Bacillus Calmette-Guérin vaccination reduces the severity and progression of tuberculosis in badgers.
Control of bovine tuberculosis (TB) in cattle has proