedintothreezoneseachofwhichhassimilarchar-acteristicsintermsofsize,numberofmainbadgersetts,cattleherds,cattleandlandclassificationtype.Threevaccina-tionlevels(100%,50%and0%)willbeallocatedtothethreezonesinawaythatagradientofvaccinationcoverageNorthtoSouthisachieved.Themiddlezone(ZoneB)willbevaccinatedata50%coveragebutZoneAandCwillberandomlyallocatedwith100%or0%vaccinationcoverage.VaccinationwithinZoneBwillbedonerandomlyatindi-vidualbadgerlevel.Theobjectiveofthispaperistodescribethetrialdesign,theepidemiologicalmethodsthatwereusedtodesignthetrialandthesubsequentdataanalysis.Theanalysiswillenableevaluationoftheeffectofvaccinationondiseasetransmissionunderfieldconditions.Italsoaimstoquantifythemagnitudeoftheobservedvaccinationeffectontransmissionandtoimproveourknowledgeonthebiologicaleffectsofthevaccinationonsusceptibilityandinfectious-nessofbadgers.

The development of a bait delivery system for use in oral vaccination of badgers against bovine tuberculosis

Kelly, D.1, Corner. L.A.L.2, Gormley, E.2, Marples, N.M.1

1 School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin, 2 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre

ThisprojectaimstoformulateaprotocolfortheefficientdeliveryofBCGvaccinetobadgersinordertoreducetheprev-alenceofbovinetuberculosisinwildlife.WorkinginitiallywithcaptiveanimalsattheDAFFBROCfacility,anumberofcandidateoralvaccinebaitadditivesweretestedasattractants.Thecaptivestudydemonstratedthatcarobandcocoaweremoreattractivetocaptivebadgersthanapeanutflavour.Thecaptiveanimalswererequiredtooverturnafloortile(approximately2kginweight)togainaccesstotheexperimentalbaits.Thisprovedtobeasimpletaskiftheywereattractedtothebait.ThisworkwillshortlybesubmittedtotheEuropean Journal of Wildlife Research.

SomepreliminarystudieswithawildsettneartotheBROCfacilityshowedthatthecarobpowderwasasuccessfulattractantforwildbadgers.Floortileswereusedtopreventbaitaccessfromrodentsorbirds(asinthecaptivestudies).These preliminary studies also showed that wild animals could learn to remove candidate oral vaccine baits from a simple wax-coatedpaperpackage.Theultimatedeploymentstrategyfortheoralvaccinebaitrequiresthebaitstobepackaged.Thisimportantfindingalsoinformedthedesignofawildtrial.

Inthewildtrial,animalswereofferedachoiceofthreepackagedbaits(peanut,carobandcocoaflavours).Thebaitswereburiedin15cm-deepholesadjacenttomainsettentrances,andtheholesbackfilledwithearth.Thedisappearance


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ofbaitsfromtheseholesprovedthatthewildbadgerscoulddetectandexcavatebaitsfromdeepbackfilledholes.Theresultsshowedthatpeanutflavourwasamorepopularattractantthanbothcarobandcocoabutterforwildbadgers.Nobaits were removed from their holes on the first day of presentation, indicating that a pre-baiting period of at least one daywouldbenecessaryforlivevaccinebaitdeployment.Thewildbadgersquicklylearnedtoassociateallattractantswiththeprototypebaitsandcontinuedtoremovethemfromburiedsites,evenwhentheattractantswereabsent.Thissuggeststhatitmaybepossibletotrainbadgerstofeedatasiteconvenientforthepersonneldeployingthevaccinebaits.Amanuscriptdescribingthisworkisinpreparation.

Aprotocolforatrainingtrialwithwildanimals,inWicklow,hasbeenagreed.FieldworkshouldbeunderwaybytheendofFebruary2010.Itwilltestwhetherbadgersthatareunfamiliarwithpackagedbaitscanlearntoextractthemwithoutadditionalattractantcues.Thismayultimatelysavemoney,astheuseofattractantsoneachpackagedbaitwouldincreasemanufacturingcosts.

Inadditiontobaitstudies,ithasbeenpossibletoinvestigatethefeedingbehaviourofthecaptiveanimalsatBROCusingstableisotopeanalysis.ThishasprovidedafundamentalbaselinevalueforEurasianbadgerswhichmayopenthedoorformoredetailedtrophicstudiesbothinIrelandandtheUK.Additionaldatacollectedfromanimalsduringtheir‘winterlethargy’maygosomewaytounderstandinghowtheyutilisetheirstoredadiposesuppliesduringthewintermonths.

Control of TB in wildlife by oral BCG vaccination

Gormley, E.1, Corner, L.A.L.1

1 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre

Expert Review of Vaccines 8, 1339-1342 (2009)

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovisispresentinmanywildanimalpopulationsthroughouttheworld.Thedisease can have a significant economic impact when the wild animal species is a reservoir of infection for domestic animals.Itcanposeazoonoticthreatforthosewhocomeincontactwithinfectedanimals,betheywildordomesticated.Todate,strategiesfordealingwithTBinwildlifehavebeenlimited;physicalseparationofwildfromdomesticanimalsor culling of infected populations can help to reduce the spread of infection, but culling is not an option with species ofhighconservationvalue.VaccinationofanimalswiththebacillusCalmette-Guérin(BCG)vaccinehaslongbeenconsideredanattractivestrategyforcombatingthedisease.However,itswidespreaduseinthewildhasbeenconstrainedpendingthedevelopmentofasuitabledeliverysystem.Inthepaperunderevaluation,TompkinsandcolleaguesinNewZealandhaveshownthatoralvaccinationwithBCGcanprotectwildbrushtailpossumsagainstnaturalinfectionwith M. bovis.ThishighlysignificantfindingpavesthewaytowardsincorporationofwildlifevaccinationintobovineTBeradicationprogramsworldwide.

Printed with permission from Expert Reviews Ltd.


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Evaluation of badger group territories in four Irish counties by means of colour-marked baits

Smal, C.M.1, Brown, J.A.1

1 Independent consultants

Badgerterritorialactivitywasinvestigated(in2002)byabait-markingtechniqueemployedatfivestudyareaslocatedwithintheReferenceAreasoftheFourAreaProject(Co.Cork,Donegal,KilkennyandMonaghan).Themethodologyinvolvedfeedingcolouredmarkerpellets,containedwithinanattractivefoodmix,tobadgersandlocatingthesubse-quentdispersalofthedefecatedpellets.Badgersaresocialanimalsthatdefendtheirterritoriesbothphysicallyandbymeansofscentmarkinganddefecationsites(suchlatrinesitesareoftenlocatedalongtheboundariesoftheirterritories).

Theareasselectedforstudyvariedinsizefromc.5km2inCo.Donegaltoc.16km2inCo.Kilkenny.40settswerefedwithmarkedbaitand34socialgroupswereidentifiedbyevaluationofpelletreturns.1054latrinesiteswereidentified,with547containingmarkerpellets.Theinterpretedterritorysizeofthe34groupsvariedbetween15haandover200ha,withameanof80ha.Meanbadgergroupdensitywasestimatedat0.8socialgroupsperkm2.ThestudyareachoseninCo.Donegalwasfoundtopossessaveryhighbadgerdensity(c.1.4groupsperkm2), whereas densities in other counties wereclosertoexpectation.

Thebadgergroupsstudieddisplayedrelativelywell-definedterritorialboundaries,typicalofthoseknownfromothersignificantstudiesinIrelandandBritain.Therewerefoundexamples,ineachcounty,oflong-rangemovements-includingmovementsofindividualbadgersbetweenmainsettsandalsobetweenterritories.Individualbadgersmaynotrangeoverallofthegroup’sterritoryanditislikelythatsomebadgersarenotalwayspresentatagroup’smainsett.These observations have implications for sett survey and also for proposed targeting of badgers with vaccines incorpo-ratedintobaits.

Thestudyconfirmedthateachbadgergrouphas,almostwithoutexception,oneidentifiableactivemainsettwithinitsterritory.Fieldsurveyofbadgersettsinanygivenareamay,therefore,beconductedbyexperiencedpersonnelwithenumerationofactivemainsettsandwithexpectationofreliableassessmentofbadgergroupdensity.

Tuberculosis in European badgers (Meles meles) and the control of infection with bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination

Corner, L.A.L.1, Murphy, D.1, Costello, E.2, Gormley, E.1


Journal of wildlife Diseases 45, 1042-1047 (2009)

The eradication of tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis infection) from cattle herds may be compromised if infected wild-lifespecies,suchasEuropeanbadgers(Meles meles),sharethesameenvironmentandcontributetotransferofinfection.Optionsfordealingwithtuberculosisinthiswildreservoirhostarelimitedbyconservationandsocialconcerns,despiteaclearimplicationthatinfectedbadgersareinvolvedwiththeinitiationoftuberculosisincattleherds.Vaccinationof badgers against M. bovis, if successfully employed, would directly facilitate the completion of bovine tuberculosis eradicationinaffectedareas.VaccinetrialsincaptivebadgershaveestablishedthattheM. bovisbacilleCalmette-Guérin(BCG)vaccinecaninduceaprotectiveresponsethatlimitsthedistributionandseverityoftuberculosisdiseasefollowingexperimentalchallenge.Theprotectiveeffectofthevaccinehasbeendemonstratedwhenthevaccinewasdeliveredbysubcutaneousinjection,depositedonmucousmembranes,andgivenorallyinalipidformulation.Alarge-scalefieldtrialoforalBCGvaccinehasbeendesignedtomeasuretheprotectiongeneratedinwildbadgerssubjectedtonaturaltrans-


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missionofinfectionandtoestimatevaccineefficacy.TheseparameterswillbeestimatedbycomparingtheprevalenceofM. bovisinfectioninvaccinatedandnon-vaccinatedbadgers.Theresultswillprovideaframeworkforthedevelopmentand implementation of a national strategy to eliminate the disease in badger populations and if successful will remove thismajorimpedimenttobovinetuberculosiseradication.

Printed with permission from the Wildlife Disease Association.

Supporting studies

Badger immunodiagnostics

Development of badger immunodiagnostics

Intandemwiththebadgervaccineresearch,wehavebeendevelopingandassessingarangeofimmunodiagnosticteststhatwillberequiredfortuberculosissurveillanceinbadgerpopulationstomonitortheeffectofvaccination.ThisworkhasbeencarriedoutincollaborationwithVLAWeybridge.MorerecentlywehavebeenworkingwithEnfergroupondevelopingantibodybaseddiagnostictestsforbadgers.Thishastheadvantageofusingserumsamples,whichcanbeeasily stored prior to testing and removes the impediment for immediate transport of blood samples to the laboratory for testing.

Sensitivity of immunological assays for diagnosis of tuberculosis in wild badgers

Arangeofserologicalandcellmediatedimmunity(CMI)basedassayshavebeendevelopedrecentlyandhaveshownencouragingresultswhenusedincaptivebadgers.However,thereisaneedtovalidatethesetestsonnaturallyinfectedbadgers.Theaimofthecurrentstudywastoevaluatefiveofthesediagnosticimmunoassays(theBrocktest,theBrockTBSTAT-PAK®,thelymphocytetransformationassay(LTA),theinterferon-gamma(IFN-g)ELISAandtheELISPOTassay)inwildbadgersbycomparingtestresultstothediagnosticgoldstandard,i.e.bacterialcultureusingacomprehensiverangeoflymphnodesandtissuescollectedfrombadgers.Bloodsampleswerecollectedfromculledbadgers(n=215)priortoeuthanasiaandallbadgerswereexaminedpost mortemwithbacterialcultureoftissues.BasedonROCanalysis,theCMIassayshadhighersensitivitiesthantheserologicalassaysinthisstudy,theLTAhavingthehighestsensitivity(54.9%,apparentspecificity86.6%)andtheBrockTBSTATPAKthelowestsensitivity(30.8%,apparentspecificity97.8%).ThesensitivityofalltheimmunodiagnosticassaysimprovedasthediseaseseverityincreasedandthiswasmorepronouncedwiththeserologicalbasedassaysthantheCMIassays.Overall,theindividualimmunodi-agnostic assays assessed in this study had low sensitivities for the accurate diagnosis of M. bovis infection in badgers when comparedtothegoldstandardofbacteriologicalculture.However,thecombinationoftwoormoreassaysimprovedthediagnosticaccuracyofthetests.


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Adverse reactions to vaccine usage

Adverse reactions to Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination against tuberculosis in humans, veterinary animals and wildlife species

Murphy, D.1, Corner, L.A.L.1, Gormley, E.1

1 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre

Tuberculosis 88, 344-357 (2008)

The Mycobacterium bovisstrain,bacilleCalmette–Guérin(BCG)isoneofthemostwidelyusedhumanvaccinesandremainsoneofthesafestvaccinesavailable.Ithasbeenusedinhumanpopulationsforover80yearsand100millionchildrenreceivethevaccineannually.Ithasalsobeenemployedextensivelyforvaccinestudiesinlaboratoryanimalhostsandiscurrentlybeingdevelopedforuseinavarietyoflivestockandwildanimals.Despitethelargenumberofdosesdeliveredsinceitsfirstusagein1921,reportsofadversereactionsarisingfromtheuseoftheBCGvaccinearerelativelyuncommon and where serious reactions do occur they are often the result of vaccination of immuno-compromised indi-viduals.FactorsthatmayinfluencethedevelopmentofadversereactionstoBCGincludethepotencyanddoseofthevaccinestrain,therouteofdelivery,theageandimmunestatusofthehost,andtheskilllevelsoftheoperatoradmin-isteringthevaccine.Circumstancesaffectingthenotificationofadversereactionsincludethelackofclearcasedefini-tionsofabnormalvaccinereactions,andascarcityofsystematicsurveillanceandfunctioningreportingsystems.WithcontinueduseoftheBCGandthedevelopmentofanewgenerationofprophylacticandtherapeuticvaccinesagainsttuberculosisindifferenthostspecies,theriskfactorsassociatedwithadversereactionsmayneedtobereappraised.

This article was published in Tuberculosis, 88, Murphy, D., Corner, L.A.L., Gormley, E., Adverse reactions to Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccination against tuberculosis in humans, veterinary animals and wildlife species, 344-357, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2008.

Mathematical modelling

Infection dynamics and effective control strategies of tuberculosis in badgers and cattle of Ireland

Aznar, I.1, McGrath, G.1, Corner, L.A.L.2, Gormley, E.2, Frankena, K.3, More, S.J.1,

Martin, S.W.4, O’Keeffe, J.1, 5, de Jong, M.3

1 UCD CVERA, 2 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre, 3 Wageningen Institute of Animal Sciences, Wageningen University, The Netherlands,

4 Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, 5 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Recentresearchindicatesthatbovinetuberculosis(bTB,infectionwithMycobacterium bovis) is endemic in the badger populationinIreland,andthatdiseaseinbadgerscontributestotheproblemincattle.Despiteeffortstoreducecattle-to-cattle transmission through a comprehensive national surveillance program and the reactive badger culling policy, bTBhasremainedatarelativelyconstant,albeitlow,prevalenceinthecattlepopulationofIreland.Itisthoughtthatastrategy involving vaccination of badgers, possibly in combination with other intervention strategies, will help to reduce theincidenceofinfectioninbadgers.ModellingvariousscenariosinvolvinganumberofdifferentinterventionswillhelpdeterminetheimpactthattheseinterventionsmayhaveonthebTBprevalenceinbothcattleandbadger,andwillhelptoinformfurtherresearchandpolicydecisions.Themainobjectiveistoassesstheimpactofinterventionsonbovinetuberculosis(bTB)prevalenceincattleandbadgers;forthisamathematicalmodelofbTBtransmissionthatdescribesthediseaseincattleandbadgersintheRepublicofIrelandisbeingdeveloped.AconceptualframeworkofhowbTBpersistsinbothbadgersandcattlehasbeenconstructed,usingmathematicalmodelling.Thenextstepoftheprojectwill


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involvetheuseofexistingdatatogetquantitativeestimatesoftherequiredmodelparameters.Irishdataoncattletocattle transmission have been analysed and the transmission parameter for cattle (b)hasbeenestimated.Theestimationoftheinter-speciestransmissionparameterisinprogress.

Badger anaesthesia, clinical pathology

Bronchoalveolar lavage cytology from captive badgers

McCarthy, G.1, Shiel, R.1, O’Rourke, L.1, Murphy, D.2, Corner, L.A.L.2, Costello, E.3, Gormley, E.2

1 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 2 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre,


Veterinary Clinical Pathology 38, 381-387 (2009)

Bronchoalveolarlavage(BAL)fluidisevaluatedforthediagnosisandstudyoflungdiseaseandairwayinflammation.CytologicprofilesforBALfluidhavenotbeenreportedforbadgersandmaybeusefulinunderstandingthepathogen-esis of pulmonary diseases such as Mycobacterium bovis.TheaimofthisstudywastoevaluatecytologicandmicrobialfindingsinBALfluidfromcaptiveEuropeanbadgers(Meles meles) and identify correlates with the results of concur-rentlycollectedbloodandfecalsamples.BALfluid(byanonbronchoscopicmethod)andjugularvenousbloodsamples(forroutineCBC)wereobtainedfrom23captivetuberculosis-freeanesthetizedbadgerson2occasions4weeksapart.Fecalsampleswerecollectedforroutineparasitology.Morphologicevaluationand100-celldifferentialsweredoneoncytocentrifugedBALspecimens.PelletsfromcentrifugedBALwereaerobicallyculturedforbacteria.Withthe2BALsamplesfromeachofthe23badgerscombined,themedian(range)cellpercentageswere73.0%(5–95%)neutrophils,7.5%(2–16%)macrophages,8.0%(0–27%)lymphocytes,and9.5%(0–92%)eosinophils.Macrophagesfrequentlycontainedsilica-likecrystals.Otherfindingsincludedciliatedepithelialcells,gobletcells,mucus,andAelurostrongylus sp.larvae.AlightgrowthofStreptococcus, Pasteurella, or Escherichia coliwasculturedin6badgers.Trypanosoma pestanai wereidentifiedinbloodfrom10badgersandfecalparasites(mainlycoccidia)werefoundin20badgers.NocorrelationwasfoundbetweenBALandCBCresultsandthepresenceofparasites.ThepredominanceofneutrophilsinBALfluidfrombadgersdiffersfromthepredominanceofmacrophagesfoundinBALfromotherspecies.Thisdifferencemayreflecttheburrowinglifestyleortheuniqueimmuneresponseofbadgers.



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The national programme

A review of TB research in Ireland

More, S.J.1, Gormley, E.2

1 UCD CVERA, 2 UCD TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre

Researchonbovinetuberculosis(TB)hasbeenconductedinIrelandoverthelast20yearsorso.Muchofthisworkhasfocusedongapsinknowledgeofdiseaseepidemiology,acriticalassessmentofdiseasecontrolstrategies,constraintstoeradicationandanevaluationofalternativestrategyoptions.Asyet,nosummaryisavailableofthissubstantialbodyofpeer-reviewedwork.Thisreviewpaperseekstofillthisgap.

What is needed to eradicate bovine tuberculosis successfully: an Irish perspective

More. S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

The Veterinary Journal 180, 275-278 (2009)

TheIrishnationalbovinetuberculosis(TB)eradicationprogramme,firstestablishedin1954,hasprovedeffectiveincontrollingTBcausedbyMycobacterium bovis.However,eradicationofthediseaseremainselusive.Wenowhaveagoodunderstandingoftheconstraintstoeradication,basedondetailedresearchconductedinIrelandandelsewhere.ButthreecriticalissueswillneedtoberesolvedifIrelandistobesuccessfulinmovingfromTBcontroltoeradication:• methodstosustainablypreventwildlife-to-cattletransmission;• theintroductionofmeasuresforimprovedcattlecontrols,and• acriticalrethinkofprogrammegovernance.Anyimpactfromthelattertworequirementsislikelytobeseverelylimitedpriortotheintroductionofthefirst,giventhatbadgerscanbeconsideredan‘upstream’driver,withongoingtransmissionofinfectionfrombadgerstocattleirre-spectiveofcurrenteffortstominimisecattle-to-cattletransmission.Eachofthesethreeissuesarediscussedinsomedetailinthis‘PersonalView’toThe Veterinary Journal.

This article was published in The Veterinary Journal, 180, More, S.J., What is needed to eradicate bovine tuberculosis successfully: an Irish perspective, 275-278, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2009.


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Quality control

The comparative performance of the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test in Irish cattle, using tuberculin PPD combinations from different manufacturers

Good, M.1, Clegg, T.A.2, Murphy, F.1, More, S.J.2


Irelandcurrentlyobtainsitsavianandbovinetuberculinpurifiedproteinderivatives(PPDs)fromasinglesource.Becauseproblemsofsupplyorqualitycannotbediscounted,itisprudentthatIrelandidentifyalternativesupplier(s)aspartofabroadriskmanagementstrategy.Therefore,theaimofthisstudywastocomparetheperformanceofanumberofdifferenttuberculincombinations(thatis,pairingsofbovineandavianPPD;withdifferentmanufacturers)inthesingleintradermalcomparativetuberculintest(SICTT),ascurrentlyperformedinIreland.Thestudywasrandomised,controlledanddouble-blinded.Atotalof2,172cattlewereusedinthestudy.EachanimalwastestedusingtwoSICTTs,thefirstbasedonthetuberculincombinationincurrentuse,andthesecondusingoneofsixtrialtuberculincombi-nations.Analyseswereconductedtocomparebothreactor-statusandskinincrease.Foreachcontrol/trialtuberculincombination,therewasgoodagreementbetweenthecontrolandtrialreactor-status.Differencesinskinincreasesweremainlyconfinedtoanimalscategorisedaseithernegativeorsevereinconclusive.However,themeasureddifferenceswereminor,andunlikelytohaveasignificantimpactontheactualtestoutcome,eitherforindividualanimalsorforherds.Inconclusion,whilefurtherstudiesdeterminingsensitivityandspecificityinIrelandwouldhavetobedoneintheeventofachangeintuberculinPPDthereshouldbeminimaldisruptionofthenationalprogrammeifalternativetuberculinPPDsofthesamepotencywereused.Inthisstudy,theprecisionoftheguineapigbio-assaytoassesstuberculinpotencywaslowandthereforeIrelandshouldmaintainitspracticeofperiodicallyassessingpotencyinnaturallyinfectedcattle.

The comparative performance of the single intradermal test and the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test in Irish cattle, using tuberculin PPD combinations of differing potencies

Good, M.1, Clegg, T.A.2, Costello, E.3, More S.J.4

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Irelandcurrentlyobtainsitsavianandbovinetuberculinpurifiedproteinderivatives(PPDs)fromasinglesource.Problemsofsupplyorqualitycannotbediscounted.Asyet,however,noworkhasbeenreportedontheimpactoftuberculinsofdifferentpotenciesontheperformanceofthesingleintradermaltest(SIT)andthesingleintradermalcomparativetuberculintest(SICTT).Therefore,theaimofthisstudywastocomparetheperformanceofbovinetuberculinPPDsofdifferentpotenciesontheperformanceoftheSICTTandSIT,ascurrentlyperformedinIrelandandthroughoutEurope.Thestudywasrandomised,controlledandblinded.Threetrialbovinetuberculinsofvaryingpotency,asassayedinnaturallyinfectedbovines,(low[1,192IU/dose],normal[6,184],high[12,554])wereusedinthisstudy.ThreeSICTTs(basedonthethreetrialtuberculins)wereconductedon2,102animals.Theresultsofthesetestswerecompared,basedonreactor-statusandskinincreasesatthebovinesite.Therewasasignificantdifferenceinthenumberofreactorsdetectedusingthehighandlowpotencytuberculin.WhenusedinaSICTT,thehighpotencyandlowpotencytuberculinsdetected40%moreand50%lessreactors,respectively,thannormalpotencytuberculin.Further,thelowpotencytuberculin[X]failedtodetect20%of35animalswithvisiblelesions.Tuberculinofdifferentpotencieswillimpactonreactordisclosurerates.


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The development and application of new measures of performance

Higgins, I.1, Williams, D.2, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 UCD School of Mathematical Sciences

Inrecentyears,therehavebeensubstantialadvancesintheanalysisandmanagementofthenationalbovinetuberculosisdatabaseinIreland.ThenationalAnimalHealthComputerSystemwasupgradedin2005,andfacilitatesthecentralcollec-tionandmanagementofnationaldata.Thisnowprovidesovertwentyyearsofdataforresearchpurposes.Furthermore,therehasbeenaprogressiveimprovementinmethodsattheCentreforVeterinaryEpidemiologyandRiskAnalysistomanageandanalysethiscomplexdatabase,includingthedevelopmentofnewepisode-basedperspectivesindataanalysis.Withtheseadvances,newstatisticalmeasureshavebeendevelopedtoassistwithdecision-making,bothlocallyandatanationallevel.Thesemeasures,whichrelatetobothprogrammeactivityandperformance,areconsistentwithrecommendationsfrom several recent international meetings, including a shift towards herd-based measures, and clear differentiation between activities(andoutcomes)relatingtosurveillanceandtocontrol.Thesemeasureswillbeincorporatedwithinthenationalreportingsystem,toprovidedecision-makerswithtimelyandobjectiveinformationrelevanttoprogrammemanagement,andfurtherprogresstowardsbovinetuberculosiscontrolanderadication.Theobjectivesofthisstudyweretodefineperformancemeasures to assist with ongoing programme review, create automated means to enable ongoing measurement, and to create anepisodebasedsummaryfileofbovinetuberculosis(TB)restrictionsfortheperiod1989-2009.Progresshasbeenmadein correctly identifying, classifying and summarising periods of possible Mycobacterium bovisinfectionasindicatedbyTBtestresultdata.Measuresbasedonrestrictionbasedepisodeshavebeendefinedandsuggestionsmadeastohowthesecanbesummarisedinawaythatprovidesvalididentificationoftrendsandcomparisonsbetweenregions.

Public health

An outbreak of tuberculosis affecting cattle and people on an Irish dairy farm, following the consumption of raw milk

Doran, P.1, Carson, J.2, Costello, E.3, More, S.J.4

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 Wexford General Hospital,

3 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 4 UCD CVERA


BovinetuberculosisisanongoingprobleminIreland,andherdincidencehasremainedatapproximately5%forsomeyears.Spilloverofinfectionfromcattletopeopleremainsanever-presentpossibility,giventheongoingpoolofinfec-tionintheIrishcattlepopulation.ThispaperdescribesanoutbreakoftuberculosisaffectingcattleandpeopleonadairyfarminsoutheasternIrelandfollowingtheconsumptionofmilkfromaseven-year-oldcowwithtuberculousmastitis.Twenty-fiveof28calvesbornduringautumn2004andspring2005weresubsequentlyidentifiedasTBreactors,andfiveofsixfamilymemberswerepositiveontheMantouxtest.During2005,milkfromthiscowhadmainlybeenusedtofeedcalves,andwasaddedonlyoccasionallytothebulktank.Therefore,thecalveseachreceivedinfectedmilkonanalmostcontinuousbasisbetweenbirthandweaning.Thefamilycollectedmilkfromthebulkmilktank,andconsumeditwithoutpasteurisation.Thiscasehighlightstherisksassociatedwiththeconsumptionofrawmilk.Inthisfamily,TBhashadaverysignificantimpactonthehealthoftwoyoungchildren.Theserisksarewellrecognised,andrelevantinfor-mationforfarmersisavailable.Itisofconcern,therefore,thatrawmilkconsumptionremainsprevalentonIrishfarms.Newstrategiesareneeded,inpartnershipwithindustry,toaddressthisimportantissue.



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An all-island approach to mapping bovine tuberculosis in Ireland

McGrath, G.1, Abernethy, D.2, Stringer, L.2, 3, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Belfast, Northern Ireland,

3 Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand


ThisstudyusedtechniquesinGeographicalInformationSystems(GIS)toexplorethespatialpatternsofbovinetubercu-losis(TB)inthewholeislandofIrelandoveran11-yearperiod.ThisisthefirsttimethatdatapertainingtoTBfromtheRepublicofIrelandandNorthernIrelandhavebeencollatedandexaminedinanall-Irelandcontext.Theanalyseswerebasedon198,156pointlocationsrepresentingactivefarmswithcattleinNorthernIrelandandtheRepublicofIrelandbetweentheyears1996and2006.Theresultsconsistofaseriesofmapsgivingavisualrepresentationofcattlepopula-tionsandassociateddetectedbTBlevelsontheislandofIrelandoverthistimeinterval.


Bovine tuberculosis trends in the United Kingdom and Ireland, 1995 to 2008

Downs, S.1, Broughan, J.1, Clifton-Hadley, R.1, Goodchild, T.1, Upton, P.1, de la Rua-Domenech, R.2,

Rolfe, S.3, Blissett, M.4, Abernethy, D.5, Menzies, F.5, Clark, N.5, More, S.J.6,

Higgins, I.6, McGrath, G.6, Duignan, A.6, 7

1 Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Weybridge, Surrey, England, 2 Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, United Kingdom,

3 Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff, Wales, 4 Scottish Government, Edinburgh, Scotland, 5 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Belfast,

Northern Ireland, 6 UCD CVERA, 7 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Differentstrategiesinnationalbovinetuberculosis(BTB)controlprogrammesareemployedinGreatBritain(namelyEngland,ScotlandandWales),NorthernIrelandandtheRepublicofIreland,reflectingdifferencesinperceivedriskfactorsandprogrammepriorities.ComparingtheeffectsofthesestrategiesorunderlyingBTBtrendsbetweenthejuris-dictionsishamperedbydifferentcasedefinitionsandtestparametersusedwithineachjurisdiction.Thisprojectisbeingconductedtoaddresstheseconcerns,withtheaimtodescribelong-termBTBtrendsintheUKandIrelandduring1995to2008.


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Animal Health Ireland ................................................................................................. 64

Fertility ........................................................................................................................ 67

Milk quality ................................................................................................................. 68

Johne’s disease ............................................................................................................ 73

Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) / Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD) ........................... 78

Leptospirosis ............................................................................................................... 79

A detailed farm investigation ...................................................................................... 80


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Animal health Ireland

Herd health prompts concern over international competitiveness

More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

Irish farmers Journal (Animal health Supplement), 15 March 2008

Healthproblemsadverselyaffectbothon-farmprofitabilityandinternationalcompetitiveness.FarmerswithhighSCCproblems can lose €10-40Keachyear,primarilythroughreducedproductionandincreasedcullingcosts.TheUCDHerdHealthgrouprecentlycalculatedlossesof€140K/yearononefarminLeinster.However,internationalcompeti-tivenessisthegreaterconcern,asitaffectson-farmprofitabilityinthelonger-term.Internationalcompetitivenessisaffectedbybothstandards(whatfarmersarerequiredtodo)andquality(whatfarmersachieve).Intheareaofanimalhealth,standardsinIrelandarehigh,butqualityisvariable.Qualityisarelativeterm,andIreland’sperformancemust,andwill,bejudgedagainsttheperformanceofkeycompetingnations.Arangeofissueshavebeenaddressed(orarenowbeingtackled)bykeycompetitors,includingmastitis,fertility,lameness,Johne’sdisease,IBR,BVDetc.

Whatisherdhealth?Itconcernsthedevelopmentandimplementationofnationalandon-farmstrategiestoaddressspecificherdhealthchallenges;thoseissuesthatarelikelytoimpactonon-farmprofitabilityandinternationalcompeti-tivenessin5to10yearstime.Thecriticalingredientstosuccessincludelong-termplanning,commitment,nationalcooperation,long-termfundingandthebest-availabletechnicaladvice.Itismuchmorethanjustlaboratorytestingandvaccination,althoughthesemayplayaroleinsomeissues.

Healthproblems(forexample,mastitis,fertility,IBR,BVD,Johne’sdisease)areissuesforindustry(farmers,processors),notgovernment.Inamodernsociety,theroleofgovernmentistosupportpublicgoodsandservices(hospitals,schools,thegardai,publictransportlinksetc),whichareinstitutionsavailabletoallandfundedthroughcompulsorytaxation.Thebenefitsfromimprovedherdhealthwillmainlyflowtoindustryratherthanthegeneralpublic.

Herdhealthisbeingproactivelyaddressedinanumberofcountries(particularlyinnorthernEuropeandAustralasia),withimportantlessonsforIreland.Thesecountrieseachhavewhole-of-sectororganisations(suchastheSwedishDairyIndustry,theDutchDairyBoard,DairyingAustralia,MeatandLivestockAustralia)withbroad-rangingnationalresponsibilityfornationaldevelopment,policy,animalhealth,nationalandinternationalmarketing,researchetc.Eachoftheseorganisationsisrunandfundedbyindustry,generallythroughanannuallevyonfarmersandprocessors.Government’srole(includingfunding)inthesesectorsisverylimited;underinternationallaw,theyareobligedtoplayaregulatoryrole,andinseveralcountriesalsocontributeintheareaofresearch.Theseorganisationsareleadinginternationaleffortsininnovative,successfulherdhealthprogrammes.Forexample,SwedenandDenmarkhavevirtuallyeradicatedBVD,withSwitzerlandnowfollowingsuit.TheDanes,DutchandAustralianshaveeachbeentacklingJohne’sdisease(JD)forthelast10-15years,andfrom2011theDutchDairyBoardwillnolongerpickupmilkfromhigh-riskJDfarms.Costingtheindustryapproximately€10millionin2008,thisstrategyisbeingtakentoenhancetheinternationalcompetitivenessofDutchdairyproductintothefuture,particularlywithinfantformula.DairyAustraliahassupportedthedevelopmentandoperationofnationalprogrammestoaddressmastitis(CountdownDownunder)andfertility(InCalf)concerns,withconsiderablesuccess.

Irelandcannotkeepupwithinternationalprogressinproductquality,unlessitmovestoaddressarangeofhealthconcerns.Thereareabroadrangeofissuestoaddress,includingthefragmentednatureofindustry,long-termindustryfunding,structurestosupportlong-termplanningandimplementation,etc.Overthelastfouryears,therehavebeendiscussionsabouttheestablishmentofanationalherdhealthinitiative,butprogresshasbeenslow.Weneedtoactsoon,tomaximiseboththestandardsandqualityoflivestockproductsfromIrishfarmsintothefuture.

Printed with permission from the Irish Farmers Journal.


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A case for increased private sector involvement in Ireland’s national animal health services

More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA


Non-regulatoryanimalhealthissues,suchasJohne’sdisease,infectiousbovinerhinotracheitis(IBR)andmastitiswillbecomeincreasingimportant,withongoingglobalisationofmarketsinanimalsandanimalproducts.Inresponse,Irelandmayneedtobroadenthescopeofitsnationalanimalhealthservices.However,therehavebeenconcernsabouttherespectiverolesandresponsibilities(bothfinancialandotherwise)ofgovernmentandindustryinanysuchmoves.ThispaperarguesthecaseforincreasedprivatesectorinvolvementinIreland’snationalanimalhealthservices,basedbothontheoreticalconsiderationsandcountrycasestudies(theNetherlandsandAustralia).TheDutchandAustraliancasestudiespresentexamplesofsuccessfulpartnershipsbetweengovernmentandindustry,includingsystemsandproc-essestoaddressnon-regulatoryanimalhealthissues.Ineachcase,therolesandresponsibilitiesofgovernmentareclear,asaretheprinciplesunderpinninggovernmentinvolvement.Furthermore,therolesandresponsibilities(financialandotherwise) of the Dutch and Australian industry are determined through enabling legislation, providing both legitimacy andaccountability.ThereareconstraintsontheuseofEUandnationalgovernmentfundstosupportnon-regulatoryanimalhealthservicesinEUmemberstates(suchasIrelandandtheNetherlands).


Setting priorities for non-regulatory animal health in Ireland: results from an expert Delphi Study and a farmer priority identification survey

More, S.J.1, McKenzie, K.2, O’Flaherty, J.3, Doherty, M.L.4, Cromie, A.R.5, Magan, M.J.3

1 UCD CVERA, 2 UCD Geary Institute, 3 Animal Health Ireland, 4 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine,


AgricultureisaveryimportantcontributortotheIrisheconomy.InIreland,nationalanimalhealthserviceshavebeenagovernment,ratherthananindustry,responsibility.In2009,AnimalHealthIreland(AHI)wasestablishedtoprovideapartnershipapproachtonationalleadershipofnon-regulatoryanimalhealthissues(thosenotsubjecttonationaland/orEUregulation).Theobjectivesofthisstudyweretoelicitopinionfromexpertsandfarmersaboutnon-regulatoryanimalhealthissuesfacingIrishlivestockindustries,includingprioritisationofanimalhealthissuesandidentificationofopportunitiestomaximisetheeffectiveuseofAHIresources.ThestudywasconductedwithexpertsusingDelphimeth-odologyover3rounds,andwithfarmersusingapriorityidentificationsurvey.Non-regulatorybovinediseases/condi-tionswereprioritisedbybothexpertsandfarmersbasedonimpactandinternationalcompetitiveness.Foreachhighprioritydiseases/condition,expertswereaskedtoprovideanassessmentbasedoncost,impact,internationalperception,impedimenttointernationalmarketaccessandcurrentresourceusageeffectiveness.Furtherinformationwasalsosoughtfromexpertsaboutresourceallocationpreferences,methodstoimproveeducationandcoordination,andinnovativemeasurestoimprovepreventionandmanagement.Therewascloseagreementbetweenresponsesfromexpertsanddairyfarmers:eachgavehighestpriorityto3biosecure(bovineviraldiarrhoea[BVD],infectiousbovinerhinotracheitis[IBR],paratuberculosis)and4non-biosecure(fertility,udderhealth/milkquality,lameness,calfhealth)diseases/conditions.


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Beeffarmersalsoprioritisedparasiticconditionsandweanlingpneumonia.Theadverseimpactofbiosecurediseasesiscurrentlyconsideredrelativelyminorbyexperts,butwouldincreasesubstantiallyintime.Therearealreadysubstantialcoststofarmsandagribusinessfromnon-biosecurediseases/conditions.Expertspreferredanequalallocationofresourcesbetweenthesebiosecureandnon-biosecurediseases/conditions,withemphasisonadopting/adaptinginternationalmodels,educationandawareness-raising.Theresultsfromthisstudyproviderobustinsightsaboutnon-regulatoryanimalhealthprioritiesinIreland,asperceivedbyexpertsandfarmers,usingmethodologiesthatarebothtransparentandinclusive.Theyhavealreadybeenextremelyinfluentialinshapingnationalpolicy,asafoundationforinterdiscipli-nary(andmulti-agency)cooperation,asacontributiontoeffortstoencouragestakeholderresponsibility-taking,andtoongoingdevelopmentofpostgraduateandundergraduateveterinaryeducationinIreland.

Animal Health Ireland: shaping the future of non-regulatory animal health in Ireland through national coordination and partnership

More, S.J.1, O’Flaherty, J.2, Doherty, M.L.3, Downey, L.3, McKenzie, K.4, Magan, M.J.2

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Animal Health Ireland, 3 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 4 UCD Geary Institute

Irelandhasmadesubstantialprogressinregulatoryanimaldiseasecontrol,througharangeofgovernment-lednationalprogrammes.Incontrast,progressonarangeofnon-regulatoryanimalhealthissueshavesufferedfromanabsenceofnationalleadershipandmanagement.ThispaperdescribestheestablishmentandearlyactivitiesofAnimalHealthIreland,arecently-establishedorganisationthatseekstoshapethefutureofnon-regulatoryanimalhealthinIrelandthroughnationalco-ordinationandpartnership.

Food chain control – pre-harvest phase

More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

Aglobalapproachisneeded,fromfarmtotable,toensurethatfoodforhumansissafetoeat.Controlsatthefirststageofthefoodchain,thepre-harvestphase,areacriticalpartofthisbroaderapproach.Inthispaper,attentionispaidtothree broad components of food chain control at this stage, including the safety of animal feeds, animal health, and traceability.Witheachofthesecomponents,arangeofexamplesareusedtohighlightkeypoints.


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fertility

Oestrous synchronisation in cattle – current options following the EU regulations restricting use of oestrogenic compounds in food-producing animals: a review

Lane, E.A.1, Austin, E.J.2, Crowe, M.A.2

1 UCD CVERA, 2 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine

Animal Reproduction Science 109, 1-16 (2008)

Oestroussynchronisationisanimportantstrategytoimprovereproductivemanagementofcattle.Theuseofoestradiol-17b, and its related ester derivatives, in food-producing cattle for the purposes of oestrous synchronisation is prohibited intheEuropeanUnionsinceOctober2006;aseriouslimitationintheimplementationoflarge-scaleuseofcosteffectivesynchronisationregimensinbothdairyandbeefherds.ThishasobviousconsequenceswithintheEUandalsoinothercountriesthathaverestrictedtheuseofoestradiolfollowingtheEUban.Oestroussynchronisationisanimportantfacili-tatorfortheuseofartificialinsemination,anecessarypartofanynationalherdgeneticimprovementscheme.Presently,only35%oftheIrishdairyherdisbredbyartificialinsemination;andfacilitationratherthanrestrictionisrequiredtoincreasethispercentage.Ideallysynchronisationofoestrusshouldincreasesubmissionrates,improveoratleastnotaffectconceptionrates,andthus,increaseoverallpregnancyrateattheendofthebreedingseason.Thisshouldreducetheproportionofcowstobeculled.ThispaperaimstoreviewtheoestroussynchronyoptionsavailableinEUcountriesandothercountriesaffectedbytheEuropeanbanonoestrogeniccompoundsbeingusedforoestroussynchronyprotocols.Currently, the options available for oestrous synchronisation are generally not as effective, efficient or cost effective as thosethatincorporateduseofoestrogeniccompounds.

This article was published in Animal Reproduction Science, 109, Lane, E.A., Austin, E.J., Crowe, M.A., Oestrous synchronisa-tion in cattle – current options following the EU regulations restricting use of oestrogenic compounds in food-producing animals: a review, 1-16, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2008.

Key factors affecting dairy cow fertility in Ireland

Lane, E. A.1, Crowe, M.A.2, Wickham, B.3, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 3 Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Ltd.

Reproductivetargetsmustbeachievedtoensurelong-termeconomicviabilityofintensivelymanageddairyherds.Manystudieshavehighlightedthecostsassociatedwithpoorfertility.Herdmanagementcanbeeffectivelyfacilitatedbyuseofintegratedcomputerisedprogrammesforfertility,healthandproduction.Largeandexpandingherdsmaycertainlybenefitfromuseofthesecomputerizedpackages.Theanalysisofherdmanagementrecordsallowsforaccurateassess-mentofthecurrentstatusoftheherd,acrucialdecisionmakingtooltoimplementeffectivechange.Monitoringofsuch changes to ensure their effectiveness is essential to the success of any programme, while, participation in discussion groups,allowsforpeercomparisons,akeyfactorinmotivatingherdmanagementchange.Thisprogrammeofworkaimstoi)evaluatethereproductiveefficiencyofthenationaldairyherdutilizingtheIrishCattleBreedingFederation’s(ICBF)database,ii)determinethekeydriversofloweredfertilityinthenationalherd,iii)correlateproductionandmanagementstrategies with reproductive performance, and iv) monitor the impact of changes in herd management on the reproduc-tiveperformanceofIrishdairyherds.


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Milk quality

Global trends in milk quality: implications for the Irish dairy industry

More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

Irish Veterinary Journal 62 (supplement), 5-14 (2009)

ThequalityofIrishagriculturalproductwillbecomeincreasinglyimportantwiththeongoingliberalisationofinterna-tionaltrade.ThispaperpresentsareviewoftheglobalandIrishdairyindustries;considerstheimpactofmilkqualityonfarmprofitability,foodprocessingandhumanhealth;examinesglobaltrendsinquality;andexploresseveralmodelsthataresuccessfullybeingusedtotacklemilkqualityconcerns.Thereisagrowingglobaldemandfordairyproducts,fuelledinpartbygrowingconsumerwealthindevelopingcountries.Globaldairytraderepresentsonly6.2%ofglobalproduc-tionanddemandcurrentlyoutstripssupply.AlthoughtheIrishdairyindustryissmallbyglobalstandards,approximately85%ofannualproductionisexportedannually.Itisalsotheworld’slargestproducerofpowderedinfantformula.Milkqualityhasanimpactonhumanhealth,milkprocessingandon-farmprofitability.Somaticcellcount(SCC)isakeymeasureofmilkquality,withaSCCnotexceeding400,000cells/ml(theEUmilkqualitystandard)generallyacceptedastheinternationalexportstandard.Therehavebeenongoingimprovementsinmilkqualityamongbothestablishedandemerginginternationalsuppliers.Anumberofcountrieshavedevelopedsuccessfulindustry-ledmodelstotacklemilkqualityconcerns.Basedoninternationalexperiences,itislikelythatproblemswitheffectivetranslationofknowl-edgetopractice,ratherthanincompleteknowledgeperse,arethemoreimportantconstraintstonationalprogresstowardsimprovedmilkquality.


Milk quality in Ireland during 2003 to 2007: a critical review of national policy and performance

More, S.J.1, Clegg, T.A.1, O’Grady, L.2


Irelandisanimportantplayerintheworlddairytradeandtheworld’sleadingproducerofinfantnutritionproducts.ThispaperpresentsanoverviewofnationalmilkpolicyandofobjectivemeasuresofmilkqualityinIrelandduring2003to2007.Relevantlegislationandlegislativeenforcementarereviewed.Ananalysiswasundertakenofsomaticcellcount(SCC)resultsfromallmilk-recordedherdsinIrelandduring2003to2007.Additionaldatawereobtainedfromunpub-lishedgovernmentreports.AhighpercentageofherdshavehighSCCresults,withresultsfluctuatingseasonally.Thepercentageofherdsdefinedas‘problematic’isheavilyinfluencedbylegislativeinterpretation.Therearearangeoffactorsto consider when addressing these concerns including an increased focus on competitive advantage, a shift in focus from input-tooutput-basedstandards,andreviewofcurrentapproachestonationalgovernanceofmilkqualityissues.


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Farm management factors associated with bulk tank total bacterial count in Irish dairy herds during 2006/2007

Kelly, P.T.1, 2, O’Sullivan, K.3, Berry, D.P.1, More, S.J.4, Meaney, W.J.1, O’Callaghan, E.J.1, O’Brien, B.1

1 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, 2 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine,

3 UCC Department of Statistics, 4 UCD CVERA


Researchhasshownthattotalbacterialcount(TBC),whichisthebacterialgrowthpermlofmilkoverafixedperiodoftime,canbedecreasedbygoodhygieneandfarmmanagementpractices.TheobjectiveofthecurrentstudywastoquantifytheassociationsbetweenherdmanagementfactorsandbulktankTBCinIrishspringcalving,grass-baseddairyherds.TherelationshipbetweenbulktankTBCandfarmmanagementandinfrastructurewasexaminedusingdatafrom400randomlyselectedIrishdairyfarmswherethebasaldietwasgrazedgrass.HerdmanagementfactorsassociatedwithbulktankTBCwereidentifiedusinglinearmodelswithherdannualtotalbacterialscore(i.e.,arithmeticmeanofthenaturallogarithmofbulktankTBC)includedasthedependentvariable.Allherdmanagementfactorswereindividuallyanalysedinaseparateregressionmodelthatincludedanadjustmentforgeographicallocationofthefarm.Amultiplestepwiseregressionmodelwassubsequentlydeveloped.MedianbulktankTBCforthesampleherdswas18,483cells/mlrangingfrom10,441to130,458cells/ml.Resultsfromthemultivariateanalysisindicatedthatthefollowingmanage-mentpracticeswereassociatedwithlowTBC;useofheatedwaterinthemilkingparlour;participationinamilkrecordingscheme;andtailclippingofcowsatafrequencygreaterthanonceperyear.IncreasedlevelofhygieneoftheparlourandcubicleswerealsoassociatedwithlowerTBC.HerdmanagementfactorsassociatedwithbulktankTBCinIrishgrazingherdsweregenerallyinagreementwithmostpreviousstudiesfromconfinementsystemsofmilkproduction.


Farm management factors associated with bulk tank somatic cell count in Irish dairy herds

Kelly, P.T.1, 2, O’Sullivan, K.3, Berry. D.P.1, More, S.J.4, Meaney, W.J.1, O’Callaghan, E.J.1, O’Brien, B.1



Irish Veterinary Journal 62 (supplement), 45-51 (2009)

Therelationshipbetweenbulktanksomaticcellcount(SCC)andfarmmanagementandinfrastructurewasexaminedusingdatafrom398randomlyselected,yetrepresentative,Irishdairyfarmswherethebasaldietisgrazedgrass.MedianbulktankSCCforthefarmswas282,887cells/mlrangingfrom82,209to773,028cells/ml.Twoquestionnaireswereadministeredthroughface-to-facecontactwitheachfarmer.Herd-levelfactorsassociatedwithbulktankSCCweredeterminedusinglinearmodelswithannualsomaticcellscore(i.e.,arithmeticmeanofthenaturallogarithmofbulktankSCC)includedasthedependentvariable.Allherdlevelfactorswereanalysedindividuallyinseparateregressionmodels,whichincludedanadjustmentforgeographicallocationofthefarm;amultipleregressionmodelwassubsequentlydeveloped.ManagementpracticesassociatedwithlowSCCincludedtheuseofdrycowtherapy,participationinamilkrecordingschemeandtheuseofteatdisinfectionpost-milking.TherewasanassociationbetweenlowSCCandanincreasedlevelofhygieneandfrequencyofcleaningoftheholdingyard,passagewaysandcubicles.HerdmanagementfactorsassociatedwithbulktankSCCinIrishgrazingherdsaregenerallyinagreementwithmostpreviousstudiesfromconfinementsystemsofmilkproduction.



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Spatial trends in milk somatic cell count in the Republic of Ireland from 2003 to 2007

Kelly, P.T.1, 2, Collins, D.M.3, More, S.J.3, Berry, D.P.1, Cromie, A.4, O’Brien, B.1


3 UCD CVERA, 4 Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Ltd.

Irelandproducesapproximately5,157millionlitresofmilkannuallywhichwasestimatedtobeworth€1.4billiontotheIrisheconomyin2007.However,milksomaticcellcount(SCC)hasincreasedinIrelandinrecentyearswithadverseeffectsoneconomicreturnsbothon-andpost-farm.Mappingtechnologymayassistinamulti-strandednationalapproachtotacklingthisissue,enablingpolicy-makerstoidentifygeographicalregionsofhighSCC,andfacilitatingthestrategicallocationoffiniteresources,suchasextensionservices.TheobjectivesofthisstudyweretodescribethespatialdistributionofherdSCCinmilk-recordingdairyherdsthroughoutIreland,toexamineiftheseSCCvaluescluster,andtodeterminewhethertherehasbeenachangeinthespatialpatternoftheseSCCvaluesovertime.Herd-yeargeometricmeanSCCvalueswereavailablefor4,314milk-recordingherdsduring2003to2007.EachherdwasassignedanXandYcoordinate(locationonmap)basedonthecentroidofthelargestfarmfragment.Arangeofmappingandanalysistoolswereusedincludingpointandkerneldensityandclusteringanalysismethods.Thesouthofthecountryhadthegreatestdensityofmilkrecordingherds.Approximately60%ofallherdsinthestudywerefromfourcounties(Cork,Kerry,LimerickandTipperary).TherewasanincreaseintheaveragebulktankSCCfrom110,264cells/mlin2003to118,782cells/mlin2005,followedbyadecreaseto108,454cells/mlin2007.Between2006and2007SCCdecreasedinthenortheast,southeastandwestofthecountryandanincreasedinthesouth.TherewasnospatialclusteringofhighSCCscores(i.e.,SCCononefarmwasnotrelatedtoSCConotherfarms),consistentwithmastitisbeingaherd-asopposedtoanarea-basedproblem.

The relationship between somatic cell count and parity, stage of lactation, month of calving and age of calving

Kelly, P.T.1, 2, More, S.J.3, Berry, D.P.1, O’Brien, B.1

1 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, 2 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 3 UCD CVERA

GrazedpastureconstitutesthebasaldietofdairycowsinIreland,with66%ofdairycowscalvingbetweenFebruaryandApril.ThereisagapinknowledgeofcowfactorsassociatedwithSCCinagrassbasedproductionsystem.Thus,theobjectiveofthecurrentstudywastoinvestigatehowSCCdiffersacrossparity,stageoflactation,monthofcalvingandage at calving centred within parity within a seasonal calving system where cows are at pasture for the main part of the year.Atotalof506,517testdayrecordsfrom740milkrecordedherdsbetween2002and2005wereusedinthisstudy.DifferencesinSCCamongthefactorsunderinvestigationweredeterminedusingmixedmodelswithcowincludedasarandomeffect.Thefirst305dayspost-calvingweredividedintotenstagesoflactationin30dayincrementsstartingat5daysinmilk(DIM).SCCincreasedwithparityfrom97,000cells/mlinparity1to199,000cell/mlinparity6whichcouldbeduetoanincreasedriskofinfectiouspathogensenteringtheudderandcausingmastitis.SCCdecreasedbetweentheperiod5to35DIMand36to65DIM,andincreasedthereafter.TherateofincreaseinSCSfrommidtolatelactationwasgreatestinolderparityanimals.CowscalvinginthemonthsofJanuaryandSeptemberhadloweraverageSCC.TheresultsfromthisstudycanbeusedinthedevelopmentofstrategiesanddecisionsupporttoolstohelpbenchmarkandpredictSCCingrassbasedseasonalproductionsystems.


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Association between milk somatic cell count and cow milk yield for different cow parities in a grass based system

Kelly, P.T.1, 2, O’Sullivan, K.3, Berry, D.P.1, More, S.J.4, O’Brien, B.1



Subclinicalmastitisisoneofthemostcostlydiseasesofdairycattle.Thecostofthisproblemmayhavebeenover-esti-matedinthepast,asaconsequenceofthedilutioneffectofmilkyieldonsomaticcellcount(SCC).Someadjustmentfortheeffectofdilutionhasrecentlybeenmade,butwithoutconsideringdifferencesbetweenparities.Therearethreeobjectivesinthecurrentstudy:1)toinvestigatetheassociationbetweenSCCandmilkyieldwithinaseasonalgrassbased production system, 2) calculate the dilution estimates for each individual parity and 3) use these dilution estimates toinvestigatethedilutioneffectofmilkyieldonSCC.Atotalof235,163testdayrecordsfrom23,791cowsin366Irishmilkrecordedherdsbetweentheyears2003and2005wereincludedinanalysis.TheassociationbetweenSCCandmilkyieldwasinvestigatedusingtwomodels:1)theassociationbetweenbothSCCandlog

eSCCandmilkyieldwas

determined,and2)fourdilutionestimateswereusedtoadjustSCCtoaccountforthedilutionofSCCbymilkyield.Anegative association was observed between both SCC and log

eSCCandmilkyield.Whentherewasnopre-adjustment

ofSCCformilkyield,atestdaymilklossof1.43,2.08,2.59,2.56and2.62LwasassociatedwithanincreaseofSCCcategoryfrom<51to>400inparity1to5animals,respectively.Additionally,twoofthedilutionestimateshadsimilartrendsinmilklossduetoSCCtowhentherewasnodilutionestimateused.Alternatively,forthepre-adjustmentofSCCthatmultipliedSCCbythemeantestdaymilkyieldasaproportionofthetestdaymilkyield,therewasanincreaseintestdaymilkyieldwithincreasingSCCcategory.Theresultsfromthisstudycanbeusedtomore-accuratelycalculatetheeconomicimplicationsofSCC.

The relationship between milk somatic cell counts and herd size in Ireland – a retrospective cohort study

Canty, M.J.1, Binns, S.H.2

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Consultant veterinary epidemiologist

Mastitis is a multi-factorial disease with a long history and results in the impairment of cow welfare due to pain, and has beenrecognisedasawelfareproblemindairycows.Typicallymilksomaticcellcounts(SCC)areusedasanindicatorofudderhealthreflectingthelevelofinflammationwithintheudder.SCCsareoneofthemostimportantindicatorsofmilkquality,reflectingnotonlythehealthstatusoftheudder,butarealsothekeycomponentofnationalandinterna-tionalregulationofmilkquality.In2006,theIrishdairyindustryproduced5.2milliontonnesofmilk,ofwhichapprox-imately85%wasexportedashighqualityproducts.SCCsaffecttheprocessingpotentialofmilk.EUCouncilDirective92/46/EECrequiresthatrawmilkhasSCC<400,000cells/mlanddairyproductssoldwithintheEUmustmeetthesestandards.ThisprojectwilltrytodeterminetherelationshipbetweenmilksomaticcellcountsandherdsizeinIrelandbasedondataprovidedbytheIrishCattleBreedingFederation(ICBF).


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Development of a HACCP-based approach for the control of mastitis in dairy cows

Beekhuis-Gibbon, L.1, O’Grady, L.1, More S.J.2, Whyte, P.1, 3, Doherty, M.L.1

1 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 UCD Institute of Food and Public Health

HazardAnalysisandCriticalControlPoints(HACCP)isasystematic,preventativeapproachthathasbeendevelopedto increase levels of product safety assurance and which is now widely applied to the dairy processing as well as the retailandcateringsectors.AnovelapproachbasedonadeconstructionoftheinfectiousprocessinmastitiswasusedtodevelopagenericHACCP-basedsystemtopreventandcontrolmastitisindairyherds.Theapproachinvolvedthecrea-tionofanInfectiousProcessFlowDiagram,whichwasthencross-referencedtotwoproductionprocessflowdiagramsofthemilkingprocessandcowmanagementcycle,respectively.ThegenericHACCPplandevelopedinthisstudyissuitableforcustomizingandimplementationonspecificfarms.Theapproachdescribed,offersthepotentialofalogical,systematic approach to mastitis control that could be used as a template for the control of other infectious diseases of the dairycow.

Evaluation of the implementation of a HACCP-based approach for the control of mastitis on Irish dairy farms

Beekhuis-Gibbon, L.1, Devitt, C.2, O’Grady, L.1, More, S.J.3, Whyte, P.1, 4, Redmond, B.2, Doherty, M.L.1

1 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 2 Research consultant, 3 UCD CVERA, 4 UCD Institute of Food and Public Health

Asdescribedinanassociatedpaper,agenericHACCP-basedprogrammewasdevelopedforthecontrolofmastitisondairyfarms.Subsequently,theprogrammewascustomizedfor,andimplementedon,anumberofcollaboratingfarmsinIreland,followinganinitialepidemiologicalinvestigation.TheaimsoftheofthepresentstudyweretoimplementcustomizedHACCP-basedmastitiscontrolprogramsonsixparticipatingdairyfarms,tocriticallyevaluateandobtainfeedbackfromfarmersoftheactualimplementationoftheHACCP-basedprograms,andtoobtainsociologicalinsightsoffarmersintofactorsassociatedwiththeimplementationofthisprogram.

Milking parlour. Photograph by S.J. More.


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Johne’s disease

Risk factors for the introduction and within-herd transmission of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) infection on 59 Irish dairy herds

Cashman, W.1, Buckley, J.2, Quigley, T.3, Fanning, S.4, More, S.J.5,

Egan, J.6, Berry, D.7, Grant, I.8, O’Farrell, K.1

1 Private consultant, 2 Cork County Council, 3 Safefood, 4 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 5 UCD CVERA,

6 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 7 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre,

8 Institute of Agri-Food and Land Use, Queen’s University, Belfast, Northern Ireland


Since1994,IrishcattlehavebeenexposedtogreaterrisksofacquiringMycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP)infectionasaconsequenceoftheimportationofover70,000animalsfromcontinentalEurope.Inrecentyears,therehasbeenanincreaseinthenumberofreportedclinicalcasesofparatuberculosisinIreland.Thisstudyexaminesthe prevalence of factors that promote the introduction and within-herd transmission of Mycobacterium avium subspe-cies paratuberculosis(MAP)onselectedIrishdairyfarmsintheCorkregion,andtheassociationbetweenthesefactorsandtheresultsofMAPscreeningtestsonmilksockfilterresidue(MFR).Atotalof59dairyfarms,selectedusingnon-randommethodsbutapparentlyfreeofendemicparatuberculosis,wereenrolledintothestudy.AquestionnairewasusedtocollectdataaboutriskfactorsforMAPintroductionandtransmission.TheMFRwasassessedonsixoccasionsover24monthsforthepresenceofMAP,usingcultureandimmunomagneticseparationpriortopolymerasechainreaction(IMS-PCR).Furthermore,bloodsamplesfromallentiremaleandfemaleanimalsoveroneyearofagein20herdsweretestedbyELISA.Eighteen(31%)farmshadoperatedasclosedherdssince1994,28(47%)hadpurchasedfrommultiplesourcesand14(24%)hadeitherdirectorindirect(progeny)contactwithimportedanimals.Milkandcolostrumweremixedon51%offarms,while88%offarmsfedpooledmilk.Thirty(51%)herdstestednegativetoMFRcultureandIMS-PCR,12(20%)wereMFRculturepositive,26(44%)wereIMS-PCRpositiveandseven(12%)werebothcultureandIMS-PCRpositive.TheprobabilityofapositiveMFRculturewassignificantlyassociatedwithreducedattend-anceatcalving,andwithincreaseduseofindividualcalfpensandincreased(butnotsignificantly)ifmultiplesucklingwaspractised.TherewaspooragreementbetweenMFRcultureandMFRIMS-PCRresults,butmoderateagreementbetweenMFRcultureandELISAtestresults.ThisstudyhighlightsalackofawarenessamongIrishdairyfarmersabouttheeffectofinadequatebio-securityonMAPintroduction.Furthermore,within-herdtransmissionwillbefacilitatedbytraditionalcalfrearingandwastemanagementpractices.ThefindingsofviableMAPinthepresenceofknowntrans-missionfactorsinnon-clinicallyaffectedherdscouldbeapreludetolong-termproblemsfortheIrishcattleandagri-businessgenerally.



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Demographics of cattle positive for Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis by faecal culture, from submissions to the Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory

Richardson, E.K.B.1, Mee, J.F.1, Sánchez-Miguel, C.2, Crilly, J.1, More, S.J.3

1 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, 2 Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD CVERA


The demography of bovine infections caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis(MAP)inIrelandispoorlydefined.TheobjectiveofthisstudywastodescribethedemographicsofcattlepositivetoMAPonfaecalculture,basedonsubmissionstotheCorkRegionalVeterinaryLaboratory(CorkRVL)from1994to2006.Thestudyfocusedonallavailablefaecal samples from adult cattle with non-responsive chronic diarrhoea that were submitted by private veterinary practitioners toCorkRVLforMAPculture.ForeachMAP-positivebyfaecalcultureanimal,datawerecollatedfromCorkRVLandCattleMovementMonitoringScheme(CMMS)records.Johne’sdisease(JD)wasconfirmedin110animalsfrom86herdsbytheCorkRVLbetween1994and2006,witharateofpositivecasesbetween15%and18%overlastfouryearsofthestudy.Twobreeds(Holstein/FriesianorLimousin)madeup78%ofsubmissions.Movementswereassessedforthe57studyanimalswithavailablemovementinformation,90%diedwithinoneyearofthetestand26%testedpositiveintheherdtheywereborninto.ThestudyprovidespreliminaryinformationaboutmovementtrendsanddemographicsofanimalswithMAPpositivesubmissions.Althoughthestudyareaisrestricted,itincludesthemostintensive(andeconomically-important)dairyregioninIreland.ThedemographicsofJDinfectionfromthestudyareaareinagreementwithinternationalreports.Furtherworkisrequiredtodeterminedemographictrends,incidenceandprevalenceofJDthroughoutIreland.ItishopedthisworkmaycontributetothedevelopmentofasurveillancestrategyforMAPbyregionalveterinarylaboratories.


Direct and indirect effects of Johne’s disease on farm and animal reproductivity in an Irish dairy farm

Richardson, E.K.B.1, More, S.J.2

1 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, 2 UCD CVERA


Johne’sdisease(JD)iscausedbyinfectionwiththeorganismMycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis, leading tochronicdiarrhoeaandillthriftinadultcattle.JDisconsideredtoadverselyaffectfarmperformanceandprofitability.ThisretrospectivecasestudywasundertakenonasinglecommercialdairyherdinthesouthwestofIreland.AnimalproductionrecordswereinterrogatedtoassesstheeffectofJDonmilkyield(totalkgperlactation),somaticcellcount(thegeometricmeanoverthelactation),reasonsforculling,cullpriceandchangesinherdparitystructureovertime.JDgroupsweredefinedusingclinicalsignsandtestresults.Onecontrolanimalwasmatchedtoeachcaseanimalonparitynumberandyear.Specificlactations(clinical,pre-clinicalandtest-positiveonly)from1994to2004werecomparedbetweenJDcaseandcontrolcows.Asignificantlylowermilkyield(1259.3kg/lactation)wasnotedfromcowswithclinicalJDincomparisontotheirmatchedcontrolgroup.Clinicalanimalshadanaveragecullpriceof€516 less than animalsculledwithoutsignsofclinicaldisease.Incontrast,littleeffectwasnotedforsub-clinicalinfections.Thesedirecteffects of JD infections, in combination with increased culling for infertility and increasing replacement rates, had a negativeimpactonfarmproduction.ResultsfromthisstudyprovidepreliminaryinformationregardingtheeffectsofJDstatusonbothherdandanimal-levelperformanceinIreland.



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Prevalence and distribution of paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) in cattle herds in Ireland

Good, M.1, Clegg, T.A.2, Sheridan, H.1, Yearsely, D.3, O’Brien, T.3, Egan, J.3, Mullowney, P.1

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food


AsimplerandomsurveywasconductedinIrelandduring2005toestimatetheELISA-prevalenceofparatuberculosis,commonlycalledJohne’sdisease(JD),inthecattlepopulation.Serumsampleswerecollectedfromall20,322females/breedingbullsover12monthsof-agein639herds.AllsamplesweretestedusingacommerciallyavailableabsorbedELISA.Theoverallprevalenceofinfectedherds,basedonthepresenceofatleastoneELISA-positiveanimal,was21.4%(95%CI18.4%-24.9%).Herdprevalencelevelsamongstdairyherds(mean31.5%;95%CI:24.6%,39.3%)washigherthanamongbeefherds(mean17.9%;95%CI:14.6%-21.8%).However,theanimallevelprevalencewassimilar.Thetrueprevalenceamongallanimalstested,wascalculatedtobe2.86%(95%CI:2.76,2.97)andforanimals>=2yrs,itwas3.30%(95%CI:3.17,3.43).Foranimalsinbeefherds,trueprevalencewas3.09%(95%CI:2.93,3.24),andforthoseindairyherds,2.74%(95%CI:2.59,2.90).ThemajorityofherdshadonlyoneELISA-positiveinfectedanimal.Only6.4%(95%CI4.7%-8.7%)ofallherdshadmorethanoneELISA-positiveinfectedanimal;13.3%(CI8.7%-19.7%)ofdairyherdsrangingfromtwotoeightELISA-positiveinfectedanimals;and,3.9%beefherds(CI2.4%-6.2%)rangingfromtwotofiveELISA-positiveinfectedanimals.ThetrueprevalenceofherdsinfectedandsheddingMycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosisisestimatedtobe9.5%forallherdtypes;20.6%fordairyherds;and7.6%forbeefherds.IfELISApositiveanimals<2-years-of-ageareexcluded,thetrueherdprevalencereducesto:9.3%forallherdtypes;19.6%fordairyherds;and6.3%forbeefherdsbasedonatestspecificity(Sp)of99.8%andtestsensitivity(Se)(i.e.,abilitytodetectculture-positive,infectedanimalssheddingatanylevel)of27.8-28.9%.


Farming in Ireland. Photograph by S.J. More.


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Genetic variation in serological response to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis and its association with performance in Irish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows

Berry, D.P.1, Good, M.2, Mullowney, P.2, Cromie, A.R.4, More, S.J.3

1 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

3 UCD CVERA, 4 Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Society Ltd.

Journal of Dairy Science, in press

Paratuberculosis,alsoreferredtoasJohne’sdisease,isacontagiousandchronicdiseaseinruminantscausedbyMycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis(MAP).Fewestimatesofthegeneticvariationinmeasuresofsuscep-tibilitytoMAPareavailableintheliteratureandevenlesshaveattemptedtoelucidatethegeneticassociationsbetweenmeasuresofsusceptibilitytoMAPandperformanceindairycattle.TheobjectivesofthisstudyweretoestimatethegeneticvariationinserologicalresponsetoMAPin4,789Holstein-Friesiandairycowsfrom44Irishdairyherds,andtoquantifyitsgeneticassociationwithperformancetraitsmeasuredinthefirstthreelactationsofgeneticallyrelatedanimals.Univariatemixedlinearandthresholdanimalmodelswereusedtoestimatevariancecomponentsandgeneticcorrelationswereestimatedusingbivariatesirelinearmixedmodels;MAPserologicalresponsewastreatedasacontin-uousvariableanddichotomousvariable.TheprevalenceofMAPinthesamplepopulationwas4.8%.ThisfigurecannotbeextrapolatedtothenationaldairyherdasthesamplepopulationwasbiasedtowardsherdswithincreasedlikelihoodofMAPinfection.EstimatesofheritabilityforMAPserologicalresponsevariedfrom0.07to0.14dependingonthemodelofanalysisandwhetherserologicalresponsewastreatedascontinuousorbinary;standarderrorsvariedfrom0.024and0.062.GeneticcorrelationsbetweenMAPserologicalresponseandlactationmilk,fatandproteinyieldwerenegativealthoughnotalwaysmorethantwostandarderrorsfromzero;strongernegativegeneticcorrelationswereevidentinolderparityanimals.SerologicalresponsetoMAPwasnotgeneticallycorrelatedwithmilkfatconcentrationbutwaspositivelygeneticallycorrelatedwithmilkproteinconcentrationandnegativelycorrelatedwithcalvinginterval.PositivegeneticcorrelationsexistedbetweenMAPserologicalresponseandsomaticcellcountbutthecorrelationswerenotgreaterthantwostandarderrorsfromzero.TherewaslittleornogeneticassociationbetweenserologicalresponsetoMAPandsurvival.Resultsfromthisstudycorroboratepreviousinternationalsuggestionsthatselectionforreducedsero-logicalresponsetoMAPispossible,althoughthisdoesnotnecessarilyimplyaconcurrentselectionforeitherreducedprevalenceofclinicaldiseaseorincreasedresistancetoMAPinfection.

This article will be published in the Journal of Dairy Science, Berry, D.P., Good, M., Mullowney, P., Cromie, A.R., More, S.J., Genetic variation in serological response to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis and its association with perform-ance in Irish Holstein-Friesian dairy cows, Copyright American Dairy Science Association, 2010.


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A case-control study of risk factors for paratuberculosis (Johne’s disease) in Irish dairy herds

Barrett, D.J.1, Mee, J.F.2, Mullowney, P.3, Good, M.3, McGrath, G.4, Clegg, T.A.4, More, S.J.4

1 Sligo Regional Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre,


This paper reports a case-control study of herd and management factors associated with the introduction and transmis-sionofparatuberculosisindairyherdsinIreland.Dataweregatheredbytelephoneinterview.Caseherdswereselectedon the basis of having one or more positive faecal cultures for Mycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis(MAP).ControlherdswereselectedfromherdsseronegativeforMAPinanationalsero-survey.ControlherdswerematchedtocaseherdsbytheyearofdiagnosisofMAPinthecaseherds.Factorsrelatingtodiseasehistory,herdsize,neonatalfeedingandmanagementandgrasslandmanagementwerefoundtobesignificant(p<0.05)intheunivariateanalysis.Inthemultivariateexactlogisticanalysis,incomparisontocontrolherdsthecaseherdsweremorelikelytohaveimportedcattlefromcontinentalEurope,weremorelikelytohaveexperiencedherddepopulationasaresultofaregulatorydiseaseoutbreak,andwerelargerinsize.WiththeimminentabolitionofmilkquotasintheEuropeanUnion,manyIrishdairyherdswillbeundergoingexpansion.Suchherdownersneedtobeawareofparatuberculosis,andtakeprecautionstoavoiditsintroductionandspread.Herdownersunawareoftheirinfectionstatusneedtoestablishit.Whereinfectionispresent,managementpracticesmustbeputinplacetocontrolit.

Genetic associations between Johne’s disease and susceptibility to Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium subsp avium in Irish Holstein Friesian dairy cows

Bermingham, M.L.1, More, S.J.2, Good, M.3, Cromie, A.R.4, Mullowney, P.3, Higgins, I.M.2, Berry, D.P.1

1 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,


Johne’sdiseaseincattleiscausedbyMycobacterium aviumsubsp.paratuberculosis(MAP).Arecentstudyhasdemon-stratedthatsignificantgeneticvariationexistsforsusceptibilitytoMAPinfectioninIrishHolsteinFriesiandairycows.Nevertheless,dataonJohne’sdiseaseoccurrenceisnotcollectedroutinelyonIrishdairyfarms.TheobjectiveofthisstudywastoestimatethegeneticassociationsbetweenresistancetoMAPinfectionandmeasuresofsuscepti-bility to M. bovis and M. aviuminfection.SerologicalresponsetoMAPwasusedasameasureofcowsusceptibilitytoJohne’sdisease.Thesingleintradermalcomparativetuberculintestwasusedasameasureofsusceptibilityofcowsto M. bovis and M. aviuminfection.Atotalof4,581cowserologicalresponsetoMAPrecords,19,663M. bovis-PPDresponsivenessrecordsand15,824M. avium-PPDresponsivenessrecordswereavailableforinclusionintheanalysis.Geneticandresidual(co)variancecomponentsbetweenserologicalresponsetoMAPandsusceptibilitytoM. bovis-PPDandM. avium-PPDresponsivenesswereestimatedusingbivariatelinearanimalmodels.SerologicalresponsetoMAPwasstronglypositivelygeneticallycorrelated(0.84±0.20)withsusceptibilitytoM. avium-PPDresponsiveness.Susceptibility to M. avium-PPDresponsivenesswasnotgeneticallycorrelated(0.03±0.32)withserologicalresponsetoMAP.TheresultsfromstudysuggestthatselectionforreducedM. avium-PPDresponsivenessmayindirectlyincreaseresistancetoMAPinfectionwithinthenationalHolsteinFriesiandairyherd.


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Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) / Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD)

Herd and within-herd BoHV-1 prevalence among Irish beef herds submitting bulls for entry to a performance testing station

O’Grady, L.1, O’Neill, R.2, Collins, D.M.3, Clegg, T.A.3, More, S.J.3

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD CVERA


Infectiousbovinerhinotracheitis(IBR),causedbybovineherpesvirus1(BoHV-1),mayresultinvariousclinicalconse-quences,includingsevererespiratorydiseaseandconjunctivitis,venerealdiseaseandreducedreproductiveperformanceandabortion.ThispaperpresentstheserosurveillancefindingsfromanintakeofbullsintoaperformancetestingstationinIrelandduringNovember2007.Theherdandwithin-herdBoHV-1prevalencein53Irishbeefherdsandtheriskfactorsforinfectionintheseherdsweredetermined,amongbullsenteringabeefperformancetestingstationinIreland.BoHV-1statuswasdeterminedfor41herds,ofwhich30(73.2%)herdswereinfectedandthemeanwithin-herdBoHV-1prevalencewas28(±20)%.Multivariateexactlogisticmodellingrevealedincreasingnumbersofcontiguousherdsanddecreasingpercentageofmaleswithintheherdassignificantriskfactorsassociatedwithinfectedherds.ThesefindingshighlightthehighprevalenceofBoHV-1infectioninthoseIrishbeefherdsthatsubmittedbullstothisperformancetestingstation,andraiseconcernsregardingIBRcontrolnationally.


To determine the prevalence of Bovine Virus Diarrhoea virus (BVDv) infection and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) and to establish associations between seroprevalence and cattle herd productivity in the Republic of Ireland

Cowley, B.1, Clegg, T.A.2, More, S.J.2

1 Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, 2 UCD CVERA

InfectiousdiseasessuchasBovineVirusDiarrhoea(BVD)infectionandInfectiousBovineRhinotracheitis(IBR)havebeenidentifiedaskeyinfluencesinthefuturesuccessoftheIrishdairyandbeefindustries.Anecdotalevidencesuggeststhattheprevalenceofthesediseasesishighthoughlimitedpublisheddataexistonnationalseroprevalenceforeitherdiseaseineitherthedairyorbeefsector.TheobjectiveofthisstudyistoevaluatetheseroprevalenceofBVDandIBRindairyandbeefcowsintheRepublicofIreland.Itisalsoproposedtodetermineassociationsbetweenseroprevalenceandproduction,farmlocationandfarmmanagementstrategies.


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Seroprevalence of leptospirosis in Irish beef/suckler herds

Ryan, E.1, O’Grady, L.2, More, S.J.3, Doherty, M.L.2, Leonard, N.2

1 Private veterinary practitioner, 2 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 3 UCD CVERA

Theobjectivesofthisstudyweretoestablishtheherdseroprevalenceofleptospirosisinunvaccinatedsuckler/beefherdsintheRepublicofIreland,andtoestablishtheindividualanimalseroprevalenceintheIrishsuckler/beefbreedingstockpopulation.Forthepurposeofherdselection,thecountrywasdividedintosixgroupswithapproximatelyequalnumbersofsucklercows,basedontheCMMSdatafrom2000.Herdswerethenselectedatrandom,fromserathatweremadeavailablefromtheDepartmentofAgricultureNationalJohne’sDiseasescreeningstudy,whileaimingtohavearoughlyequalquantityofherdsineachgroup.Ineachherd,thenumberofeligibleanimals(N;femalesandentirebulls>1yearold)tobetestedineachherdwascalculatedasfollows: • HerdSize<20,N=alleligibleanimals; • HerdSize≥20,N=20(animalschosenatrandom).AnimalsweretestedusingtheLinnodeemonoclonalantibodycaptureELISA.Initialresultswereasfollows: • Thenumberofunvaccinatedherdstestedwas299.BasedonthesensitivityandspecificityoftheELISA,itwas

determinedthatacut-offof4positiveanimalsperherdwasrequiredtocategoriseaherdaspositive.Thisresultedin276positiveherds(276/299)=92.3%.

• Thetotalnumberofunvaccinatedindividualanimalstestedwas5054.Ofthistotal,therewere2472animalsposi-tiveusingtheLinodeeELISA(2472/5054)=48.9%.

Evaluation of the risk factors for leptospirosis in Irish suckler/beef herds

Ryan, E.1, O’Grady, L.2, More, S.J.3, Doherty, M.L.2, Leonard, N.2

1 Private veterinary practitioner, 2 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 3 UCD CVERA

TheobjectivesofthisstudyweretoestablishtheepidemiologicalriskfactorsaffectingherdseroprevalencetoLeptospira hardjoinunvaccinatedsuckler/beefherdsintheRepublicofIreland.Questionnaireswerepostedtotheherdownersofallthoseherdssampledintheseroprevalencestudy.Thesequestionnairesaimedtodeterminewhethertheherdwasvacci-natingforleptospirosis,aswellasposinganumberofquestionsconcerningdiseasehistoryon-farm;animaldetailsintheherd;thepresenceofastockbull;accesstowatercourses;thepresenceofsheeponthefarm;biosecurityintheherdanddetailsonanimalhousing.Inordertofullydeterminethevaccinationstatusofeachherd,follow-uptelephonequestion-naireswereundertakenforthoseherdsthatdidnotreturnacompletedquestionnaire.Questionnaireswerereturnedfrom136unvaccinatedherds.Questionnaireresultswerecompletedtovaryingdegreesmakingstatisticalanalysismoredifficult.TheonlyriskfactorthataffectedherdseroprevalencetoLeptospira hardjo with statistical significance was herd size.Largerherdswereassociatedwithasignificantlyincreasedherdseroprevalence.


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A detailed farm investigation

A randomised controlled study to determine the effect of location on growth, haematological parameters, serum biochemistry, nutritional and endocrinological status, immune function and disease status in housed weanling cattle between January and May 2007

Lane, E.A.1, Canty, M.J.1, Clegg, T.A.1, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

Long-termproblemsofcattleperformancehavebeenobservedonafarm(the‘indexfarm’)inCo.Kilkenny,Ireland.Theobjectiveofthisstudywastoidentify,ifpossible,anyunderlyingmechanismsofpooranimalperformanceonthisfarm,therebyprovidingpossiblecluesfortheongoingproblemsthatwere,orstillare,beingobserved.Some46cattlewereenrolledinthestudyfromtheindexfarmandafurther31controlcattleweresourcedfromafarminCo.Meath.These cattle were divided into five separate treatment groups, each being supplied with defined feed and water combi-nations.Theindexfarmcattlehadlowerinitialweightsthanthecontrolcattlebutwerematchedinallotherrespects.Threeofthesegroupswerebasedontheindexfarmandtwowereresidentonacontrolfarmlocatedapproximatelyfivekmaway.Throughoutthestudy,theanimalswereweighed,bledandassessedatregularintervals.Anextensivebatteryoflaboratorytestingwasundertakentoassessfactorsthatcouldpotentiallybelinkedtopoorgrowth,includingnutrition(energy status, an assessment of elemental status), disease and immunity (serology, serum biochemistry, general immune status)andendocrineparametersassociatedwithgrowth.Analysisoffeedandwaterwasalsoconducted.Theanimalswerevaccinated,andtreatedforinternalparasites,atthestartofthestudy.Allcattleperformedwellthroughoutthestudy period, thereby limiting the ability of this study to identify any causes of the ongoing intermittent poor perform-anceproblems.DuringJanuarytoMay2007,theindexfarmandcontrolcattleachievedADGsof0.66and1.00kg/day,respectively.Amongthemanyparametersassessed,fewsignificantdifferenceswereidentifiedwithinandbetweengroups.Mineraldeficiencies/imbalanceshadbeenidentifiedinthepast,andwerecomprehensivelyassessedanddescribedinthisstudy.Atthestartandthroughoutthestudy,thecattlefromtheindexfarmwereselenium(Se)deficient.Seleniumalsodecreasedamongthecontrolcattle,reachingthethresholdforSedeficientstatustowardstheendofthestudy.ResultsfromthisstudyindicatedthatSedeficiencymaybeacontributortotheongoingperformanceproblemsonthefarm.IGF-1,aprincipalmediatorofgrowthhormoneinanimals,wasmarkedlylowerintheindexsourcedcattleatthestartofthetrial,thoughtheconcentrationsincreasedinbothgroupsthroughouttheperiod.Cadmium(Cd)wasmeasuredincattletowardstheendofthestudy,thesignificanceofwhichisuncertain.

An evaluation of underlying performance mechanisms in an experimental group of animals kept on the index farm from January 2007 to April 2008

Lane, E.A.1, Canty, M.J.1, Clegg, T.A.1, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

Long-termproblemsofcattleperformancehavebeenobservedonafarm(the‘indexfarm’)inCo.Kilkenny,Ireland.Theobjectiveofthisstudywastodeterminewhetherperiodsofpoorweightgainorweightloss,ifobserved,wereassoci-atedwithchangesinhaematologicalparameters,essentialelementstatus,orexposuretoheavymetals.Cattle(n=10)sourcedofffarmweremovedtotheindexfarminJanuary2007(Day0;16/01/2007)andkeptthereuntilApril2008(day469;29/04/2008).Blood-sampleswerecollectedbyjugularvenepunctureandcattlewereweighedonDays0,112,154(blood-sampleonly),203,231,259,287,315,357,386,413,442and469relativetothestartofthestudy.Weightgainswereintermittentduringtheperiodofobservation:verygoodADGswereobservedduringtheinitialhousingperiod(JanuarytoMay2007;0.96kg/day),verypoorduringsummergrazing(MaytoOctober2007,0.13kg/day)andgoodduringthesubsequenthousingperiod(October2007toApril2008,between0.55and1.2kg/day).Duringthe


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summergrazingperiod,thecattleexperiencedacoincidentreductioninweightgain,whichissuggestiveofasingleinsultoveradefinedperiodoftime.Atthistime,therewasnoovertevidenceofdiseaseinthesecattle.AdequateADGsduringsummer2007havebeenreportedelsewhereinIreland.SeleniumconcentrationsdeclinedduringthestudyperiodandwereconsideredtobedeficientfromOctober2007toJanuary2008.However,theconcentrationsimprovedonwinterfeedingandreturnedtonormalbyFebruary2008.Copper(Cu)concentrationsdeclinedaftercattlewereintroducedontotheindexfarm,andwereconsidereddeficientfromMay2007untiltheendofthestudy.Inthisstudy,essentialelementdeficiencieswereagainidentifiedaspotentialcontributorstotheongoingperformanceproblemsontheindexfarm.AsingleCdpeakwasmeasuredincattleduringthisstudy,thesignificanceofwhichisuncertainbutsubjecttofurtherstudy.

An assessment of responsiveness of calves from the index farm, with known essential element deficiencies to selenium supplementation, May 2007 to April 2008

Canty, M.J.1, Lane, E.A.1, Clegg, T.A.1, Sharpe, A.2, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Long-termproblemsofcattleperformancehavebeenobservedonafarm(the‘indexfarm’)inCo.Kilkenny,Ireland.Earlierstudieshaveindicatedthatselenium(Se)deficiencymaybecontributingtothisproblem.Theaimsofthisstudywere to evaluate the efficacy of different forms of selenium supplementation to maintain the Se status and perform-ance of animals, and to compare the performance of Se supplemented animals with un-supplemented animals moved toanunaffectedfarm.InarandomisedcontrolledstudyFriesiancrosscalves(n=42)wereassignedtooneoffourgroups;Tx1OnFC2mlscinjectionsterilewater,remainedontheindexfarm,n=11.Tx2BVPscinjectionBVPBariumSelenateLA®(1mgSe/kgLBW),remainedontheindexfarm,n=10.Tx3VitaseliminjectionofVitasel®(68mgVitE/ml&1.5mgSe/ml)at2ml/45kgLBW,remainedontheindexfarm,n=11.Tx4OffFC2mlscinjectionofsterilewater,animalsremainedontheindexfarmfor41days,movedtounaffectedfarmfor125days,subsequentlyreturnedtotheindexfarm,n=9.AllanimalshadnormalSeandGPxconcentrationsatthestartofthestudyonDay0,however,SeandglutathioneperoxidaseGPxconcentrationsdeclinedinallgroupsuntilDay307andDay280,respectively.Seconcen-trationswerebelownormal(120μg/kg)inTx1OnFC and Tx3Vitasel at 13 of the 21 sampling points, and in 7 of the 21 sampling point in Tx4OffFC,followingtheirreturntotheindexfarm.Tx2BVPhadhigherSeandGPxconcentrationscompared with Tx3Vitasel, however, neither form of Se supplementation was sufficient to overcome the poor average dailygains(ADG)ontheindexfarm.Followingacclimatisation,Tx4OffFC animals, moved to the unaffected farm had improvedADGandnormalSeconcentrations,butbothdeclineduponreturntotheindexfarm.TheSedeficitstatusoftheindexfarmwasconfirmedbythemovementofanimalsoff,andsubsequentlybacktotheindexfarm,confirmingthelocalisednatureofthedeficiency.SeleniumsupplementationhadapositiveimpactonbloodSestatus,butwasnotsufficienttoovercometheshortfallinanimalperformance,suggestingthatSedeficiencymaybejustacomponentofamorecomplexinteraction.Insupportofthisview,marginaltodeficientconcentrationsofCuandiodine(I)werealsoobservedinallgroups.Thepresenceofradiodensegrowthretardationlinesisconsistentwithpoorcalfgrowth,butdoesnotprovideanydefinitiveinsightintothecauseoftheproblem.TwopatternsofCdexcesswereobservedduringthisstudy:alargeCdpeakandbackgroundCdexposure.Thesignificanceofthesefindingsisuncertainbutsubjecttofurtherstudy.Understandingthepotentialcomplexinteractionbetweenelementexcessesanddeficienciesontheindexfarmcouldproveimportant.


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A survey of essential elements and heavy metals in a small area encompassing the index farm, April and September 2007

Canty, M.J.1, McCormack, S.2, Lane, E.A.1, Collins, D.M.1, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Teagasc Johnstown Castle Research Centre

Manyruminantsaresolelyormostlydependantforalltheirnutrients,includingessentialelements,onthequalityoftheforageavailabletothem,eitherinitsnaturalstateorconservedashayorsilage.Shortfallsinanimalperformance,principallystuntedgrowthandill-thriftingrowingcattlebutalsopoorbodyconditionandreducedmilkyieldinadultcattle,hasalsobeenobservedonafarm(indexfarm)inCastlecomer,Co.Kilkenny,Ireland.Asoilandherbagesurveywascarriedoutovertwotimeperiods,April2007andSeptember2007,ina2.5sqkmgridincorporatingsamplingpointsontheindexfarm(atitscentre)andon27otherfarmsinthearea.Inthisstudy,wesoughttodeterminethenutrient and heavy metal status of soil and herbage in the sampling area, and to relate the concentrations reported with theirpotentialtoimpactonanimalperformance.LowsoilpHandhighsoillimingrequirementswereidentifiedwithinthesamplingareaandontheindexfarm,notingthatsoilpHgreatlyinfluencesnutrientuptakebyplantsfromsoil,andsubsequentlynutrientavailabilitytograzinganimals.Calcium(Ca),copper(Cu),selenium(Se)andzinc(Zn)concentra-tionswerelowinsoilsandherbageinthesamplingareaandontheindexfarm.TheseconditionsarenotdissimilartothosefoundonotherfarmsinIreland.Fluoride(F)wasdetectedin61ofthe97herbagesamplesinApril2007,butonlyfourexceeded40mg/kg(themaximumtolerablelevel)forcattle.NomeasurementofCdwasundertakeninherbagesamples.Insoilsamples,Cdwasbelowthelevelofdetectionforthetestused(<0.1mg/kg)inover90%ofsamplestested,andthosewhereCdwasreported,themaximumCdconcentrationwas0.72mg/kg,withinthetypicalrangeforIrishsoils(0.1to1mg/kg).Mineralimbalances(Ca,Cu,SeandZn)inpasturescausedbylowsoilmineralstatus,exac-erbatedbylowsoilpH,couldhinderoptimalanimalperformanceintheregion.

Kidney cadmium concentrations in cattle from the index farm, 2003-2005 and 2009

Canty, M.J.1, Lane, E.A.1, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

Ofallanimaltissues,liversandkidneyconstituteaspecialdilemmainthattheyhaveatendencytobioaccumulatetoxicmetalssuchasarsenic(As),cadmium(Cd),lead(Pb)andmercury(Hg).Maximumconcentrations(ML)forHg,Pb,Cdandtin(Sn),butnotAs,infoodstuffsaresetbyEuropeanCommissionRegulations.Theaimsofthisstudywere1)todeterminetheconcentrationsofAs,Cd,PbandHgintheliversandkidneysofninecowsfromtheindexfarmand2)tocombinethekidneyCdresultsfromthese5cowswiththosereportedinanearlierDepartmentofAgriculture,FisheriesandFood(DAFF)report(n=14animals),anddescribethetrendinkidneyCdconcentrationsontheindexfarmovertime.Arsenic,PbandHgconcentrationsinliversandkidneyswerewithinnormalrangeforanimalhealthpurposesfortheninecows.KidneyCdconcentrationsinsixoftheninecowsexceededthenormalrangeforanimalhealthpurposes(0.05-1.5mg/kg)andsevenofthenineexceededtheMLpermittedforhumanconsumption(1mg/kg).WhenkidneyCdresultsfromtheninecows(2009)werecombinedwithresults(n=14)fromapreviousinvestigation(2003-2005),8ofthe23(37.8%)kidneyshadCdconcentrationsabove1.5mg/kg,theupperlimitofthenormalrangeforanimalhealth.KidneyCdconcentrationsappeartoincreaseinanimalswithincreasingtimespentontheindexfarm.Basedoncurrentknowledge,exposureatthislevelisnotassociatedwithadverseeffectsintermsofanimalhealthorperformance.


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An epidemiological evaluation of all relevant data gathered to date and an assessment of hypotheses that could plausibly be associated with poor animal performance on the index farm

More, S.J.1, Lane, E.A.1, Canty, M.J.1, McGrath, G.1, Sheridan, M.2


Long-termproblemsofcattleperformancewereobservedonafarm(the‘indexfarm’)inCo.Kilkenny,Ireland.Inrecentyears,anumberofinvestigationshavebeenconducted.Theobjectivesofthispaperaretocriticallyevaluateallrelevantdata,andtoassesshypothesesthatcouldplausiblybeassociatedwiththeseproblemsofanimalperformance.Anumberof general hypotheses were developed, each potentially associated with case development, including hypotheses specific totheindexfarm(health,management,genetics,nutrition)andbroaderhypotheses(elementimbalances).Eachhypoth-esiswasthenassessedbyconsideringallavailablesourcesofdata,takingaccountofdatavalidityandprecision,andusingtheBradford-Hillcriteriaforevidenceofcausationduringdecision-making.Anumberofessentialelementdeficien-cieshavebeenidentifiedinsoil,herbageandcattleontheindexfarm,includingcalcium,copper,seleniumandzinc.Observedsoilconditions(lowpH,highlimingrequirements)areknowntoadverselyaffecttheavailabilityofessentialelements.ThedeficiencyincattlewasnotresponsivetoSesupplementation,consistentwithanaetiologymorecomplexthanSealone.Anumberofanimalhealthconcernswereidentifiedontheindexfarmpriorto2007,withadverseeffectsonanimalperformance.Since2007,however,thepotentialforsucheffectshasbeensubstantiallyreduced,followingtheintroductionofrobustpreventivemeasuresandasaconsequenceofintensiveveterinarysupervisionbytheprojectteamandthefarmer’sownprivateveterinarypractitioners.ThereisevidenceofelevatedbackgroundconcentrationsofCdamongcattleontheindexfarm.However,theseconcentrationsarenotoftoxicologicalsignificancebasedoncurrentlyknowledge,andwouldnotbeexpectedtoadverselyaffectanimalhealth.Fluorineispresentintermittently,butnotatconcentrationsconsidereddetrimentaltoanimalhealth.Anumberoffactorshavebeendescribedthatundoubtedlyhavesomeinfluenceontheperformanceofcattleontheindexfarm.However,nocomprehensiveunderstandinghasyetbeenestablishedtofullyexplaintheepidemiologicalpresentationofcases,inparticularthelocalisationofcasestotheindexfarmandthetemporaldistributionofperiodswhennegativeperformancewasrecorded.


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Brucellosis ................................................................................................................... 86

Equine infectious anaemia .......................................................................................... 87

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) .......................................................... 88

Avian influenza ........................................................................................................... 89

Animal movement and population structure ............................................................... 90

Companion animal epidemiology ................................................................................ 92

Aquatic animals .......................................................................................................... 94

Animal welfare ........................................................................................................... 95

Cadmium exposure in cattle ...................................................................................... 100

Teaching methods ..................................................................................................... 101

Methodological issues ............................................................................................... 102

International collaboration ........................................................................................ 104

Miscellaneous ........................................................................................................... 107


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An evaluation of Irish cattle herds with inconclusive serological evidence of bovine brucellosis

Hayes, M.1, 2, Ashe, S.1, 2, Collins, D.M.2, Power, S.3, Kenny, K.4, Sheahan, M.1, O’Hagan, G.1, More, S.J.2

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Blood Testing Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,



Since1998,therehasbeenasteadydeclineinherdrestrictionsandde-populationsinIrelandduetobovinebrucel-losis.Thereisconcernthattheinterpretationoflaboratoryresultsmaybecomeincreasinglyproblematic,asbrucellosisprevalencefallsinIreland.Therefore,thepurposeofthecurrentstudywastoevaluatetheinfectionstatusofIrishherdsandanimalswithinconclusiveserologicalevidenceofbovinebrucellosis.During12monthsfromSeptember1,2004,laboratoryandobservationalepidemiologicaldatawerecollectedfromallIrishherdswhereanimaltestingidentifiedatleastoneanimalwithacomplementfixationtest(CFT)readinggreaterthanzeroand/orapositiveresulttotheindirectenzyme-linkedimmunosorbentassay(iELISA).Duetotheobservationalnatureofthestudy,wehaverobustestimatesoftherelative,butnottheabsolute,performanceoftheCFT,iELISAandbrucellinskintest(BST).Herdsweredividedintothreecategories(GroupA,BorC)onthebasisoftestresultsatinitialassessment.Atotalof639herdswereenrolledintothestudy,andobservedforatleasttwoyearsfollowingenrolment.ArisingCFTtitre,withaCFTreadingof111InternationalCFTUnits(IU)orgreateratthesubsequentbloodtest,wasgenerallyassociatedwithherdswhereotherevidenceofinfectionwasalsoavailable.KnowledgeoftheCFTreadingattheinitialandasubsequentbloodtestprovedusefulindistinguishingfalse-positiveandtrue-positivebrucellosisresults.TherewaspoorcorrelationbetweentheCFTandiELISAresults,andbetweentheCFTandBSTresults.Asaresultofthisstudy,nationalpolicyhasbeenmodi-fiedtoincludere-samplingofallanimalswithCFTreadingsof20IUorgreater.Thisprojecthasalsoledtoareductioninthenumberofherdsrestricted,aswellasrestrictionduration.Ithasalsocontributedtoareductioninthenumberofherdslistedforcontiguoustests,andthereforethepotentialforcontiguitytestingoffalsepositiveresults.


Outbreak of bovine brucellosis in County Clare, Ireland, in 2005

Hayes, M.1, 4, Kilroy, A.1, Ashe, S.1, 4, Power, S.2, Kenny, K.3, Collins, D.M.4, More, S.J.4

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 Blood Testing Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food,

3 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 4 UCD CVERA

Veterinary Record, in press

ThispaperdescribesaninvestigationofanoutbreakofbovinebrucellosisinCountyClare,Ireland,during2005.ItislikelythatinfectionontheindexfarmwaslinkedtoapreviousoutbreakofbrucellosisinCountyClare.DuringMarchtoMay2005,transmissionofbrucellosiswithintheherdwasrapid;thiswasfacilitatedbyarangeoffactors,includingclosecontactbetweencattlekeptinwinterhousing,andthemixingofanimals,bothduringgrazingandathousing,throughouttheyear.Containmentofthedisease,includingonlylimitedspreadtoonecontiguousherd,wasfacilitatedbytherecentconstructionofashedforwinterhousing.

Printed with permission from BVA Publications. Veterinary Record 166, 107-110 (2010)


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Equine infectious anaemia

Management of the national programme to eradicate equine infectious anaemia from Ireland during 2006: a review

Brangan, P.1, Bailey, D.C.1, Larkin, J.F.1, Myers, T.1, More, S.J.2


Equine Veterinary Journal 40, 702-704 (2008)

Irelandexperiencedanoutbreakofequineinfectiousanaemia(EIA)in2006.Theinfectionwasfirstdetectedon15thJune2006,inamarefollowingeuthanasiaataveterinaryhospital.Duringthefollowing6months,atotalof38casesweredetected,in2distinctepidemiologicalclusters(centredoncountiesMeathandKildare).Theoutbreakaffectedhorsesfrom18separatehomepremisesin8Irishcounties(Kildare,Meath,Dublin,Wicklow,Wexford,Limerick,LouthandMonaghan)andonecounty(Derry)inNorthernIreland.Thereisgrowingconcernaboutoutbreaksinequinepopulations(Herholzet al.2008).Anumberofagents,includingequineinfluenza(EI)andAfricanHorseSickness(AHS)havethepotentialforrapidspreadwithinequinepopulations.Informationisavailableaboutthemanagementofanimalhealthemergenciesinproductionanimals.Asyet,therearelimitedpublishedexampleshigh-lightingissuesrelatingtothenationalmanagementofequinediseaseemergencies.Thispaperpresentsthenationalresponse(controlanderadicationstrategies,programmemanagement,linkageswithindustryandtheinternationalcommunity,resourceissues)tothe2006EIAoutbreakinIrelandandlessonslearned.

Reprinted with the permission of the Equine Veterinary Journal.

An outbreak of equine infectious anaemia in Ireland during 2006: investigation methodology, initial source of infection, diagnosis and clinical presentation, modes of transmission and spread in the Meath cluster

More, S.J.1, Aznar, I.1, Bailey, D.C.2, Larkin, J.F.2, Leadon, D.P.3,

Lenihan, P.4, Flaherty, B.2, Fogarty, U.3, Brangan, P.2

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 Irish Equine Centre,



Equineinfectiousanaemia(EIA)wasconfirmedinIrelandon15thJune2006.Overthefollowing6months,until10thDecember2006,atotalof38EIAcaseswereidentified.Nofurthercaseshavebeenidentified,despiteongoingsurveil-lance,suggestingthattheinfectionhasbeensuccessfullyeradicated.ThiswasthefirstoutbreakofthisdiseaseinIrelandwithevidenceoftransmissionofinfection.Infectiousdiseaseoutbreaksareofconsiderableconcerntotheinternationalequineindustry,andanumberofagents(e.g.equineinfluenza,Africanhorsesickness)havethepotentialforrapidspreadwithinequinepopulations.Despiteitsimportance,however,therehaveasyetbeenfewreportsininternationalpeer-reviewedjournalsofoutbreakinvestigationsinequinepopulations,eitherinEuropeorelsewhere.ThispaperdescribestheinvestigationoftheequineinfectiousanaemiaoutbreakinIrelandduring2006,withemphasisontheinvestigationmethodology,initialsourceofinfection,aspectsofdiagnosisandclinicalpresentationduringtheoutbreak,andmodesoftransmissionandspreadintheMeathcluster.



An outbreak of equine infectious anaemia in Ireland during 2006: the modes of transmission and spread in the Kildare cluster

More, S.J.1, Aznar, I.1, Myers, T.2, Leadon, D.P.3, Clegg, T.A.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 Irish Equine Centre


Equineinfectiousanaemia(EIA)wasconfirmedinIrelandon15thJune2006.Duringthefollowing6months,until10thDecember2006,atotalof38EIAcasesweredetected,includingasinglecaseinNorthernIreland.Thesecaseswerelinkedwithin2clusters,centredincountiesMeathandKildare.TheMeathclusterwasprimarilyrelatedto‘VeterinaryPracticeXanditsassociatedclinic’andtheKildareclusterto‘VeterinaryHospitalY’(subsequentlytermed‘thehospital’).Aspectsofthisoutbreakhavebeenpresentedelsewhere,includinganoverviewoftheoutbreak(Branganet al. 2008), informationabouttheinitialsourceofinfection,aspectsofdiagnosisandclinicalpresentationduringtheoutbreak,andof the modes of transmission and spread within the Meath cluster (More et al.2008).Thispaperpresentsthefindingsof an epidemiological investigation of the Kildare cluster, with emphasis on the mode(s) of transmission and spread of infection.


Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)

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Confirmed BSE cases in Ireland during 2008 Confirmed BSE cases in Ireland during 2009


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Avian influenza

A review of Ireland’s waterbirds, with emphasis on wintering migrants and reference to H5N1 avian influenza

Crowe, O.1, Wilson, J.2, Aznar, I.3, More, S.J.3

1 Birdwatch Ireland, 2 National Parks and Wildlife Service, 3 UCD CVERA


Irelandischaracterisedbyitsdiversityandlargeabundanceofwetlands,makingitattractivetoawidevarietyofwater-birdsthroughouttheyear.ThispaperpresentsanoverviewofIreland’swaterbirds,includingecologicalfactorsrelevanttothepotentialintroduction,maintenance,transmissionandspreadofinfectiousagents,includingtheH5N1avianinfluenzavirus,inIreland.Particularemphasisisplacedonfivegroupsofwinteringmigrants(dabblingandsievingwild-fowl,grazingwildfowl,divingwildfowl,wadersandgulls),notingthattheH5N1avianinfluenzavirushasmainlybeenisolatedfromthissubsetofwaterbirds.Ireland’swetlandsarevisitedduringthespringandsummermonthsbyhundredsof thousands of waterbirds which come to breed, predominantly from southern latitudes, and during the autumn and winter by waterbirds which come from a variety of origins (predominantly northern latitudes), and which are widely distributedandoftencongregateinmixed-speciesflocks.Thedistribution,feedinghabitsandsocialinteractionsofthefivegroupsofwinteringmigrantsareconsideredindetail.ThroughoutIreland,thereisinteractionbetweendifferentwaterbirdpopulations(breedingmigrants,thewinteringmigrantsandresidentwaterbirdpopulations).Thereisalsoaregularandcomplexpatternofmovementbetweenfeedingandroostingareas,andbetweenwetlandsandfarmland.TheseinteractionsarelikelytofacilitatetherapidtransmissionandspreadoftheH5N1avianinfluenzavirus,ifitwerepresentinIreland.


A qualitative assessment of the risk of spread to and within the commercial poultry industry, following the introduction of H5N1 avian influenza into Ireland, and of potential risk mitigation measures

Aznar, I.1, Crowe, O.2, Wilson, J.3, Duignan, P.J.4, Gaynor, S.4, Neilan, R.4,

McLoon, D.5, McArdle, P.J.4, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Birdwatch Ireland, 3 National Parks and Wildlife Service, 4 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 5 Monaghan Veterinary Consultants

AsrequiredunderEUlegislation(EuropeanCommission,2005a),IrelandhasdevelopedanAvianInfluenza(AI)opera-tionalmanualandcontingencyplan.RelevanttoongoingpreparationsforanAIincursion,thispaperdescribesworktoqualitativelyassesstheriskofspreadtoandwithinthecommercialpoultryindustry,followingtheintroductionofH5N1avianinfluenzaintoIreland,andofpotentialriskmitigationmeasures.Fourtransmissionrouteswereconsidered,including spread among wild waterbirds, spread from wild waterbirds to non-commercial avian operations, spread from wild waterbirds to commercial poultry (directly or via non-commercial avian operations) and spread within the commer-cialpoultryindustry.Datafortheassessmentwasdrawnfromthescientificliterature,fromnationalexpertopinion,fromnationaldatabasesandunpublishednationalreports.ThereisconsiderablepotentialinIrelandforspreadofH5N1avianinfluenzaamongwildwaterbirds,andfromwildwaterbirdstonon-commercialavianoperations.Incontrast,theopportunity for spread to and within the commercial poultry sector is variable, depending on a broad range of factors includingproductionsystem,watersourceandmanagement.Anumberofimportantriskmitigationmeasureswereidentified,focusingonimprovedinformationandawareness,riskbasedsurveillanceandmaintenanceofup-to-datedata-bases.Eachoftheseissueshasnowbeenconsideredindetail,bothbyDAFFandindustry.


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Animal movement and population structure

Survival and dispersal of a defined cohort of Irish cattle

Ashe, S.1, 2, More, S.J.2, O’Keeffe, J.1, 2, White, P.1, 2, McGrath, G.2, Aznar, I.2



Anunderstandingoflivestockmovementiscriticaltoeffectivediseaseprevention,controlandprediction.However,livestockmovementinIrelandhasnotyetbeenquantified.ThisstudyhassoughttodefinethesurvivalanddispersalofadefinedcohortofcattleborninCo.Kerryduring2000.Thecohortwasobservedforamaximumoffouryears,fromJanuary1,2000toDecember31,2004.Beefanddairyanimalsmovedanaverage1.31and0.83times,respectively.Atstudyend,18.8%ofthebeefanimalsremainedaliveonIrishfarms,including6.7%atthefarm-of-birth,comparedwith48.6%and27.7%fordairyanimalsrespectively.BeefanimalsweredispersedtoallIrishcounties,butmainlytoCork,Limerick,TipperaryandGalway.DairyanimalsmainlymovedtoCork,Limerick,andTipperary,withlessanimalsgoingtoGalway,MeathandKilkenny.Thefour-yearsurvivalprobabilitywas0.07(malebeefanimals),0.25(maledairy),0.38(femalebeef),and0.72(femaledairy).Althoughtherewasconsiderabledispersal,thenumberofmovesperanimalwaslessthanexpected.


Trends in cow numbers and culling rate in the Irish cattle population, 2003 to 2006

Maher, P.1, Good, M.1, More, S.J.2



CowsarethemaineconomicproductionunitsofIreland’scattleindustry.Therefore,demographicinformation,includingoverallnumbersandsurvivalrates,arerelevanttotheIrishagriculturalindustry.However,fewdataareavail-ableonthedemographicsofcowswithinanationalpopulation,eitherinIrelandorelsewhere,despitetherecentdevel-opmentofcomprehensivenationalcattledatabasesinmanyEUMemberStates.Thisstudyhassought:todeterminetherateofcowcullingfromthenationalherd;todeterminetherateofcullingbytype(dairy,beef),age,methodofexit,dateofexitandintervalbetweenlastcalvingandexit;tocalculatethenationalcowon-farmmortalityrate;andtocomparetheIrishrateswithpublisheddatafromothercountries.ThisworkwasconductedusingdatarecordedinthenationalCattleMovementMonitoringSystem(CMMS).Cullingreferstotheexitofcowsfromthenationalherd,asaresultofdeathbutregardlessofreason,andcow-cullingratewascalculatedasthenumberofcowexits(asdefinedabove)eachyeardividedbythenumberofcalfbirthsinthesameyear.Cullingratewasdeterminedbytype(dairyorbeef),dateofbirth,methodofexit(slaughteroron-farmdeath),monthofexitandintervalbetweenlastcalvingandexit.Theaveragecow-cullingrateduring2003to2006was19.6%(21.3%fordairy,18%forbeef).Whilecomparisonsmustbetreatedwithcaution,itconcludedthattheoverallratesofcullinginIrelandfellwithinpublishedinternationallyacceptednorms.Theon-farmmortalityrateof3.2-4.1%wassimilartothatreportedincomparablestudies.



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Modelling the demographics of the Irish cattle population

O’Connor, J.1, 2, More, S.J.2, Griffin, J.M.1, O’Leary, E.3

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 UCD School of Mathematical Sciences


Inrecentyears,nationalauthoritieshavecommittedverysubstantialresourcestothecreationandmaintenanceofdata-basescapableofrecordingimportantanimaleventdata,suchasbirths,deathsandmovements.Thishasprimarilybeendrivenbytheneedtoensurethequalityandsafetyofanimalproducts.However,itcanalsobeusedtoassistpolicy-makersindecisionmaking.Despitetheabundanceofanimaleventdata,asyetthereislittlepublishedinformationabouttheuseofthesedatatobetterunderstandthedemographyofcattlepopulations.Thisstudyreportsthedevelopmentof,andoutputsfrom,ademographicmodelusingdataroutinelycollectedfromtheIrishcattlepopulation.Thedemo-graphicmodelwasbasedonaseriesoflifetablesdetailingage-specificprobabilitiesofsurvivaluptoamaximumof17years.TheseoutputswereusedtodeterminecharacteristicsoftheIrishcattlepopulation,includingestimatedmortalityrates,lifeexpectanciesandageprofiles,andestimatedcattlenumbersbyageanddate.Separatelifetablesweredevelopedforeachofthe204monthlybirthcohortsbornbetweenJanuary1989andDecember2005.WithintheIrishcattlepopulation,thepeakestimatedmortalityrateoccursat29–33months.TheestimatedlifeexpectancyatbirthofcattleinIrelandwas42months.Whenthesurvivalratesforallthecohortswithinapopulationarecalculated,thenitispossibletousetheseratesasamodelfordeterminingfuturepopulationsizeandansweringcohortspecificqueries.

This article was published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 89, O’Connor, J., More, S.J., Griffin, J.M., O’Leary, E., Modelling the demographics of the Irish cattle population, 249-254, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2009.


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Companion animal epidemiology

Demography of the pet dog and cat population on the island of Ireland and human factors influencing pet ownership

Downes, M.1, Canty, M.J.1, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA


Publisheddataonaspectsofdomesticpetdemographicsareavailableinmanycountries.Severalofthesestudieshavelinkedhouseholddemographics,suchasthepresenceofchildreninthehousehold,topetownership.ThereisverylittlepublishedinformationaboutthedemographyofdomesticpetsontheislandofIreland(theRepublicofIreland,NorthernIreland).Thisstudywasconductedtodescribethedemographyofthepetdogandcatpopula-tionsontheislandofIrelandandtoidentifyhumanfactorsinfluencingpetownership.Aquestionnairewasdesignedandadministeredtohouseholdstocollectdataaboutthedemographicsofhouseholdsandtheirdogsandcats.Thequestionsrelatedtolocation,buildingstructure,socialclass,nationalityandfamilystructureofthehousehold,andthesex,ageandsourceofeachpetdogand/orcat.Thesurveywasadministeredbyacommercialcompany,usingcomputer-assistedtelephoneinterviewtechniquesto1250householdsselectedusingrandomdigitdiallingandquotacontrols.Inthisstudy,apetdogwasdefinedasadogthatwasbeenfedbyahouseholdandconsideredapetbytheparticipantofthestudy.Apetcatwasdefinedasacatthatwasbothfedbythehouseholdandallowedintothehouse.Theresultsshowthat35.6%ofhouseholdsinIrelandhaveoneormorepetdogsand10.4%ofhouseholdshaveoneormorepetcats.Intotal,47.3%ofpetdogsand76.1%ofpetcatswereneutered.Femalesofbothspeciesaremorelikelytobeneuteredthanmales.Factorsassociatedwithdogownershipincludedlocation,housetype,house-hold social class, household composition, the presence of school children in the house, and the presence of a cat in thehouse.Factorsassociatedwithpetcatownershipincludedthetypeofhousestructure,thepresenceofadoginthehouseandthegenderandageoftheparticipant.Catstendtostrayintohouseholds.ThisstudywasthefirsttoprovidedetailedinformationaboutthedemographicsofthepetdogandcatpopulationsontheislandofIreland,andhas identified areas for further research, in particular the effect of stray dogs and cats on the owned pet dog and cat population,andoffuturedemographictrendsinthesepopulations.

This article was published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 92, Downes, M., Canty, M.J., More, S.J., Demography of the pet dog and cat population on the island of Ireland and human factors influencing pet ownership, 140-149, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2009.

Factors associated with pet ownership among patients with asthma

Downes, M.1, Roy, A.2, Wisnivesky, J.P.3

1 UCD CVERA, 2 Department of Pediatrics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA, 3 Division of General Internal Medicine and Pulmonary, Critical

Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA

Exposuretoindoorallergensisanestablishedriskfactorforpoorasthmacontrol.Currentguidelinesrecommendremovingpetsfromthehomeofpatientswithasthma.Thisstudywasconductedtoidentifyfactorsassociatedwithpetownershipinasthmasufferers.UsingdatafromTheNationalAsthmaSurvey,wecarriedoutunivariateandmultiple regression analyses to identify independent predictors of pet ownership in asthma sufferers after controlling forpotentialconfounders.Overall,peoplewithasthmaweremorelikelytoownapet(49.9%vs.44.8%p<0.001).Additionally,68.7%ofpatientswithasthmawhoownapetallowedthemintotheirbedroom.Multivariateanalysisshowedthatfemalesex,adults,whiteraceandhighincomewereindependentpredictorsofpetownershipamong


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asthmatics.Higherincomeandhavingonlyanadultwithasthmainthehomewerealsoassociatedwithincreasedlike-lihoodofallowingapetintothebedroom.Petownershipiscommonamongasthmaticsandthemajorityofpatientsallowtheirpetsintotheirbedroom.Addressingthisproblemmayhelpimproveasthmamorbidity.

Pet owner attitudes towards ownership, neutering and nutrition of their pets

Downes, M.1, McKenzie, K.2, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA, 2 UCD Geary Institute

Theaimofthisprojectistogeneratenewinsightsandhypothesesintothereasonsforpetownership,neuteringandownersattitudestowardsobesityandnutrition.Focusgroupsweredeemedtheappropriatemethodfordatacollection.Becauselittlepreviousresearchhasexaminedtheattitudesandbeliefsunderlyinghuman-petinteractions,qualitativemethodsemployingabottom-upapproachwillbeusedtogeneratedatadrivenbyparticipants.

Spatial analysis of the pet dog and cat population of Ireland

Downes, M.1, More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

Usinggeographicalinformationsystems(GIS)andprobabilitydataobtainedfromthestudyentitled‘DemographyofthepetdogandcatpopulationontheislandofIrelandandhumanfactorsinfluencingpetownership’wearematchinggeographical positioning data with Census 2006 data and socio-demographic influencing pet ownership to produce a spatialdistributionmapofthepetpopulationofIreland.

Photograph by M.J. Canty.


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Aquatic animals

An introduction to import risk analysis for aquatic animals

Baldock, F.C.1, More, S.J.2, Peeler, E.J.3

1 AusVet Animal Health Services, Queensland, Australia, 2 UCD CVERA,

3 Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Dorset, United Kingdom

fish Veterinary Journal 10, 29-53 (2008)

Withincreasinginternationaltrade,thereareincreasingriskstocountriesthatunwantedaquaticanimalpathogenswillenterandspread.Importriskanalysis(IRA)providesanobjective,transparentanddefensiblemethodofassessingdiseaserisksassociatedwithimports.TheInternationalAquaticAnimalHealthCodeprovidesinternationallyrecognisedguide-linesforimportriskanalysis.ThispaperdescribesandillustratesthemainelementsofanIRAforaquaticanimalsandtheirproducts,includinghazardidentification,riskassessment,riskmanagementandriskcommunication.Sourcesofadditionalinformationarelisted,bothonconceptsandmethodology,andalsotheapplicationofimportriskanalysisinaquaticanimalhealthmanagement.

Reprinted with the permission of the Fish Veterinary Society.


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Animal welfare

Equine welfare

The structure and regulation of the Irish equine industries: links to considerations of equine welfare

Collins, J.1, Hanlon, A.2, More, S.J.1, Duggan, V.2



TheequineindustriesinIrelandarevibrantandgrowing.Theyarebroadlyclassifiedintotwosectors:Thoroughbredracing,andsportsandleisure.Thispaperdescribesthesesectorsintermsofgovernance,educationandtraininginequinewelfare,andavailabledataconcerninghorsenumbers,identification,traceabilityanddisposal.Animalwelfare,andspecificallyequinewelfare,hasreceivedincreasingattentioninternationally.Thereisgeneralacceptanceofconceptssuchasanimalneedsandpersons’responsibilitiestowardanimalsintheircare,asexpressedinthe‘FiveFreedoms’.Asyet,littlehasbeenpublishedonstandardsofequinewelfarepertainingtoIreland,oronmeasurestoaddresswelfareissueshere.Thispaperhighlightsthecentralroleofhorseidentificationandlegalregistrationofownershiptosafeguardthehealthandwelfareofhorses.


Policy Delphi with vignette methodology as a tool to evaluate the perception of equine welfare

Collins, J.1, Hanlon, A.2, More, S.J.1, Wall, P.G.3, Duggan, V.2

1 UCD CVERA, 2 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 3 UCD Geary Institute

The Veterinary Journal 181, 63-69 (2009)

Athree-roundPolicyDelphiusingvignettemethodologywasemployedasanewapproachtostudystakeholderpercep-tionsandexperiencesofequinewelfare.Forty-fourrepresentativesfromstakeholdergroupsintheIrishequineindustryparticipated.InRound1,vignettes(narrativesillustratingpotentialinfringementsofequinewelfare)werepresentedtoassessperceptionsof‘Acceptability’andexperiencesof‘Frequencyofoccurrence’.InRound2,listsofsituationswhereequinewelfaremightbecompromised,possibledriversofbehaviourandpotentialsolutionswerepresentedforgrading.InRound3,twocompositeissueswereformedfromananalysisofresponsestothepreviousround,namely(1)thedisposalofhorsestrade,and(2)behaviouratunregulatedgatherings;thesewereillustratedusingvignettestoestablishstakeholderattitudestothedesirability,feasibilityandmeansofimprovingstandardsofwelfareforhorses.Allrespond-entscompletedallroundsdemonstratingtheirengagementwiththemethod.

This article was published in The Veterinary Journal, 181, Collins, J., Hanlon, A., More, S.J., Wall, P.G., Duggan, V., Policy Delphi with vignette methodology as a tool to evaluate the perception of equine welfare, 63-69, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2009.


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Evaluation of current equine welfare issues in Ireland: causes, desirability, feasibility and means of raising standards

Collins, J.1, Hanlon, A.2, More, S.J.1, Wall, P.G.3, Kennedy, J.3, Duggan, V.2


Equine Veterinary Journal, in press

SignificantpotentialthreatstothehealthandwelfareofhorsesexistinIrelandwhensupplyexceedsdemandandtheidentificationsystemforhorsesisnotyetrobust.ThisstudywasconductedtosecureengagementwithstakeholdergroupsandtodeterminetheirperceptionofequinewelfareinIrelandandtoencouragethedevelopmentofinclusive,ratherthanimposed,policysolutions.A3round,web-basedPolicyDelphiincorporatingnovelvignettemethodologywasconductedfromNovember2007–March2008tocanvassopinion(inbothquantitativeandqualitativeforms)ontheperceivedmostsignificantequinewelfareissues.Vignettes(narrativesdepictingpotentialcompromisetoequinewelfare)wereemployed.Quantitativedatawerecollectedintheformofscoringona9pointLikertscalewithlabelledend-points,qualitativeinformationastextsubsequentlyanalysedforthemes.All44respondentscompletedallrounds.Majorequinewelfareissueswereidentifiedaswelfareofhorsesduringthedisposalprocessandatunregulatedgather-ings.Assessedquantitativelyona9pointLikertscale(0=minimal;8=maximal),respondentsscoredthedesirabilityandfeasibilityofimprovingstandards,median8and6,respectively,forbothissuesidentified.Basicthemesidentifiedinrespondents’quotesasreasonstoraiseequinewelfarestandardswereideological,protectionofanimalwelfare,safe-guardingthereputationoftheequineindustryandsafety(ofpeople,horsesandenvironment).Themesforreasonsforlowstandardsweresocietalnorms,fiscalpressures,indolence,indifferenceandignorance.Themesunderpinningpotentialmeansforachievingmeaningfulchange(solutions)werelegislation,enforcement,education/training,fiscalremedies,increasingawarenessandacombinationofthese.Mechanismsaimedatraisingstandardsmustbebasedonanunderstandingofmotivationaldriversforcurrentlylowstandards.Thechallengeistotranslatethefindingsandthisheightenedawarenessintomeaningfulchangetothebenefitofhorsesandthosewhocareforthem.

Reprinted with the permission of the Equine Veterinary Journal. Equine Veterinary Journal 41, (2010)


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A case study of equine welfare on an Irish farm 2007-2009

Collins, J.1, More, S.J.1, Hanlon, A.2, Duggan, V.2


Veterinary Record, in press

Since2007therehasbeenagrowingconcernforequinewelfareinIreland,inparticulartheissueofunwantedhorsesinafalteringeconomy.ThisreportdescribestheprogressioninwelfarestandardsforhorsesonahorsefarminIrelandduring2007,2008and2009.Visitstothefarmwereundertakenandinformation,intheformofwrittennotesanddigitalrecordingofobservationsandexaminations,wasgatheredinconsultationwithofficialsfromtheGardaí(theIrishpolice),theDepartmentofAgriculture,FisheriesandFood(DAFF)andtheIrishSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimals(ISPCA).Furtherindependentveterinarycorroborationofclinicalfindingsandlaboratorysupportoccurredpostseizureofhorses.Thecomplexrealityofon-farmequinewelfareproblemsandthedifficultiesinachievingaresolu-tionarediscussedcomparedtootherspeciesconventionallyconsideredtobefood-producinganimals.ThiscasereportdescribestheconditionsforhorsesonacommercialfarminIrelandduringaperiodofgrowingconcernforequinewelfare,theinappropriateresponse(bytheowners/keepers)toassistanceandadviceoffered,andthelargelyfutilethoughwell-intentioned efforts made (by the relevant authorities) to address deficiencies until the effective abandonment of the animalsforcedthefirsteverseizureofhorsesfordisposalanddestructionunderthetermsoftheEuropeanCommunities(WelfareofFarmedAnimals)StatutoryInstrumentno.14of2008.

Printed with permission from BVA Publications. Veterinary Record (2010)

Development and application of a protocol to assess the welfare of equidae at fairs and markets in Ireland

Collins, J.1, Johnson, J.2, Hanlon, A.2, More, S.J.1, Duggan, V.2


Unregulatedhorsegatherings,suchasfairsandmarkets,areconsideredtobeofhighvalueculturally,sociallyandeconomicallytoIreland.However,aDelphistudycompletedin2008byCollinsandothers(2009;2010inpress)iden-tifiedwelfarestandardsforhorsesatsucheventsasoneofthetwomostsignificantequinewelfareconcernsinIreland.Inthispaperwedescribethedevelopmentofanequinewelfareassessmentprotocol,basedontheFiveFreedoms,whichemploysmeasurementofbothwelfareinputsandoutputs,andearlyattemptstoapplythisprotocolatfairsandmarketsinIreland.Thirtyparameters(basedonasemi-qualitative5pointLikertscale)wereeachmeasuredonthirtyoccasionsalongsidedetailsofweather,horsenumbersandthepresenceofanorganisingcommittee.Thedataset(n=30)wasdivided into three subsets (with some overlap) to enable the analyses of welfare scores for individual events (n=14),inter-observer variability in scores at events scored simultaneously but independently by the first two authors, JC and JJ (n=5),and change over time at any one event (n=8).Bythecriterionofimportanceadoptedbytheauthors,thefreedomofhorsestoaccesswater,feedandshelter(resourceinput)andtheabilityofhorsestodrinkandfeed(currentoutput)weredeemedtobeundulycompromised.Thepresenceofanorganisingcommitteewasnotfoundtobeprotectiveofequinewelfare.Itissuggestedbytheauthorsthatacombinedapproach(inputandoutput-basedmeasures)totheassessmentofequinewelfareatunregulatedgatheringsbeadoptedbutthatfurtherworkisrequiredtorefinetheprotocoltoensurethatrepeatabilityandreproducibilityofscoringareachievedinitsimplementation.


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The keeping and disposal of horses: an Irish perspective

Collins, J.1, Hanlon, A.2, More, S.J.1, Wall, P.G.3, Duggan, V.2


Linksbetweenthestructures,governanceandfundingoftheIrishequineindustriesandpotentialconcernsforequinewelfare have already been reported (Collins et al.,2008).TheroleofLocalAuthorities,socialhorseprojects,theFarmAnimalWelfareAdvisoryCouncil(FAWAC)androutesforthedisposalofhorsesinrelationtothekeepingofhorsesinIrelandarefurtherdescribedinthispaperwithparticularreferencetoequinehealthandwelfare.Primaryinformationwasgatheredthroughvisitsconductedtohorsepounds,socialhorseprojects,FAWACanditsEquineWelfareWorkingGroup,horsedealeryards,ferryports,horseslaughterplantsandknackeries.Supplementaryinformationwasgatheredthroughinternetandtelephoneresearch.ThecontributioneachmakestodefininghowhorsesarekeptanddisposedofinIrelandisdescribed.Differencesintheapproachadoptedbetweenmembersofagivengroup(forexample,differentLocalAuthoritiesordifferentferryports)arehighlighted.Inferencesaredrawnthatshouldhelptoimprovetheland-scapeforallwhoaspiretokeephorseswithdueregardtosafeguardingtheirhealthandwelfare.Afundamentalissueremainstheprovisionofacomprehensive,integratedsystemfortheidentificationofequidae.

A qualitative approach to identifying solutions to selected equine welfare problems in Ireland

Collins, J.1, Hanlon, A.2, More, S.J.1, Wall, P.G.3, McKenzie, K.3, Duggan, V.2


Thisstudywasconductedtoengagethosewhoown,keepormanagehorsesorhorseenterpriseswitheffortstosafe-guardequinewelfare,andtoprovideinformedperspectivetothosewhoarechargedwiththegovernanceofequinehealthandwelfaremattersinIreland.ThispaperaimstoexploretheviewsofthoseinindustryandgovernmentregardingnecessaryimprovementstoequinewelfareinIrelandatunregulatedgatheringsandduringthedisposalprocess.Qualitativeresearchmethodswereemployed,namelyrecordedsemi-structuredinterviews,focusgroupsandastructured,facilitatedworkshop.Representativesfromindustry,welfaresocieties,sociallydisadvantagedsocialgroup-ings and government engaged with the process, and shared their views regarding horse welfare priorities and solutions withmerittoaddresswelfareproblems.AconsensuswasachievedthatequinewelfareinIrelandcouldbeimprovedbythedevelopmentofacomprehensiveidentificationsystem,aCodeofPracticeforhorsegatherings,ahorselicensingscheme, a method to ensure that funds are ring-fenced to benefit humane horse disposal and improved means of raising awarenessofthevalueofsafeguardinghorsewelfare.Theinformationgatheredandthemethodsusedhavebeenandcouldbefurtheremployedtoimprovedialoguebetweenthekeyplayersinindustryandthoseingovernmentchargedwith overseeing the sector to ensure practical evidence-based policies are produced to improve the welfare standard of horsesinIreland.


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Development and application of a bio-security assessment protocol at equine events in Ireland

Johnson, J.1, More, S.J.2, Collins, J.2, Duggan, V.1

1 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 2 UCD CVERA

Thereisthepotentialfordiseasetransmissionwhereverhorsesgatheringroups.TheinconsistentapplicationofdiseasecontrolmeasuresacrossthehorseindustriesinIreland,thehighlycontagiousnatureofmanyoftheequineinfectiousdiseases, the potential for the spread of disease from sub-clinically infected horses and increased transport of horses to internationaleventstogethermeanthatallhorsesareputatriskofdiseasetransmission,particularlyintheeventofanoutbreakofanexoticequinedisease.Theobjectivesofthisstudyweretodevelopabio-securityassessmenttoolforuseatequineevents,toapplythetoolintheinvestigationofthepotentialforcontagiousdiseasetransmissionatequineeventsinIreland,andtodeterminetheinfluenceofthedegreeofregulationofeventonriskofdiseasetransmission.Ascoringsystemwasdevelopedtoidentifybio-securityrisksatequineevents.Thiswasbasedonbothdirectandindirectriskfactorswhichcontributetocontagiousdiseasetransmission.Riskfactorsincludedcategoriessuchascontactbetweenhorses, contact with fomites, feeding facilities, degree of public access, control of wildlife, sanitation of stables and housingventilation.Theregulationstatusofeacheventwasdeterminedbasedonacombinationofpublishedgoverningrulesandobservationoftheirenforcementduringon-sitevisits.Highlyregulatedeventshadsignificantlyloweroverallrisklevelsthanpartiallyregulatedevents(P<0.003);overallrisklevelofpartiallyregulatedeventsdidnotdiffersignifi-cantly from that of unregulated events (P=0.051).

Bovine welfare

Beef farmers’ perception of farm animal welfare

Dwane, A.1, More, S.J.2, McKenzie, K.3, Blake, M.4, Wall, P.G.3, Hanlon, A.1

1 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 UCD Geary Institute, 4 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

Theroleoffarmersandotherstakeholdersindevelopingandimplementingpolicyonfarmanimalwelfareislikelytounderpinthesuccessofsuchinitiatives.Thisongoingresearchexplorestheperceptionsofbeeffarmerstoanimalwelfareandmechanismstofurtherimproveon-farmwelfare,usingthe‘AnimalWelfare,Recording,andBreeding(AWRB)SchemeforSucklerHerds’asacasestudy.

Refining current systems of early warning and prevention of on-farm animal welfare incidents

Kelly, P.1, McKenzie, K.2 More, S.J.3, Blake, M.1, Hanlon, A.4

1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD Geary Institute, 3 UCD CVERA, 4 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine

In2004,thethenMinisterforAgricultureandFoodinIrelandannouncedthathehadacceptedtherecommenda-tionoftheIrishFarmAnimalWelfareAdvisoryCouncilfortheestablishmentofacollaborative,nationwideearlywarning/interventionsystemforfarmanimalwelfarecases.TheEarlyWarningSystemcurrentlyinvolvesapartnershipbetweentheDepartmentofAgriculture,FisheriesandFood,theIrishFarmersAssociationandtheIrishSocietyforthePreventionofCrueltytoAnimalsthataimstoidentifyandaddressrealorpotentialcasesinwhichthewelfareoffarmanimalsiscompromised.Thisstudyseekstobetteridentifyandunderstandriskfactorsassociatedwithon-farmanimalwelfareincidentsinIrelandandtherebyprovideopportunitiestorefinecurrentsystemsofearlywarningandprevention.


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Cadmium exposure in cattle

Cadmium exposure in cattle: a review

Lane, E.A.1, Canty, M.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

No biological role has been described for cadmium (Cd) in animals and its presence in animal tissue is considered unnec-essary.Cadmiumisconsideredtobeoneofthemosttoxicsubstancesintheenvironmentduetoitswiderangeoforgantoxicityandlongeliminationhalf-life.BatteriesareanimportantsourceofCdpollution,additionally,combustionofcoal, smelting, mining, alloy processing and industries that employ Cd as a dye are also potential sources of Cd pollu-tion.AgriculturalpracticessuchastheapplicationofsewagesludgeandcontaminatedfertilizersarealsosourcesofCdcontamination.AbsorptionofCdoccursviatherespiratoryanddigestivesystem.Approximately10to50%ofCdfumesareabsorbedbytherespiratorysystem.While,Cdispoorlyabsorbedviathedigestivetract,comparedtosimilardivalentcations,ZnandFe;approximately5%oforalCdisabsorbed.Onceabsorbed,Cdcirculatesinredbloodcellsorboundtoalbumininplasma.Cadmiuminteractswiththemetabolismofessentialminerals;calcium,zinc,iron,copperandselenium.ThemajorityofnewbornruminantshavealowCdburden.Accumulationoccursslowlyovertime,primarilyinliverandkidneys.Intheliveritmayinduceandbindmetallothionein,thiscomplexisreleasedslowlyintocirculationandthenaccumulatesinkidneys.AthighlevelsdietaryCdcancausedecreasedfeedintake,andloweredweightgain,anaemia,decreasedboneabsorptionandabortionsandCdtoxicityhasbeenreportedinmanyspeciesincludingcattle.ThispaperreviewstheliteraturepertainingtoCdexposureanditseffectsincattle.


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Problem-based learning in veterinary education

Lane, E.A.1

1 UCD CVERA

Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 35, 631-636 (2008)

Problem-basedlearning(PBL)replicateslifeexperiencestostimulatelearning,theintegrationofknowledge,andlifelonglearningskills,allofwhicharerequirementsforveterinarymedicaleducation.Asthecurricularcontentofveterinaryschoolsexpandstoimmenseproportionsfollowingadvancesinmedicalknowledgeandbiotechnology,itbecomesimpracticabletoensurethatallstudentsatthebeginningoftheircareershavesuchawideknowledgebase.Studentswhoare faced with vast amounts of information to learn by rote, much of which may seem irrelevant to their prospective career,maybecomedisillusionedwiththeirchosencourse,hencethetemptationtoconverttoaPBLcurriculum.ThePBLstrategyofteachingisbecomingincreasinglypopularinveterinaryfacultiesworldwide,encompassingbothcurric-ulumcontentandaprocessoflearning.InPBL,clinicalcasesarecarefullyselectedtoprovokedeepstudentlearningbytheacquisitionofbothbasicscientificandclinicalknowledgecriticaltothecase;cultivateproblem-solvingabilities;andencouragethedevelopmentofteam-building,self-directedlearning,communication,andself-andpeer-assessmentskills.Problem-solvingskills,understandingofthebasicsciences,andclinicalperformanceareallimprovedbythePBLprocess.TheaimofthispaperistoreviewadecadeofliteraturepertainingtotheinclusionofPBLinveterinaryandmedicalcurricula.

Reprinted with permission of the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, © 2008, American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges.


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Defining output-based standards to achieve and maintain tuberculosis freedom in farmed deer, with reference to member states of the European Union

More, S.J.1, Cameron, A.R.2, Greiner, M.3, Clifton-Hadley, R.S.4, Correia Rodeia, S.5, Bakker, D.6,

Salman, M.D.7, Sharp, J.M.8, De Massis, F.5, Aranaz, A.9, Boniotti, M.B.10, Gaffuri, A.11, Have, P.5,

Verloo, D.5, Woodford, M.12, Wierup, M.13

1 UCD CVERA, 2 AusVet Animal Health Services, Cuiseaux, France, 3 Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany, 4 Veterinary Laboratories

Agency, Weybridge, Surrey, England, 5 European Food Safety Authority, Parma, Italy, 6 Department of Bacteriology and TSEs, Central Institute for Animal

Disease Control, Lelystad, The Netherlands, 7 Animal Population Health Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State

University, Colorado, USA, 8 Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Midlothian, Scotland, 9 Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad

Complutense, Madrid, Spain, 10 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Dipartimento di Biologia Molecolare, Brescia,

Italy, 11 Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia Romagna, Sezione Diagnostica di Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy, 12 Algarve, Portugal,

13 Department of Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural

Sciences, Sweden


WithintheEuropeanUnion(EU),detailedlegislationhasbeendevelopedforcattle,butnotdeer,tominimisediseaserisksassociatedwithtradeinanimalsandanimalproducts.Thislegislationisexpressedasinput-basedstandards,providingadetailedoutlineoftheactivityrequired(forexample,testingofanimalsandapplicationofdefinedcontrolmeasures),ontheexpectationthatanadequateoutput(forexample,confidenceinfreedom)willbeachieved.Input-basedstandardsareatoddswiththeincreasingshifttowardsoutput-basedstandards,particularlyinOIErulesgoverninginternationaltrade.Inthispaper,wedefineoutput-basedstandardstoachieveandmaintainfreedomfromtuberculosis(TB)infarmeddeer,withreferencetoEUmemberstates.AfterconsideringtheprobabilityoffreedomachievedforcattleunderexistingEUlegislation,wedefineda‘freefarmeddeerholding’asonewithaprobabilityoffreedomfrominfectionofatleast99%.WethendevelopedanepidemiologicalmodelofTBsurveillancesystemsfordeerholdings,incorporating different surveillance strategies, including combinations of diagnostic tests, and a variety of different scenariosrelatingtothepotentialforintroductionofinfection.Arangeofsurveillancestrategieswereidentifiedtoachieveandmaintainafreefarmeddeerholding,andworkedexamplesarepresented.Thesurveillancesystemsensitivityfor varying combinations of screening and confirmatory tests in live animals, animals at slaughter and on-farm deaths isalsopresented.Usingasingletestatasinglepointintime,noneoftheTBtestsroutinelyusedinfarmeddeerisabletoachieveanacceptableprobabilityofTBfreedom.Ifrepeattestingwereundertaken,anacceptableprobabilityofTBfreedomcouldbeachieved,withdifferingcombinationsofthesurveillancesystemsensitivity,frequencyoftestingandriskofintroduction.Theprobabilityofintroductionofinfectionthroughtheimportationofinfecteddeerwasinflu-encedbytheuseofapre-movementtest(assumed90%testsensitivityandnegativetestresults),theTBprevalenceinthesourceherdandthenumberofanimalsimported.Asurveillancesystemsensitivityofatleast81%wasachievedwithdifferentcombinationsofannualliveanimalsurveillanceandsurveillanceofanimalsatslaughteroron-farmdeaths.Thismethodologyhasbroadapplicabilityandcouldalsobeextendedtootherdiseasesinbothdeerandotherspecieswithrelevancetotradeinanimalsandanimalproducts.

This article was published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 90, More, S.J., Cameron, A.R., Greiner, M., Clifton-Hadley, R.S., Correia Rodeia, S., Bakker, D., Salman, M.D., Sharp, J.M., De Massis, F., Aranaz, A., Boniotti, M.B., Gaffuri, A., Have, P., Verloo, D., Woodford, M., Wierup, M., Defining output-based standards to achieve and maintain tuberculosis freedom in farmed deer, with reference to member states of the European Union, 254-267, Crown Copyright, published by Elsevier B.V. 2009.


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The use of Geographic Information System (GIS) and non-GIS methods to assess the external validity of samples post-collection

Richardson, E.1, Good, M.2, McGrath, G.3, More, S.J.3

1 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD CVERA

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 21, 633-640 (2009)

Externalvalidityisfundamentaltoveterinarydiagnosticinvestigation,reflectingtheaccuracywithwhichsampleresultscanbeextrapolatedtoabroaderpopulationofinterest.Probabilitysamplingmethodsareroutinelyusedduringthecollectionofsamplesfrompopulations,specificallytomaximizeexternalvalidity.Non-probabilitysampling(e.g.,ofblood samples collected as part of routine surveillance programs or laboratory submissions) may provide useful data for further post hocepidemiologicalanalysis,addingvaluetothecollectionandsubmissionofsamples.Asthesamplehasalready been submitted, the analyst or investigator does not have any control over the sampling methodology, and hence externalvalidityasroutineprobabilitysamplingmethodsmaynothavebeenemployed.ThecurrentstudydescribesseveralGeographicInformationSystem(GIS)andnon-GISmethods,appliedpost hoc,toassesstheexternalvalidityofsamplescollectedusingbothprobabilityandnon-probabilitysamplingmethods.Thesemethodscouldequallybeemployedforinspectingotherdatasets.MappingwasconductedusingArcView9.1.Basedonthispost hoc assessment, resultsfromtherandomfieldsamplecouldprovideanexternallyvalid,albeitrelativelyimprecise,estimateofnationaldiseaseprevalence,ofdiseaseprevalencein3ofthe4provinces(allbutUlster,inthenorthandnorthwest,wheresamplesizewassmall),andinbeefanddairyherds.Thisstudyprovidespracticalmethodsforexaminingtheexternalvalidityofsamplespost-collection.

Printed with permission from the Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation.

Improving the quality of reporting in veterinary journals: how far do we need to go with reporting guidelines?

More, S.J.1

1 UCD CVERA

The Veterinary Journal, in press

Publicationintheinternationalpeer-reviewedliteratureisoneofthemostimportantoutputsofanyresearch,providingapublicrecordofresearchconducted.However,thequalityofreportingisvariable,bothinthemedicalandveterinaryliterature.Inresponsetotheseconcerns,anumberofguidelineshavebeendevelopedbyinternationalscientificteamstopromotethequalityofreportingofresearchstudies.Theseguidelinesarewrittenaschecklists,flowdiagrams,orintheformofexplicittext,specifyingtheminimuminformationthatisrequiredineachsectionofapublishedpapertoprovideatransparent,accurateandcompleteaccountoftheresearch.Increasingly,keymedicaljournalseitherrequireorrecommendauthorcompliancewiththeabove-mentionedreportingguidelines.Asyet,however,asimilarapproachisnotstandardpracticeamongveterinaryjournals.InthisPersonalView,itisarguedthatveterinaryjournalsshouldrequireauthorcompliancewithrelevantreportingguidelines,intheinterestofhighqualityreportingofveterinarymedicalresearch.

This article will be published in The Veterinary Journal, More, S.J., Improving the quality of reporting in veterinary journals: how far do we need to go with reporting guidelines?, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2010.


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Avian influenza

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a public animal exhibit in Seoul, Korea, during 2008

Yoon, H.1, Moon, O.-K.1, More, S.J.2, Park, C.-K.1, Park, J.-Y.1, Lee, Y.-J.1, Lee, S.-D.1, Ha, J.-K.1,

Jeong, S.-K.1, Jeong, J.-W.1, Lee, S.-J.1

1 National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Republic of Korea, 2 UCD CVERA

Zoonoses and Public health, in press

ThisstudydescribesthefirstrecordedoutbreakofHPAIinthecityofSeoul,incaptivebirdsheldinanexhibitionforpublicviewingatalocaldistrictoffice.Theindexcasesweretwopheasants,whichhadbeenintroducedintotheexhibiton24April,4dayspriortodeath,fromastoreinalocalmarketinGyeonggi-do.DucksandchickensfromanHPAIoutbreakfarm,subsequentlyconfirmedon4May,hadalsobeenheldinthisstore.ThisoutbreakhighlightsthepotentialroleoflocalmarketsinAIVtransmission.ThisoutbreakledtoconsiderablepublichealthconcerninKorea,however,nohumancaseswerereported.Thenon-commercialpoultrysectorneedstobeconsideredinnationalplansforpreparednessandresponse.


Brucellosis

Surveillance and control of bovine brucellosis in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2006

Lee, B.-Y.1, Higgins, I.M.2, Moon, O.-K.1, Clegg, T.A.2, McGrath, G.2, Collins, D.M.2,

Park, J.-Y.1, Yoon, H.-C.1, Lee, S.-J.1, More, S.J.2



BovinebrucellosisisamajoranimalhealthproblemintheRepublicofKorea.Further,anumberofhumancasesofbrucellosishaverecentlybeendetected.Thispaperprovidesanoverviewofsurveillance(todetectnewcases)andcontrol(toclearinfectionfollowingcasedetection)ofbovinebrucellosisintheRepublicofKoreaduring2000–2006.UsingdatafromAIMS(thenationalanimalinfectiousdiseasedatamanagementsystem),weconductedseparatedescriptiveanalyses,initiallyusingfarmandthenepisodeasourunitofinterest.Anepisodewasdefinedasaperiodofcompulsoryherd trading restriction, following detection of infection with Brucella abortusinoneormorecattle.Wealsoidentifiedriskfactorsfortwomeasuresofdiseasecontrol:episodeduration(logisticgeneralisedestimatingequationmodel)andtimetore-restriction(Cox’sproportionalhazardmodel).Therewere8530and52,739reactorfarmsandreactorcattle,respectively,during2000–2006.From2004to2006,therewasasubstantialincreaseinthenumberofnewoutbreaks,particularlywithinthebeefsector.Theprobabilityofaprolongedepisode(>150days)andthehazardofasecondepisodeeachincreasedwithherdsize.Further,thehazardofasecondepisodewashigherin2005(comparedwithotheryears)andinthesoutheastofKorea(comparedwithotherprovinces).Theeffectofoutbreaksizeoncontrolvariedbetweenthebeefanddairysectors.Theincreaseinbeefcattlereactorsin2004–2006iscloselyalignedtoanincreaseinsurveillanceeffort.Nonetheless,itislikelythatthisisagenuinereflectionoftherecentestablishmentandspreadof


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brucellosisintheKoreanbeefcattlepopulation.Therecentincreaseinsurveillancecoverageinthebeefsectoriscentraltonationaleradicationefforts.Currentstrategiestocontrolinfectionfollowingdetectionhavegenerallybeeneffective,leadingtorapidclearanceofinfectiononmostfarms.Controlbecomesproblematicwithincreasingherdsize.Thisworkprovides a detailed insight into surveillance and control of bovine brucellosis in Korea, and should assist both policy-makersandfieldveterinarianstoimprovetheeffectivenessofnationaleradicationefforts.

This article was published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 90, Lee, B.-Y., Higgins, I.M., Moon, O.-K., Clegg, T.A., McGrath, G., Collins, D.M., Park, J.-Y., Yoon, H.-C., Lee, S.-J., More, S.J., Surveillance and control of bovine brucellosis in the Republic of Korea during 2000–2006, 66-79, Copyright Elsevier B.V. 2009.

Characteristics of bovine brucellosis on Korea during 2001-2004

Nam, H.-M.1, Kim, C.-H.2, More, S.J.3, Yoon, H.1, Kim, S.-J.1, Lee, B.-Y.1, Park, C.-K.1, Jeon, J.-M.1, Wee, S.-H.1

1 National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Republic of Korea, 2 Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea, 3 UCD CVERA

This paper describes the epidemiological characteristics of bovine brucellosis in Korea during January 2001-September 2004,whichencompassestheperiodwhentheincidenceofbovinebrucellosisincreasedabruptly.DatafromthenationalAnimalInfectiousDiseaseDataManagementSystemwereusedforthisstudy.Arangeofepidemiologicalmeasureswerecalculatedincludingannualherdandanimalincidence.Duringthestudyperiod,therewere1,183outbreakson638farms.Annualherdincidenceinbeefcattleincreasedfrom0.12to11.5outbreaksper10,000from2001to2004(toSeptember),respectively.On401(62.9%)farmsduringthisperiod,infectionwaseradicatedwithoutrecurrence.Recurrenceofinfectionwassignificantlyhigheronfarmswhereabortionwasreported(53.3%)comparedtofarmswhereitwas(30.0%).Onbeefcattlefarms,infectionwasintroducedmostfrequentlythroughpurchasedcattle(46.2%).Basedontheresultsofthisstudy,therecentestablishmentandspreadofbrucellosisintheKoreanbeefcattlepopulationwasmainlyduetoincompleteorinappropriatetreatmentofabortedmaterialandthemovementofinfectedcattle.Thisstudy has provided scientific data to underpin ongoing revision of national disease control regulations, specifically an extensiontotheperiodofmovementrestrictionandoftheretestintervalintest-positiveherds.

Foot and mouth disease

Using field-based epidemiological methods to investigate FMD outbreaks: an example from the 2002 outbreak in Korea

Wee, S.-H.1, Nam, H.-M.1, Moon, O.-K.1, Yoon, H.1, Park, J.-Y.1, More, S.J.2


Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 55, 404-410 (2008)

Relevanttofootandmouthdisease(FMD),mostpublishedepidemiologicalstudieshavebeenconductedusingquan-titativemethodsandsubstantialregionalornationaldatasets.Veterinaryepidemiologyalsoplaysacriticalroleduringoutbreakinvestigations,bothtoassistwithherd-leveldecision-makingandtocontributerelevantinformationtoassistwithongoingnationalorregionalcontrolstrategies.Despitetheimportanceofthisrole,however,littleinformationhasbeenpublishedontheuseofapplied(field-based)epidemiologicalmethodsduringdiseaseoutbreaks.Inthisstudy,weoutlineaninvestigativetemplateforFMD,andacasestudyofitsuseduringthe2002FMDoutbreakinKorea.Suitableforuseduringfield-basedepidemiologicalinvestigationsofindividualfarmswithinabroaderregional/nationalresponse,the template considers three steps including confirming infection, estimating date of introduction and determining


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methodofintroduction.AcasestudywasconductedonIP13(the13thinfectedpremises),theonlyIPduringthe2002FMDoutbreakinKoreathatwasgeographicallyisolatedfromallotherknowncases.TheauthoritiesfirstbecameawareofFMDonIP13on2June,however,infectionmayhavebeenpresentfrom12May.Infectionwasconfirmedon3June2002.FMDwasprobablyspreadtoIP13byacontractworkerwhohadparticipatedduring2–4MayinthecullingoperationsonIP1.Otherroutesofspreadwereruledoutduringtheinvestigation.ThecontractworkerlivedinthelocalityofIP13andworkedonapart-timebasisatapork-processingplantthatwasadjacenttothisfarm.Thecontractorbecameheavilycontaminatedduringthecull,butdidnotcomplyfullywithcleaninganddisinfectionrequirementsoncethecullhadbeencompleted.Theinvestigativetemplatecontributedstructureandfocustothefield-basedinvestigation.Resultsfromthiscasestudydemonstratetheneedforstrictmanagementofpersonnelindiseasecontrolandadherencetothesanitaryrulesbyallthoseinvolved.


Epidemiological characteristics of the 2002 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the Republic of Korea

Wee, S.-H.1, Yoon, H.1, More, S.J.2, Nam, H.-M.1, Moon, O.-K.1, Jung, J.-M.1, Kim, S.-J.1,

Kim, C.-H.1, Lee, E.-S.1, Park, C.-K.1, Hwang, I.-J.1


Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 55, 360-368 (2008)

TheRepublicofKoreaexperiencedafoot-and-mouthdisease(FMD)outbreakduringMay–June2002.Thepresentstudydescribesepidemiologicalcharacteristicsofthe2002FMDoutbreakinKorea,includingthepatternoftheoutbreakinbothtimeandspace,transmissionroutesamonginfectedfarms,andcontrolmeasures.Oneofthenotablefeaturesofthe2002FMDepidemicinKoreawasthatthevirusinfectedmostlypigs[15of16infectedpremises(IPs)],despitethepresenceofothersusceptibleanimalsoninfectedandneighbouringfarms.Theepidemicshowedtemporalclusteringat8–9dayintervals,suggestingfivegenerationsofinfectionduringtheoutbreak,and13of16(81.3%)IPswerelocatedwithina10km-radiusoftheindexcase.Theclinicalsignsthatpromptednotificationofinfectionincludedvesiclesaroundhoovesandsnouts.Theageoflesionswassignificantlylessamongcasesreportedbyfarmerscomparedwithveterinarians.ThehighawarenessoffarmersfromanearlierFMDoutbreakgreatlyhelpedtheanimalhygieneauthorityineffortsassociatedwithdiseasecontrolanderadication.Theoutbreakwaseradicatedwithin<2monthsasaresultoftheintensivecontroleffortsoftheanimalhygieneauthoritiesandthecooperationoftheKoreanpeople.AlthoughtheoutbreakwasacostlylessonfortheKoreanpeople,theexperiencegainedwillcontributetofutureeffortsinthepreventionandcontrolofanimalinfectiousdiseases.



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Tuberculosis

Mycobacterium bovis in Korea: an update

Wee, S.-H.1, Kim, C.-H.2, More, S.J.3, Nam, H.-M.1

1 National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Republic of Korea, 2 Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Republic of Korea, 3 UCD CVERA

The Veterinary Journal, in press

ThispaperreportschangesinthecattlepopulationandtheincidenceofbovinetuberculosisintheRepublicofKoreabetween 1960 and 2007, and discusses potential factors contributing to the recently observed increase in disease inci-dence,particularlyinbeefcattleanddeer.Althoughtherehavebeenongoingrefinementstotheexistingprogramme,further improvements in current strategies are needed, including surveillance of susceptible animal species, both domesticandwild,andongoingsurveillanceofthehumanpopulation.

This article will be published in The Veterinary Journal, Wee, S.-H., Kim, C.-H., More, S.J., Nam, H.-M., Mycobacterium bovis in Korea: an update, Copyright Elsevier Ltd. 2010.

Miscellaneous

Toxoplasma gondii in meat and meat products: detection & risk assessment

Halova, D.1, Zintl, A.1, McCarthy, E.1, Mulcahy, G.1, Murphy, T.1, Rafter, P.2, Collins, D.M.3, De Waal, T.1

1 UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, 2 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 3 UCD CVERA

Toxoplasma gondiiisaprotozoanparasitethatcaninfectvirtuallyallwarm-bloodedanimalsincludingman.Humanscanbeinfectedbyhandlingorconsumingraworundercookedmeatfrominfectedanimals,orfoodcontaminatedwithcatfaeces.Between37and58%ofwomenofchildbearingageareseropositiveforToxoplasmainvariousEuropeancoun-tries.VerylittledataisavailableinIrelandontheprevalenceofToxoplasma gondiiinmeatandmeatproducts.Inordertofillthesegaps,across-sectionalabattoirstudywasundertakentodeterminetheprevalenceofT. gondii in food animals inIreland.Resultstodateindicatethat35.5%ofsheep,4.7%ofpig,6.6%ofdeerand1%ofchickensamplestestedpositive for T. gondiiusingtheLatexagglutinationtest.

Tissue cyst of Toxoplasma gondii in brain of a sheep. Photograph by T. de Waal.


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Database support ...................................................................................................... 116


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Epidemiological support

Key CVERA contacts: Simon J. More, Liz Lane, Inma Aznar, Mary Canty

Farm investigations

FarminvestigationsareacriticalcomponentofCVERA’swork.TheseinvestigationsoffertheopportunityforCVERAstafftosupportveterinarystudentsintheuseofpracticalepidemiologicalskillstosolve(oftencomplex)on-farmprob-lems.Keyepidemiologicalskillsconcerntheuseofsimplemethodologiestoexaminepatternsofdiseasepresentationintime,inspaceandamongdifferentanimalgroupings.Farminvestigations,whichareakeycomponentofthefinalyearcurriculum,areconductedincollaborationwithlocalprivateveterinarypractitionersand/orveterinaryinspectors.Thefollowing investigations were conducted during 2008 and 2009:

• Mastitis(Co.Meath,January2008) • Generalcalfhealth(Co.Meath,February2008) • Abortion(Co.Wicklow,February2008) • Mastitis(Co.Meath,February2008) • Fertility(Co.Waterford,March2008) • Calfpneumonia(Co.Dublin,April2008) • Calfmortality(Co.Tipperary,May2008) • Generalgoathealth(Co.Meath,August2008) • Tuberculosis(Co.Wicklow,October2008) • Tuberculosis(Co.Monaghan,November2008) • Calfmortality(Co.Wicklow,November2008) • Tuberculosis(Co.Louth,November2008) • Generalcalfhealth(Co.Limerick,December2009)

International collaboration

CVERAprovidesongoingepidemiologicalsupportinarangeofcountries,including:

• Chile.TechnicalsupporttotheServicioAgrícolayGanadero[AgricultureandLivestockService]intheirworktowardstheestablishmentofanationaleradicationprogrammeforbovinetuberculosis.

• Korea.TechnicalsupporttotheepidemiologyunitattheNationalVeterinaryResearchandQuarantineServiceintheirongoingepidemiologicalwork,insupportofnationaldecision-making,onfootandmouthdisease,bovinebrucellosis,bovinetuberculosisandavianinfluenza.

• Kyrgyzstan.TechnicalsupporttotheEUBudgetSupportProgrammeinKyrgyzstanandtheKyrgyzStateVeterinaryDepartment(SVD)towardstheestablishmentofanepidemiologicalunitwithinSVD.


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Epidemiological training

CVERAprovidesbothformalandinformalepidemiologicalsupporttoveterinariansinIreland.

A course in introductory epidemiology(so-called‘DemystifyingEpidemiology’)washeldonthreeoccasionsduring2008and 2009:

• Tullamore,Co.Offaly(withanemphasisonveterinarypublichealth,12May2008), • Thurles,Co.Tipperary(forfieldveterinarians,13May2008) • Backwestoncampus,Co.Kildare(forlaboratoryandpolicyveterinarians,14May2008),and • Drumshanbo,Co.Leitrim(forfieldveterinarians,15May2008).

Thefollowingprovidesabackgroundtothiscourse:

‘Epidemiology is often viewed as a discipline of facts and figures, with only limited application to front-line veterinarians on the ground. The purpose of this one-and-a-half day course is to demystify epidemiology, and provide attendees with a sound under-standing of epidemiology in action. The course is problem-based, and will centre on a range of hands-on learning exercises that are relevant to DAFF veterinarians in the field. Following this course, there will be an opportunity for interested attendees to join a mentored study group that will meet on an ongoing basis.’

An epidemiological mentoring groupcontinuestomeetonasix-monthlybasis,tosupportDAFFveterinarianswithaninterestinthepracticalapplicationofveterinaryepidemiologyintheirwork.ThegroupmetinPortlaoise,Co.Laois,inMayandNovember2008,andinMayandNovember2009.Themeetingincludesasessionofformalepidemiologytraining(forexample,‘writingscientificpapers’,epidemiologicalstudydesigns’etc).Inaddition,agroupofepidemio-logicalmentorsareprovidingsupportfortheepidemiologicalprojectthateachmemberisconducted.

Anoutlineofsomeofthecurrentprojectsisincludedoverleaf.

Summer grazing pastures, eastern Kyrgyzstan. Photograph by S.J. More.


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A review of bovine cases consigned under veterinary certification to emergency and casualty slaughter in Ireland during 2006 to 2008

Mary Cullinane1, Edmond O’Sullivan2, Gerald Collins1 [Mentors: Daniel M. Collins3, Simon J. More3]1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 Cork County Council, 3 UCD CVERA

InIreland,asmallnumberofbovineanimalswhosehealthorfitnessfortransportisindoubt,may,subjecttoaveterinary certificate, be presented for slaughter for human consumption either as an emergency or casualty slaughter animal.Thetransportoftheseanimalsmustbedonesuchthattheirwelfareisnotcompromisedatanystagefromfarmtoslaughter.Asyet,however,thereislittlepublishedresearchonthisissue.TheobjectiveofthisstudyistoreviewbovinecasesconsignedunderveterinarycertificationtoemergencyorcasualtyslaughterinIrelandduring2006to2008.

Examining the relationship between the gamma interferon test and the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT) in South Tipperary

Martin Hayes1, 2 [Mentors: Inma Aznar2, Simon J. More2]1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA

TheTBprojectinSouthTipperaryisexaminingthecorrelationbetweentheGammaInterferontestandthesingleintra-dermalcomparativetuberculintest(SICTT)inapercentageofreactorsdisclosedina12monthperiodcommencingJune2009.Itishopedtousethesedatatoassistininterpretationofanimalsinthefuture.

A retrospective cohort study of the risk of TB among suckler calves whose dam tested positive to the single intradermal comparative tuberculin test (SICTT)

Mary Bourke1 [Mentors: Inma Aznar2, Simon J. More2]1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA

Thepurposeofthisprojectistoinvestigatethepossiblepseudo-verticaltransmissionoftuberculosisbetweenadamandhersucklingoffspringviainfectedmilk.TheroleofMycobacterium bovisinfectedmilkinpassingoninfec-tiontodairycalveshasbeenrecognisedinastudybyRenteriaEvangelistaandHemandezDeAnda(1996)andina more recent study carried out by Doran et al.,(2009).ThesestudiesdemonstratedthatacowwhoissheddingMycobacterium bovisinhermilkiscapableofinfectingcalvesbeingfedonthismilk.Itstandstoreasonthereforethatasucklercowifinfectedwithtuberculosiscouldbeasourceofinfectionforhercalf.

The temporal and spatial patterns of bovine tuberculosis in County Kilkenny cattle herds 1998 to 2008

Nicky Fennelly1 [Mentors: John Griffin1, Tracy A. Clegg2, Guy McGrath2, Simon J. More2]1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA

Theuseofepidemiologicalmethodsisanintrinsiccomponentofdiseasemanagementandcontrol.TheobjectiveofthisstudyistoexamineBovineTuberculosis(BTB)inCountyKilkennycattleherdsfrom1998to2008inclusive


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andusetheinformationtoenhancetheunderstandingoftheepidemiologyofthediseaseinthecounty.Thestudywillexaminethelongtermchangesthathaveoccurredoverthedecade(seculartrends),andwillinvestigatecyclical,seasonalandspatialdiseasepatterns.

Factors contributing to the sample quality for the BSE active surveillance programme

Aidan Cahill1 [Mentors: Daniel M. Collins2, Simon J. More2, Hazel Sheridan1]1 Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 2 UCD CVERA

Ireland’sactivesurveillanceprogrammeforBSEinvolvesthecollectionofbrainstemtissuesamplesfromcertaincategoriesofcattle,includingcattlewhichdieonfarm(fallencattle).However,someofthesesamplesareofpoorqualityduetoautolysis.ThishasimplicationsforBSEdiagnosis.IrelandisobligedunderEUlawtotakemeasurestominimisesampleautolysis.Dataonthedegreeofautolysisofallsamplesin2007,2008and2009havebeencapturedontheAHCS(AnimalHealthComputerSystem).Dateoftestcombinedwithmappingoffarmoforigincanbeusedtoinfertemporalandspatialpatternsinthisbodyofdata.TheobjectiveofthisstudyistoidentifyriskfactorsforpoorsamplequalityinfallenanimalsintheRepublicofIreland,withaviewtotakingcorrectiveactiontoimproveoverallsamplequality.

Irish BSE cases born after October, 2006: descriptive epidemiology and spatial analysis

Eoin Ryan1 [Mentors: Guy McGrath2, Daniel M. Collins2, Inma Aznar2, Simon J. More2, Hazel Sheridan3]1 Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Department of Agriculture, 2 UCD CVERA, 3 Fisheries and Food, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food

CasesofBSEcontinuetooccurinIrishcattlebornafterthereinforcedfeedban(BARB)andenhancedmeatandbonemealcontrolsestablishedinOctober1996.Theepidemiologyofthesecasesistobeinvestigatedanddescribedinordertoinformaetiologicalhypotheses.Spatialanalysiswillbecarriedouttodeterminewhetherthedistributionofthesecasesisnon-randomandthefactorsthatmayrelatetotheirdistribution.

€uromilk – a team-based approach to milk quality and mastitis control on Irish dairy farms

Finola McCoy1, Catherine Devitt2 [Mentor: Simon J. More3]1 Teagasc Moorepark Dairy Production Research Centre, 2 Research consultant, 3 UCD CVERA

Thereisawealthofknowledgeavailableinthedairyindustryinrelationtomastitispreventionandcontrol.Manycountries have used this information to develop national mastitis control programmes, however no such struc-tureexistsintheIrishdairyindustry.WorkfromtheUSAhasshownthattheformationofmilkqualityteamswas successful in encouraging farms to adopt recommended management practices and improve communication betweenproducersanddairyprofessionals.Thispilotstudy,involving23Irishfarmswilllookattheimpactandfeasibilityofateam-basedapproachtomilkquality.Italsoaimstoidentifyrecommendationsandrequirementsforfutureprogrammedevelopmentanddelivery.


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Statistical support

Key CVERA contact: Tracy A. Clegg

Statistical support and advice

During2008-2009,inadditiontocoreprojects,CVERAprovidedstatisticalsupportandadvicetoarangeofresearchers.Projectscurrentlyunderwayinclude:

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food • ExaminingwhetherherdsthatbuyinduringarestrictionduetoM. bovisareatincreasedriskofaprolonged

episodeorsubsequentepisodeofM. bovis • EpidemiologicalstudiesofpooranimalperformanceonafarminCastlecomer,Co.Kilkenny • SerologicalsurveillanceofcattleforbluetongueinIreland • Descriptiveinvestigationofanimalsslaughteredunderaveterinarycertificateduring2006-2008

UCD School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine • UseofpooledserumtopredictherdprevalenceofBVDandIBR • Acriticalevaluationoffarm-levelmilkquality,basedonmilkrecordingdata • Persistent-postbreedingendometritisinmares • UCDreviewofhorsewelfareinIreland2007-2009 • ComparisonoftheImmulite®andRIAassaymethodsformeasuringperipheralbloodP4levelsinGreyhound

bitches prior to breeding


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Geographic Information Systems (GIS) support

Key CVERA contacts: Guy McGrath, Daniel M. Collins

The Wildlife Unit

a. An independent monitor

CVERAactsasanindependentmonitorfortheNationalParksandWildlifeServices(theDepartmentoftheEnvironment,HeritageandLocalGovernment)toensureoperationsoftheWildlifeUnit(DAFF)arewithinpre-agreedcriteria.ThisincludesverifyingindividualbadgerremovallicencesandmaintainingchecksonareastreatedbytheWildlifeUnitonacountybycountybasisthroughtime.OngoingreportswiththematicmapsareproducedforthetwogovernmentDepartments.

b. Administration

InadditiontomonitoringandreportingonWildlifeUnitactivities,CVERAmaintaintheGIScomponentoftheWildlifeUnitadministrationcentreinJohnstownCastle,Co.Wexford.ThiscentreprovidesallDistrictVeterinaryOfficeswiththerelevantmapsandortho-photographytocompletebadgersurveysinareaswheretuberculosisbreak-downsincattlehavebeenattributedtowildlife.Thebadgersettsfoundthroughsurveyingarethendigitisedandmain-tainedcentrallyontheGIS.

General mapping support

CVERAprovideabroadrangeofmappingsupport,including: • Mapsforspecificfieldinvestigations • Mapsforillustrativepurposesinpublicationsandinternalreports • Mapsforaidinginthespatialaspectsofstudydesign • MappingtoassistDistrictVeterinaryOffices • Annualproductionofthematicprevalencemapsfortuberculosis,brucellosisandBSE • Provisionofmappingassistanceintheeventofanemergencydiseaseincursion.

Atmospheric dispersion modelling

CVERAhavethecapacitytoperformatmosphericdispersionanddepositionmodeling.ThesoftwareutilisediscurrentlyBREEZEAERMODv7.0.58,BREEZEAERMET6.2.0andBREEZE3DAnalyst2.0.56ProPlusversions©TrinityConsultantsasusedbytheEPA.


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The TB testing database

Key CVERA contacts: Isabella Higgins, Paul White

IntroductionTheCVERANationalBovineTuberculosis/BrucellosistestingdatabaseaimstoprovideanancillaryplatformforstoringTB/BRschemedata,andforrunningepidemiologicalqueries.Bymaintainingacontinuousrecordschemedatasince1989,andallowingthistobecombinedwithdatafromothersources,thesystemprovidesadynamicframeworkfordatamanagementwithinCVERA.

Thedatabasestoresinformationonthetuberculosis/brucellosiseradicationschemesinrelationto: • TBtestsummarydata • TBreactorandinconclusiveskinresults • TBclearanimaltestresultsforrestrictedherds • TBpost-mortemresultsforreactoranimals • LaboratoryresultsforanimalssubmittedforTBHistopathology/Culture • ContiguousherdsidentifiedbyDAFFfieldstaff • Brucellosistestsummarydata

DevelopmentSinceitsinceptionin1998,theNationalBovineTuberculosis/Brucellosistestingdatabasehasundergonecontinuousdevelopmentinresponsetotheevolvingdatahandlingrequirementsoftheresearchprogram.Thedatabasewasproto-typedwithinMicrosoftAccess™anddatawasoriginallydrawnbymeansofdiskettefromtheNixdorfsystemforeachDVOandthenmergedintoacentralizeddatabase.WiththeadventofAHCSin2005,theaccessdatabasewasmigratedtoMicrosoftSQLServer™asaplatformcapableofhandlingtheincreasingvolumeofdata.WithinSQLserver,thedatabaseisnowoptimizedfortheefficientrunningofqueriesonlargetablessuchastheTBtestsummarytable(4.8millionrecords)andassociatedTBanimaltable(15.6millionrecords).

ManagementMonthlyupdatesfromAHCSareobtainedbyrunningaseriesofstandardizedreportsonAHCSandoutputtingtoCSVtextformat.ThetextfilesareinitiallyloadedintostagingtablesontheCVERAdatabaseviaDTSpackages.Avalidation/cleaningstepisperformedtoensuredataconsistencywithAHCS,beforefinalloadingofdata.Thisisfollowedbydatamanipulation as follows: • coalescingofmultiplepart-testsummaryrecordsintosinglerecords • classificationofreactorsattestsummarylevelaccordingtosizeofskintestreaction(asstandard/non-standard

reactor) • summarizationoftestsummarydataovertheperiod1989todateasanepisodefilewithonerecorddescribing

each period of restriction • summarizationofherdsintermsofnumberandseverityofTBepisode(s)todate

InterrogationBymeansofStructuredQueryLanguage(SQL)queries,datastoredacrossvarioustablesmaybesummarized/combined.Morerecently,advancesinPChardware/softwaretechnologyhaveenabledtherunningofmoreresourceintensivequeries,includingquestionsrelatinganimalmovement/birthregistrationdatatoTBatanimal/herdlevel.


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Key CVERA contact: Isabella Higgins

Toassistwitharangeofresearchprojects,thefollowingnationaldatabasesareregularlyinterrogated:

• AnimalHealthComputerSystem(AHCS)database • AnimalIdentificationandMovementSystem(AIM)database • Factorysurveillancedatabase • LaboratoryInformationManagementSystem(LIMS)database • TracingOnwardTrackingSystem(TOTS) • ER76database • Badgerpostmortemdatabase(1997-2003)

Thefollowingexamplesillustratehowthesedataaresubsequentlyused:

a. Theprovisionofdataforongoingwork,PhDthesesandvariouspapers,including: • ValidationofBreezeAirDispersionModellingfortheperiod2000to2007forasmallareastudy • ThegeneticsofpredispositiontotuberculosisinIrishdairyandbeefcattle • Arangeofprojectsrelatingtotuberculinregistration • APTfiguresonaDEDbasisforproductionofthematicmaps

b. DetailedworkwasconductedincollaborationwithDavidWilliams,formerlyUCDStatistics,tosummarisetheTBtestrecordsfortheperiod1989-2009andtocreateasuiteofprogramsthatwillidentifybreakdownepisodesforeachherdonanationalbasis.

c. ProvisionoftechnicalsupportanddatafortheproductionofimprovedstatisticalmeasuresforTBsurveillanceandcontrol.InitiatedwithinCVERA,theprojectisincollaborationwithDavidWilliamsformerlyUCDStatistics.

d. NationalSICTTrecordsbetweenNovember2000andDecember2007wereprovidedandsummarizedonanepisodebasisforthestudyGeneticassociationsbetweenJohne’sdiseaseandsusceptibilitytoMycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium aviumsubsp.aviuminIrishHolsteinFriesiandairycows.ThisworkwasconductedbyMáiréadBermingham,formerlyTeagascMoorepark.

e. Provisionofdemographicdataon40farmsfortheyear2005forthestudyonprevalenceandriskfactorsassoci-ated with Cryptosporidiuminfection.ThisdatawasrequestedbyValerieDeWaele(CentralVeterinaryResearchLaboratory,Backweston).

f. Datarelatingtotuberculintestscarriedoutoncattle,andthenumberoftuberculinreactorsdisclosed,accordingtocountywerecompiledtoproducethematicmapsandtheBovineTuberculosisStatistics,AnnualSummary(2008-2009).

g. ProvisionofdemographicdataonfarmsselectedforthestudyonmolecularepidemiologyofCryptosporidium parvumsubtypesusingmulti-locussubtypingapproachandgeographicinformationsystemapproach.ThisdatawasrequestedbyValerieDeWaele(CentralVeterinaryResearchLaboratory,Backweston).


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Prior to 2008 ............................................................................................................ 126


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Peer reviewed papers

Ashe,S.,More,S.J,O’Keeffe,J.,White,P.,McGrath,G.,Aznar,I.,2009.SurvivalanddispersalofadefinedcohortofIrishcattle.Irish Veterinary Journal62,44-49.

Baldock,F.C.,More,S.J.,Peeler,E.J.,2008.Anintroductiontoimportriskanalysisforaquaticanimals.Fish Veterinary Journal10,29-53.

Bermingham,M.L.,More,S.J.,Good,M.,Cromie,A.R.,Higgins,I.M.,Brotherstone,S.,Berry,D.P.,2009.GeneticsoftuberculosisinIrishHolstein-Friesiandairyherds.Journal of Dairy Science92,3447-3456.

Brangan,P.,Bailey,D.,Larkin,J.,Myers,T.,More,S.J.,2008.ManagementofthenationalprogrammetoeradicateequineinfectiousanaemiafromIrelandduring2006.Equine Veterinary Journal40,702-704.

Cashman,W.,Buckley,J.,QuigleyT.,Fanning,S.,More,S.,Egan,J.,Berry,D.,Grant,I.,O’Farrell,K.,2008.Riskfactors for introduction and within-herd transmission of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis(MAP)infec-tionon59Irishdairyherds.Irish Veterinary Journal61,464-467.

****Cleary,G.P.,Corner,L.A.L.,O’Keeffe,J.,Marples,N.M.,2009.ThedietofthebadgerMeles melesintheRepublicofIreland.Mammalian Biology74,438-447.

Clegg,T.A.,More,S.J.,Higgins,I.M.,Good,M.,Blake,M.,Williams,D.H.,2008.Potentialinfection-controlbenefitforIrelandfrompre-movementtestingofcattlefortuberculosis.Preventive Veterinary Medicine84,94-111.

Collins,J.,Hanlon,A.,More,S.J.,Duggan,V.,2008.ThestructureandregulationoftheIrishequineindustry:linkstoconsiderationofequinewelfare.Irish Veterinary Journal61,746-756.

Collins,J.,Hanlon,A.,More,S.J.,Wall,P.G.,Duggan,V.,2009.PolicyDelphiwithvignettemethodologyasatooltoevaluatetheperceptionofequinewelfare.The Veterinary Journal181,63-69.

Connolly,D.J.,Dwyer,P.J.,Fagan,J.,Hayes,M.,Ryan,E.G.,Costello,E.,Kilroy,A.,More,S.J.,2008.Tuberculosisin alpaca (Lama pacos)inIreland.2.Resultsofanepidemiologicalinvestigation.Irish Veterinary Journal61,533-537.

*Corner,L.A.,Costello,E.,Lesellier,S.,O’Meara,D.,Gormley,E.,2008.ExperimentaltuberculosisintheEuropeanbadger (Meles meles) after endobronchial inoculation with Mycobacterium bovis:II.Progressionofinfection.Research in Veterinary Science85,481-490.

*Corner,L.A.,Costello,E.,Lesellier,S.,O’Meara,D.,Gormley,E.,2008.VaccinationofEuropeanbadgers(Meles meles)withBCGbythesubcutaneousandmucosalroutesinducesprotectiveimmunityagainstendobronchialchallengewith Mycobacterium bovis. Tuberculosis88,601-609.

*Corner,L.A.L.,Clegg,T.A.,More,S.J.,O’Boyle,I.,Costello,E.,Sleeman,D.P.,Griffin,J.M.,2008.TheeffectofvaryinglevelsofpopulationcontrolontheprevalenceoftuberculosisinbadgersinIreland.Research in Veterinary Science85,238-249.

*Corner,L.A.L.,Murphy,D.,Costello,E.,Gormley,E.,2009.TuberculosisinEuropeanbadgers(Meles meles) and the controlofinfectionwithBacilleCalmette-Guérinvaccination.Journal of Wildlife Diseases45,1042-1047.


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Crowe,O.,Wilson,J.,Aznar,I.More,S.J.,2009.AreviewofIreland’swaterbirds,withemphasisonwinteringmigrantsandreferencetoH5N1avianinfluenza.Irish Veterinary Journal62,800-811.

Doran,P.,Carson,J.,Costello,E.,More,S.J.,2009.AnoutbreakoftuberculosisaffectingcattleandpeopleonanIrishdairyfarmin2005,followingtheconsumptionofrawmilkfromacowwithtuberculousmastitis.Irish Veterinary Journal62,390-397.

Downes,M.,Canty,M.J.,More,S.J.,2009.DemographyofthepetdogandcatpopulationontheislandofIrelandandhumanfactorsinfluencingpetownership.Preventive Veterinary Medicine92,140-149.

Good,M.,Clegg,T.,Sheridan,H.,Yearsely,D.,O’Brien,T.,Egan,J.,Mullowney,P.,2009.Prevalenceanddistribu-tionofparatuberculosis(Johne’sdisease)incattleherdsinIreland.Irish Veterinary Journal62,597-606.

*Gormley,E.,Corner,L.,2009.ControlofTBinwildlifebyoralBCGvaccination.Expert Review of Vaccines8,1339-1342.

Hayes,M.,Ashe,S.,Collins,D.M.,Power,S.,Kenny,K.,Sheahan,M.,O’Hagan,G.,More,S.J.,2009.AnevaluationofIrishcattleherdswithinconclusiveserologicalevidenceofbovinebrucellosis.Irish Veterinary Journal62,182-190.

Kelly,G.,Condon,J.,More,S.J.,Dolan,L.,Higgins,I.,Eves,J.,2008.AlongtermobservationalstudyoftheimpactofbadgerremovalonherdrestrictionsduetobovineTBintheIrishmidlandsduring1989–2004.Epidemiology and Infection136,1362-1373.

Kelly,P.T.,O’Sullivan,K.,Berry,D.P.,More,S.J.,Meaney,W.J.,O’Callaghan,E.J.,O’Brien,B.,2009.Farmmanage-mentfactorsassociatedwithbulktanktotalbacterialcountinIrishdairyherdsduring2006/07.Irish Veterinary Journal62,36-42.

Kelly,P.T.,O’Sullivan,K.,Berry,D.P.,More,S.J.,Meaney,W.J.,O’Callaghan,E.J.,O’Brien,B.,2009.Farmmanage-mentfactorsassociatedwithbulktanksomaticcellcountinIrishdairyherds.Irish Veterinary Journal62,Supplement45-51.

Lane,E.A.,2008.Problembasedlearninginveterinaryeducation.Journal of Veterinary Medical Education35,631-636.

Lane,E.A.,Austin,E.J.,Crowe,M.A.,2008.Oestroussynchronisationincattle-currentoptionsfollowingtheEUregu-lationsrestrictinguseofoestrogeniccompoundsinfoodproducinganimals:areview.Animal Reproduction Science109,1-16.

Lee,B-Y.,Higgins,I.M.,Moon,O-K.,Clegg,T.A,McGrath,G.,Collins,D.M.,Park,J-Y.,Yoon,H-C.,Lee,S-J.,More,S.J.,2009.SurveillanceandcontrolofbovinebrucellosisintheRepublicofKoreaduring2000to2006.Preventive Veterinary Medicine90,66-79.

*Lesellier,S.,Corner,L.,Costello,E.,Lyashchenko,K.,Greenwald,R.,Esfandiari,J.,Singh,M.,Hewinson,R.G.,Chambers,M.,Gormley,E.,2009.ImmunologicalresponsesandprotectiveimmunityinBCGvaccinatedbadgersfollowing endobronchial infection with Mycobacterium bovis.Vaccine27,402-409.

*Lesellier,S.,Corner,L.,Costello,E.,Sleeman,D.P.,Lyashchenko,K.,Greenwald,R.,Esfandiari,J.,Singh,M.,Hewinson,R.G.,Chambers,M.,Gormley,E.,2008.Antigenspecificimmunologicalresponsesofbadgers(Meles meles) experimentallyinfectedwithMycobacterium bovis. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology122,35-45.


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*Lesellier,S.,Corner,L.,Costello,E.,Sleeman,D.P.,Lyashchenko,K.P.,Greenwald,R.,Esfandiari,J.,HewinsonR.G.,Chambers,M.,Gormley,E.,2009.Immunologicalresponsesfollowingexperimentalendobronchialinfectionofbadgers(Meles meles) with different doses of Mycobacterium bovis.Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology127,174-180.

*MacHugh,D.E.,Gormley,E.,Park,S.D.E,Browne,J.A.,Taraktsoglou,M.,O’Farrelly,C.,Meade,K.G.,2009.GeneexpressionprofilingofthehostresponsetoMycobacterium bovisinfectionincattle.Transboundary and Emerging Diseases56,204-214.

Maher,P.,Good,M.,More,S.J.,2008.Trendsinthenumberof,andrateatwhich,cowsareculledfromtheIrishcattlepopulation,2003to2006.Irish Veterinary Journal61,455-463. *McCarthy,G.,Shiel,R.,O’Rourke,L.,Murphy,D.,Corner,L.,Costello,E.,Gormley,E.,2009.Bronchoalveolarlavagecytologyfromcaptivebadgers.Veterinary Clinical Pathology38,381-387.

McGrath,G.,Abernethy,D.A.,Stringer,L.,More,S.J.,2009.Anall-islandapproachtomappingbovinetuberculosisinIreland.Irish Veterinary Journal62,192-197.

*Meade,K.G.,Gormley,E.,O’Farrelly,C.,Park,S.D.,Costello,E.,Keane,J.,Zhao,Y.,MacHugh,D.E.,2008.Antigen stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle yields evidence for a novelgeneexpressionprogram.BMC Genomics9,447.

More,S.J.,2008.AcaseforincreasedprivatesectorinvolvementinIreland’snationalanimalhealthservices.Irish Veterinary Journal61,92-100.

More,S.J.,2009.Globaltrendsinmilkquality:implicationsfortheIrishdairyindustry.Irish Veterinary Journal62,Supplement5-14.

More,S.J.,2009.Whatisneededtoeradicatebovinetuberculosissuccessfully:anIrishperspective.The Veterinary Journal 180,275-278.

More,S.J.,Aznar,I.,Bailey,D.C.,Larkin,J.F.,Leadon,D.P.,Lenihan,P.,Flaherty,B.,Fogarty,U.,Brangan,P.,2008.Anoutbreakofequineinfectiousanaemia(EIA)inIrelandduring2006:theinvestigationmethodology,theinitialsourceofinfection,diagnosisandclinicalpresentation,themodesoftransmissionandspreadintheMeathcluster.Equine Veterinary Journal40,706-708.

More,S.J.,Aznar,I.,Myers,T.,Leadon,D.P.,Clegg,T.A.,2008.Anoutbreakofequineinfectiousanaemia(EIA)inIrelandduring2006:themodesoftransmissionandspreadintheKildarecluster.Equine Veterinary Journal40,709-711.

More,S.J.,Cameron,A.R.,Greiner,M.,Clifton-Hadley,R.S.,CorreiaRodeia,S.,Bakker,D.,Salman,M.D.,Sharp,J.M.,DeMassis,F.,Aranaz,A.,Boniotti,M.B.,Gaffuri,A.,Have,P.,Verloo,D.,Woodfood,M.,Weirup,M.,2009.Definingoutput-basedstandardstoachieveandmaintainTBfreedominfarmeddeer,withreferencetoEUmemberstates.Preventive Veterinary Medicine90,254-267.

*Murphy,D.,Corner,L.A.L.,Gormley,E.,2008.AdversereactionstoMycobacterium bovisBacilleCalmette-Guérin(BCG)vaccinationagainsttuberculosisinhumans,veterinaryanimalsandwildlifespecies.Tuberculosis88,344-357.

*Murphy,D.,O’Keeffe,J.,Martin,S.W.,Gormley,E.,Corner,L.A.L.,2009.AnassessmentofinjurytoEuropeanbadgers (Meles meles)duetocaptureinstoppedrestraints.Journal of Wildlife Diseases45,481-490.


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O’Connor,J.,More,S.J.,Griffin,J.M.,O’Leary,E.,2009.ModellingthedemographicsoftheIrishcattlepopulation.Preventive Veterinary Medicine89,249-254.

O’Grady,L.,O’Neill,R.,Collins,D.M.,Clegg,T.A.,More,S.J.,2008.Herdandwithin-herdIBRprevalenceamongIrishherdssubmittingbullsforentrytoabullperformancetestingstation.Irish Veterinary Journal61,809-815.

Olea-Popelka,F.J.,CostelloE.,WhiteP.,McGrathG.,CollinsJ.D.,O’KeeffeJ.,KeltonD.F.,BerkeO.,MoreS.J.,MartinS.W.,2008.Riskfactorsfordisclosureofadditionaltuberculouscattleinattested-clearherdsthathadananimalwithaconfirmedlesionoftuberculosisatslaughterduring2003inIreland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine85,81-91.

Olea-Popelka,F.J.,Fitzgerald,P.White,P.,McGrath,G.,Collins,J.D.,O’Keeffe,J.,Kelton,D.F.,Berke,O.,More,S.J.,Martin,S.W.,2009.TargetedbadgerremovalandthesubsequentriskofbovinetuberculosisincattleherdsincountyLaois,Ireland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine88,178-184.

Partridge,T.,Toolan,D.P.,Egan,J.,More,S.J.,2008.ControlofMycobacterium bovisinfectionintwosikadeerherdsinIreland. Irish Veterinary Journal61,27-32.

Richardson,E.,Good,M.,McGrath,G.,More,S.J.,2009.TheuseofGeographicInformationSystem(GIS)andnon-GISmethodstoassesstheexternalvalidityofsamplespost-collection.Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation21,633-640.

Richardson,E.K.B.,More,S.J.,2009.DirectandindirecteffectsofJohne’sdiseaseonfarmandanimalproductivityinanIrishdairyherd.Irish Veterinary Journal62,526-532.

Richardson,E.K.B.,Mee,J.F.,Sanchez,C.,Crilly,J.,More,S.J.,2009.DemographicsofanimalspositivetoMycobacteria avium subspecies paratuberculosisonfaecalculture,basedonlaboratorysubmissionstotheCorkRegionalVeterinaryLaboratoryduring1989to2006.Irish Veterinary Journal62,398-405.

Ryan,E.G.,Dwyer,P.J.,Connolly,D.J.,Fagan,J.,Costello,E.,More,S.J.,2008.Tuberculosisinalpaca(Lama pacos) inIreland.1.Aclinicalreport.Irish Veterinary Journal61,527-531.

***Sleeman,D.P.,Davenport,J.,Cussen,R.,Hammond,R.F.,2009.Thesmall-bodiedbadgers(Meles meles (L.)) of RutlandIsland,Co.Donegal.Irish Naturalists’ Journal30,1-6.

***Sleeman,D.P.,Davenport,J.,Fitzgerald,A.,2008.IncidenceofvisitsbybadgerstofarmyardsinIrelandinwinter.The Veterinary Record163,724.&Sleeman,D.P.,Davenport,J.,Fitzgerald,A.,2009.Letterresponse.The Veterinary Record164,668.

***Sleeman,D.P.,Davenport,J.,More,S.J.,Clegg,T.A.,Collins,J.D.,Griffin,J.M.,O’Boyle,I.,2009.HowmanyEurasianbadgersMeles meles L.arethereinIreland?European Journal of Wildlife Research55,333-344.

***Sleeman,D.P.,Davenport,J.,More,S.J.,Clegg,T.A.,Griffin,J.M.,O’Boyle,I.,2009.Theeffectivenessofbarriersto badger Meles melesimmigrationintheIrishFourAreaproject.European Journal of Wildlife Research55,267-278.

Wee,S-H.,Nam,H-M.,Moon,O-K.Yoon,H.,Park,J.Y.,More,S.J.,2008.Usingfield-basedepidemiologicalmethodstoinvestigateFMDoutbreaks:anexamplefromthe2002outbreakinKorea.Transboundary and Emerging Diseases55,404-410.


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Wee,S-H.,Yoon,H.,More,S.J.,Nam,H-M.,Moon,O-K.,Jung,J-M.,Kim,S-J.,Kim,C-H.,Lee,E-S.,Hwang,I-J.,2008.Epidemiologicalcharacteristicsofthe2002outbreaksoffoot-and-mouthdiseaseintheRepublicofKorea.Transboundary and Emerging Diseases55,360-368.

Wolfe,D.M.,Berke,O.,More,S.J,Kelton,D.F,White,P.W.,O’Keeffe,J.J.,Martin,S.W.,2009.Theriskofapositivetest for bovine tuberculosis in cattle purchased from herds with and without a recent history of bovine tuberculosis in Ireland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine92,99-105.

* The TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre and The Badger Vaccine Project

** The Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL)

*** The Department of Zoology, Ecology & Plant Science, University College Cork

**** The School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin

Books/book chapters

Buncic,S.,Collins,J.D.,Smulders,F.J.M.andColin,P.,2009.Biologicalfoodsafetyinrelationtoanimalwelfare.In Food Safety Assurance and Veterinary Public Health. Volume 5: Welfare of Production Animals: Assessment and Management of Risks,485-532.F.J.M.Smulders,B.Algers(eds).WageningenAcademicPublishers,TheNetherlands.

Scientific opinions

(J.D. Collins [UCD CVERA] and J.M. Griffin [DAFF] with other members of the Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) and S.J. More [UCD CVERA] with other members of the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) of the European Food Safety Authority [EFSA])

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonAnimalHealthandWelfare(AHAW)ontuberculosistestingindeer.The EFSA Journal,2008,645,1-34.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)aquantitativemicrobiologicalriskassessmentonSalmonellainmeat:Sourceattributionforhumansalmonellosisfrommeat.The EFSA Journal,2008,625,1-32.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheEuropeanCommissiononconsumptionofbeeftongue:humanBSEriskassociatedwithexposuretolymphoidtissueinbovinetongueinconsid-erationofnewresearchfindings.The EFSA Journal,2008,700,1-24.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheEuropeanCommissiononaTSEriskassessmentfromcarcassesofovineandcaprineanimalsbelow6monthsofagefromTSEinfectedflocksintendedforhumanconsumption.The EFSA Journal,2008,719,1-27.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheHealthandConsumerProtection,DirectorateGeneral,EuropeanCommissiononMicrobiologicalRiskAssessmentinfeedingstuffsforfoodproducinganimals.The EFSA Journal,2008,720,1-84.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheEuropeanCommissionontheRiskforHumanandAnimalHealthrelatedtotherevisionoftheBSEMonitoringregimeinsomeMemberStates.The EFSA Journal, 2008,762,1-47.


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ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheEuropeanFoodSafetyAuthorityonfoodborneantimicrobialresistanceasabiologicalhazard.The EFSA Journal,2008,765,1-87.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheEuropeanCommissiononthehumanandanimalexposureriskrelatedtoTransmissibleSpongiformEncephalopathies(TSEs)frommilkandmilkproductsderivedfromsmallruminants.The EFSA Journal,2008,849,1-37.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheEuropeanCommissiononAssessmentofthePublicHealthsignificanceofmeticillinresistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA)inanimalsandfoods.The EFSA Journal,2009,993,1-73.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheEuropeanCommissionongeneticTSEresistanceingoats.The EFSA Journal,2009,995,1-25.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheEuropeanCommissionontheupdatedriskforhumanandanimalhealthrelatedtotherevisionoftheBSEmonitoringregimeinsomeMemberStates.The EFSA Journal,2009,1059,1-40.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonAnimalHealthandWelfare(AHAW)onthe‘Guidanceongoodpracticeinconductingscientificassessmentsinanimalhealthusingmodelling’.The EFSA Journal,2009,7(12),1419.

ScientificOpinionofthePanelonAnimalHealthandWelfare(AHAW)onEpizooticHemorrhagicDisease.The EFSA Journal,2009,7(12),1418.


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Peer reviewed papers

*Aguilar,D.,Infante,E.,Martin,C.,Gormley,E.,Gicquel,B.,Pando,R.H.,2007.ImmunologicalresponsesandprotectiveimmunityagainsttuberculosisconferredbyvaccinationofBalb/CmicewiththeattenuatedMycobacterium tuberculosis(phoP)SO2strain.Clinical and Experimental Immunology147,330-338.

Barrett,D.J.,Clegg,T.A.,Healy,A.M.,Doherty,M.L.,2006.AstudyofdrycowtherapyandeffectsonSCCin10Irishdairyherds.Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A53,140-144.

Collins,D.M.,deLisle,G.W.,Collins,J.D.,Costello,E.,1994.DNArestrictionfragmenttypingofMycobacterium bovisisolatesfromcattleandbadgersinIreland.Veterinary Record134,681-682.

Collins,J.D.,1999.Tuberculosisincattle:interpretationandapplicationoftuberculintestandpost-mortemdata.UK Vet5,40-44.

Collins,J.D.,1999.Tuberculosisincattle:reducingtheriskofherdexposure.UK Vet5,35-39.

Collins,J.D.,2001.Tuberculosisincattle:newperspectives.Tuberculosis81,17-21.

Collins,J.D.,2006.Tuberculosisincattle:strategicplanningforthefuture.Veterinary Microbiology112,369-381.

Collins,J.D.,Wall,P.G.,2004.Foodsafetyandanimalproductionsystems:controllingzoonosesatfarmlevel.Revue Scientifique et Technique de l’Office International des Épizooties23,685-700.

*Corner,L.A.,2006.Theroleofwildanimalpopulationsintheepidemiologyoftuberculosisindomesticanimals:howtoassesstherisk.Veterinary Microbiology112,303-312.

*Corner,L.A.,Costello,E.,Lesellier,S.,O’Meara,D.,Sleeman,D.P.,Gormley,E.,2007.ExperimentaltuberculosisintheEuropeanbadger(Meles meles) after endobronchial inoculation of Mycobacterium bovis:I.Pathologyandbacteriology.Research in Veterinary Science83,53-62.

*Corner,L.A.,Pfeiffer,D.U.,Abbott,K.A.,2004.TherespiratorytractasahypotheticalrouteofinfectionofcattlewithMycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis.Australian Veterinary Journal82,170-173.

**Costello,E.,Flynn,O.,Quigley,F.,O’Grady,D.,Griffin,J.,Clegg,T.,McGrath,G.,2006.GenotypingofMycobacterium bovisisolatesfrombadgersinfourareasoftheRepublicofIrelandbyrestrictionfragmentlengthpoly-morphismanalysis.Veterinary Record159,619-623.

**Costello,E.,O’Grady,D.,Flynn,O.,O’Brien,R.,Rogers,M.,Quigley,F.,Egan,J.,Griffin,J.,1999.Studyofrestriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and spoligotyping for epidemiological investigation of Mycobacterium bovisinfection.Journal of Clinical Microbiology37,3217-3222.

**Costello,E.,O’Reilly,P.F.,Yearsley,D.K.,O’Grady,D.P.,O’Reilly,L.M.,Collins,J.D.,Monaghan,M.L.,Bassett,H.F.,1997.Astudyofanenzyme-linkedimmunosorbentassayforthediagnosisoftuberculosisincattle.Irish Veterinary Journal50,35-38.

**Costello,E.,Quigley,F.,Flynn,O.,Gogarthy,A.,McGuirk,J.,Murphy,A.,Dolan,L.,1998.Laboratoryexamina-tionofsuspectedtuberculouslesionsdetectedonabattoirpostmortemexaminationofcattlefromnon-reactorherds.Irish Veterinary Journal 51,248-250.


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*Davison,K.E.,Hughes,L.J.,Gormley,E.,Lesellier,S.,Costello,E.,Corner,L.A.,2007.Evaluationoftheanaestheticeffectsofcombinationsofketamine,medetomidine,romifidineandbutorphanolinEuropeanbadgers(Meles meles). Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia34,394-402.

Dolan,L.A.,Lynch,K.,1992.Badgersandbovinetuberculosis.Irish Veterinary Journal45,133-135.

**Egan,J.,Leonard,N.,Griffin,J.,Hanlon,A.,Poole,D.,2001.Asurveyofsomefactorsrelevanttoanimalwelfareon249dairyfarmsintheRepublicofIreland.Part1:Dataonhousing,calvingandcalfhusbandry.Irish Veterinary Journal 54,388-392.

Eves,J.A.,1999.ImpactofbadgerremovalonbovinetuberculosisineastCountyOffaly.Irish Veterinary Journal 52, 199-203.

*Fend,R.,Geddes,R.,Lesellier,S.,Vordermeier,H.M.,Corner,L.A.L.,Gormley,E.,Costello,E.,Hewinson,R.G.,Marlin,D.J.,Woodman,A.C.,Chambers,M.A.,2005.UseofanelectronicnosetodiagnoseMycobacterium bovis infec-tioninbadgersandcattle.Journal of Clinical Microbiology43,1745-1751.

Flanagan,P.A.,Kelly,G.,1996.Astudyoftuberculosisbreakdownsinherdsinwhichsomepurchasedanimalswereidentifiedasreactors.Irish Veterinary Journal49,704-706.

Frankena,K.,White,P.W.,O’Keeffe,J.,Costello,E.,Martin,S.W.,vanGrevenhof,I.,More,S.J.,2007.QuantificationoftherelativeefficiencyoffactorysurveillanceinthedisclosureoftuberculosislesionsinattestedIrishcattle.Veterinary Record161,679-684.

*Gormley,E.,2007.DiagnosisofMycobacterium bovisinfectionincattle.Bulletin of the International Dairy Federation: International Dairy Federation. Animal Health: Management and Control of Infectious and Production Diseases416,101-109.

*Gormley,E.,Costello,E.,2003.Tuberculosisandbadgers:newapproachestodiagnosisandcontrol.Journal of Applied Microbiology94,80-86.

*Gormley,E.,Collins,J.D.,2000.ThedevelopmentofwildlifecontrolstrategiesforeradicationoftuberculosisincattleinIreland.Tubercle and Lung Disease80,229-236.

*Gormley,E.,Doyle,M.B.,Fitzsimons,T.,McGill,K.,Collins,J.D.,2006.DiagnosisofMycobacterium bovis infection incattlebyuseofthegamma-interferon(Bovigam®)assay.Veterinary Microbiology112,171-179.

*Gormley,E.,Doyle,M.B.,McGill,K.,Costello,E.,Good,M.,Collins,J.D.,2004.Theeffectofthetuberculintestandtheconsequencesofadelayinbloodcultureonthesensitivityofagamma-interferonassayforthedetectionofMycobacterium bovisinfectionincattle.Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology102,413-420.

Grange,J.M.,Collins,J.D.,O’Reilly,L.M.,Costello,E.,Yates,M.D.,1990.IdentificationandcharacterisationofMycobacterium bovisisolatedfromcattle,badgersanddeerintheRepublicofIreland.Irish Veterinary Journal43,33-35.

Griffin,J.M.,Dolan,L.A.,1995.Theroleofcattle-to-cattletransmissionofMycobacterium bovis in the epidemiology of tuberculosisincattleintheRepublicofIreland:areview.Irish Veterinary Journal48,228-234.

Griffin,J.M.,Hahesy,T.,Lynch,K.,Salman,M.D.,McCarthy,J.,Hurley,T.,1993.Theassociationofcattlehusbandry practices, environmental factors and farmer characteristics with the occurrence of chronic bovine tuberculosis indairyherdsintheRepublicofIreland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine17,145-160.


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Griffin,J.M.,Martin,S.W.,Thorburn,M.A.,Eves,J.A.,Hammond,R.F.,1996.Acase-controlstudyontheassociationofselectedriskfactorswiththeoccurrenceofbovinetuberculosisintheRepublicofIreland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine27,75-87and27,217-229.

Griffin,J.M.,More,S.J.,Clegg,T.A.,Collins,J.D.,O’Boyle,I.,Williams,D.H.,Kelly,G.E.,Costello,E.,Sleeman,D.P.,O’Shea,F.,Duggan,M.,Murphy,J.,Lavin,D.P.T.,2005.Tuberculosisincattle:theresultsofthefour-areaproject.Irish Veterinary Journal58,629-636.

Griffin,J.M.,Williams,D.H.,Kelly,G.E.,Clegg,T.A.,O’Boyle,I.,Collins,J.D.,More,S.J.,2005.TheimpactofbadgerremovalonthecontroloftuberculosisincattleherdsinIreland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine67,237-266.

Hammond,R.F.,McGrath,G.,Martin,S.W.,2001.Irishsoilandland-useclassificationsaspredictorsofnumbersofbadgersandbadgersetts.Preventive Veterinary Medicine51,137-148.

Healy,A.M.,Hanlon,A.J.,Weavers,E.,Collins,J.D.,Doherty,M.L.,2002.Abehaviouralstudyofscrapie-affectedsheep.Applied Animal Behaviour Science79,89-102.

Healy,A.M.,Hannon,D.,Morgan,K.L.,Weavers,E.,Collins,J.D.,Doherty,M.L.,2004.ApairedcasecontrolstudyofriskfactorsforscrapieinIrishsheepflocks.Preventive Veterinary Medicine64,73-83.

Healy,A.M.,Morgan,K.L.,Hannon,D.,Collins,J.D.,Weavers,E.,Doherty,M.L.,2004.PostalquestionnairesurveyofscrapieinsheepflocksinIreland.Veterinary Record155,493-494.

Healy,A.M.,Weavers,E.,McElroy,M.,Gomez-Parada,M.,Collins,J.D.,O’Doherty,E.,Sweeney,T.,Doherty,M.L.,2003.TheclinicalneurologyofscrapieinIrishsheep.Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 17,908-916.

**Leonard,N.,Egan.J.,Griffin,J.,Hanlon,A.,Poole,D.,2001.Asurveyofsomefactorsrelevanttoanimalwelfareon249dairyfarmsintheRepublicofIreland.Part2:Dataonincidenceofdisease,cullingandbiosecuritymeasures.Irish Veterinary Journal54,454-456.

*Martin,C.,Williams,A.,Hernandez-Pando,R.,Cardona,P.J.,Gormley,E.,Bordat,Y.,Soto,C.Y.,Clark,S.O.,Hatch,G.J.,Aguilar,D.,Ausina,V.,Gicquel,B.,2006.TheliveMycobacterium tuberculosis phoP mutant strain is more attenuatedthanBCGandconfersprotectiveimmunityagainsttuberculosisinmiceandguineapigs.Vaccine24,3408-3419.

Martin,S.W.,Eves,J.A.,Dolan,L.A.,Hammond,R.F.,Griffin,J.M.,Collins,J.D.,Shoukri,M.M.,1997.Theasso-ciationbetweenthebovinetuberculosisstatusofherdsintheEastOffalyProjectArea,andthedistancetobadgersetts,1988-1993.Preventive Veterinary Medicine31,113-125.

*Meade,K.G.,Gormley,E.,Doyle,M.B.,Fitzsimons,T.,O’Farrelly,C.,Costello,E.,Keane,J.,Zhao,Y.,MacHugh,D.E.,2007.InnategenerepressionassociatedwithMycobacterium bovis infection in cattle: toward a gene signature of disease.BMC Genomics8,400.

*Meade,K.G.,Gormley,E.,Park,S.D.E.,Fitzsimons,T.,Rosa,G.J.M.,Costello,E.,Keane,J.,Coussens,P.M.,MacHugh,D.E.,2006.Geneexpressionprofilingofperipheralbloodmononuclearcells(PBMC)fromMycobacterium bovis infected cattle after in vitroantigenicstimulationwithpurifiedproteinderivativeoftuberculin(PPD).Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology113,73-89.

*Monaghan,M.L.,Doherty,M.L.,Collins,J.D.,Kazda,J.F.,Quinn,P.J.,1994.Thetuberculintest.Veterinary Microbiology40,111-124.


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*Monaghan,M.L.,Quinn,P.J.,Kelly,A.P.,McGill,K.,McMurray,C.,O’Crowley,K.,Bassett,H.F.,Costello,E.,Quigley,F.,Rothel,J.S.,Wood,P.R.,Collins,J.D.,1997.Apilottrialtoevaluatethegamma-interferonassayforthedetection of Mycobacterium bovis infectedcattleunderIrishconditions.Irish Veterinary Journal50,229-232.

More,S.J.,2007.ProgressinIrelandtowardstheeradicationofbovinetuberculosis.UK Vet Livestock 12,60-63.

More,S.J.,2007.Shapingourfuture:animalhealthinaglobaltradingenvironment.Irish Veterinary Journal60,541-549.

More,S.J.,Clegg,T.A.,McGrath,G.,Collins,J.D.,Corner,L.A.L.,Gormley,E.,2007.Doesreactivebadgercullingleadtoanincreaseintuberculosisincattle?Veterinary Record161,208-209.

More,S.J.,Collins,J.D.,Good,M.,Skuce,R.A.,Pollock,J.M.,Gormley,E.,2006.Preface,editorial.Veterinary Microbiology112,89-89.

More,S.J.,Collins,J.D.,Gormley,E.,Good,M.,Skuce,R.A.,Pollock,J.M.,2006.4thInternationalConferenceonMycobacterium bovis:workshopreports.Veterinary Microbiology112,383-391.

More,S.J.,Good,M.,2006.ThetuberculosiseradicationprogrammeinIreland:areviewofscientificandpolicyadvancessince1988.Veterinary Microbiology112,239-51.

**Murphy,T.M.,Fahy,K.N.,McAuliffe,A.,Forbes,A.B.,Clegg,T.A.,O’Brien,D.J.,2006.Astudyofhelminthpara-sitesinculledcowsfromIreland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine76,1-10.

ÓMáirtín,D.,Williams,D.H.,Dolan,L.,Eves,J.A.,Collins,J.D.,1998.Theinfluenceofselectedherdfactorsandabadger-interventiontuberculosis-controlprogrammeontheriskofaherd-leveltraderestrictiontoabovinepopulationinIreland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine35,79-90.

ÓMáirtín,D.,Williams,D.H.,Griffin,J.M.,Dolan,L.A.,Eves,J.A.,1998.TheeffectofabadgerremovalprogrammeontheincidenceoftuberculosisinanIrishcattlepopulation.Preventive Veterinary Medicine34,47-56.

Olea-Popelka,F.J.,Butler,D.,Lavin,D.,McGrath,G.,O’Keeffe,J.,Kelton,D.,Berke,O.,More,S.,Martin,S.,2006.AcasestudyofbovinetuberculosisinanareaofCountyDonegal,Ireland.Irish Veterinary Journal59,683-690.

Olea-Popelka,F.J.,Flynn,O.,Costello,E.,McGrath,G.,Collins,J.D.,O’Keeffe,J.,Kelton,D.F.,Berke,O.,Martin,S.W.,2005.SpatialrelationshipbetweenMycobacterium bovisstrainsincattleandbadgersinfourareasinIreland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine71,57-70.

Olea-Popelka,F.J.,Griffin,J.M.,Collins,J.D.,McGrath,G.,Martin,S.W.,2003.BovinetuberculosisinbadgersinfourareasinIreland:doestuberculosiscluster?Preventive Veterinary Medicine59,103-111.

Olea-Popelka,F.J.,Phelan,J.,White,P.W.,McGrath,G.,Collins,J.D.,O’Keeffe,J.,Duggan,M.,Collins,D.M.,Kelton,D.F.,Berke,O.,More,S.J.,Martin,S.W.,2006.Quantifyingbadgerexposureandtheriskofbovinetubercu-losisforcattleherdsinCountyKilkenny,Ireland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine75,34-36.

Olea-Popelka,F.J.,White,P.W.,Collins,J.D.,O’Keeffe,J.,Kelton,D.F.,Martin,S.W.,2004.BreakdownseverityduringabovinetuberculosisepisodeasapredictoroffutureherdbreakdownsinIreland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine63,163-172.

Pawitan,Y.,Griffin,J.M.,Collins,J.D.,2004.AnalysisandpredictionoftheBSEincidenceinIreland.Preventive Veterinary Medicine62,267-283.


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Sheridan,H.A.,McGrath,G.,White,P.,Fallon,R.,Shoukri,M.M.,Martin,S.W.,2005.Atemporal-spatialanalysisofbovinespongiformencephalopathyinIrishcattleherds,from1996to2000.Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research69,19-25.

*Southey,A.K.,Sleeman,D.P.,Gormley,E.,2002.SulfadimethoxineandrhodamineBasoralbiomarkersforEuropeanbadgers(Meles meles). Journal of Wildlife Diseases38,378-384.

*Southey,A.,Costello,E.,Gormley,E.,2002.DetectionofMycobacterium bovis infection and production of inter-leukin-2byinvitrostimulationofbadgerlymphocytes.Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology87,73-78.

*Southey,A.,Sleeman,D.P.,Dalley,D.,Lloyd,K.,Chambers,M.,Hewinson,R.G.,Gormley,E.,2001.ImmunologicalresponsesofEurasianbadgers(Meles meles) vaccinated with Mycobacterium bovisBCG(BacilleCalmetteGuérin).Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology79,197-207.

*Whyte,P.,McGill,K.,Collins,J.D.,Gormley,E.,2002.TheprevalenceandPCRdetectionofSalmonellacontamina-tioninrawpoultry.Veterinary Microbiology 89,53-60.

*Young,J.S.,Gormley,E.,Wellington,E.M.H.,2005.MoleculardetectionofMycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium bovisBCG(Pasteur)insoil.Applied and Environmental Microbiology71,1946-1952.

* The TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre and The Badger Vaccine Project

** The Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL)

*** The Department of Zoology, Ecology & Plant Science, University College Cork

**** The School of Natural Sciences, Trinity College Dublin

Books/book chapters

Quinn,P.J.,Collins,J.D.,2006.TheeffectofwildlifereservoirsofMycobacterium bovis on programmes for the eradica-tionoftuberculosisincattleinIreland. In Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Animals and Humans,124-135,2ndEd.,C.O.Thoen,J.H.Steele,M.J.Gilsdorf(eds),BlackwellPress,London.

Scientific opinions

(J.D. Collins [UCD CVERA] and J.M. Griffin [DAFF] with other members of the Scientific Panel on Biological Hazards of the European Food Safety Authority [EFSA])

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onarequestfromtheCommissionrelatedon‘Tuberculosisinbovineanimals:risksforhumanhealthandcontrolstrategies’.The EFSA Journal13(2003),1-52.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘TheinterpretationofresultsofEUsurveillanceoftransmissiblespongiformencephalopathies(TSEs)inovineandcaprineanimals,cullingstrategiesforTSEsinsmallruminantsandtheTSE-relatedsafetyofcertainsmallruminantproducts’.The EFSA Journal12(2003),1-6.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘ArequestfromtheCommissiononBSE-relatedCullinginCattle’.The EFSA Journal57(2004),1-8.


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OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘Thescientificjustificationforproposingamend-mentstotheUnitedKingdomDateBasedExportScheme(DBES)andtotheOverThirtyMonths(OTM)rule’.The EFSA Journal56(2004),1-4.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘TheapplicationoftheUnitedKingdomforModerateRiskBSEstatus.The EFSA Journal55(2004),1-3.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onthe‘QuantitativeriskassessmentoftheanimalBSEriskposedbymeatandbonemealwithrespecttotheresidualBSErisk’.The EFSA Journal257(2005),1-30.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘AquantitativeassessmentofriskposedtohumansbytissuesofsmallruminantsincaseBSEispresentintheseanimalpopulations’.The EFSA Journal227(2005),1-11.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘TheassessmentoftheagelimitincattlefortheremovalofcertainSpecifiedRiskMaterials(SRM)’.The EFSA Journal220(2005),1-7.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onthe‘BreedingprogrammeforTSEresistanceinsheep’.The EFSA Journal382(2006),1-46.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onthe‘QuantitativeassessmentofthehumanBSEriskposedbybovinevertebralcolumnincludingdorsalrootgangliawithrespecttoresidualBSErisk’.The EFSA Journal359(2006),1-14.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘AnassessmentofthepublicandanimalhealthrisksassociatedwiththeadoptionofavisualinspectionsysteminvealcalvesraisedinaMemberState(orpartofaMemberState)consideredfreeoftuberculosis’.The EFSA Journal358(2006),1-15.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)onthe‘QuantitativeassessmentofthehumanBSEriskposedbygelatinewithrespecttoresidualBSErisk’.The EFSA Journal312(2006),1-29.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘Certainaspectsrelatedtothefeedingofanimalproteinstofarmanimals’.The EFSA Journal576(2007),1-41.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘TheassessmentofthelikelihoodoftheinfectivityinSRMderivedfromcattleatdifferentagegroupsestimatedbybackcalculationmodelling’.The EFSA Journal476(2007),1-47.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘CertainaspectsrelatedtotheriskofTransmissibleSpongiformEncephalopathies(TSEs)inovineandcaprineanimals’.The EFSA Journal466(2007),1-10.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘TherevisionoftheGeographicalBSERisk’.The EFSA Journal463(2007),1-35.

OpinionoftheScientificPanelonBiologicalHazards(BIOHAZ)on‘ThequantitativeriskassessmentontheresidualBSEriskinsheepmeatandmeatproducts’.The EFSA Journal442(2007),1-44.


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Academic theses

Barrett,D.J.,2004.AstudyofmastitisinIrishdairyherds.MVMthesis,UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

Costello,E.,1994.AstudyofantibodyELISAmethodsforthediagnosisoftuberculosisincattle.MVMthesis,UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

Doherty,M.L.,1994.Studiesondiagnostictestsfortuberculosisincattle.PhDthesis,UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

Eves,J.,2001.Acase-controlstudyontheincidenceofbovinetuberculosisinanareaofextensivebadgercullinginCountyOffaly,Ireland.MVMthesis,UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

Griffin,J.M.,1994.Acase-controlstudyontheassociationofselectedriskfactorswiththeoccurrenceofbovinetubercu-losisintheRepublicofIreland.MScthesis,UniversityofGuelph,Canada.

Griffin,J.M.,2003.AsimulationmodelfortuberculosisincattleinIreland.PhDthesis,UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

Hahesy,T.,1995.StudiesonaerosoldispersalofamarkerorganismincattleslurryandchemicalinactivationofM. bovisinslurry.MScthesis,UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

Lesellier,S.,2007.ImmunologicalresponsesofEuropeanbadgers(Meles meles)vaccinatedwithBCGand/orexperimen-tally challenged with Mycobacterium bovis.PhDthesis,UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

McGrath,G.,2001.AnevaluationoftheroleofGeographicalInformationSystemtechnologyforthepredictionofbadgersettlocationinIreland.MScthesis,TrinityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

O’Corry-Crowe,G.,1992.Thesocialandgeneticstructureofabadger(Meles meles,L.,1758)populationincentralIreland.PhDthesis,UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

Olea-Popelka,F.J.,2002.StudiesonbovinetuberculosisincattleandbadgersinIreland.MScthesis,UniversityofGuelph,Canada.

Olea-Popelka,F.J.,2007.TheidentificationoffactorsrelevanttothecontrolofbovineandbadgertuberculosisinIreland.PhDthesis,UniversityofGuelph,Canada.

O’Leary,S.,2005.Moleculardetectionandcharacterisationofbrucellosisinbovines.PhDthesis,UniversityCollegeDublin,Ireland.

Sheridan,H.,2001.AspatialtemporalanalysisofBSEinIreland.MScthesis,UniversityofGuelph,Canada.

Wolfe,D.M.,2007.Studiesonbovinetuberculosis(Mycobacterium bovis)incattleinIreland.MScthesis,UniversityofGuelph,Canada.

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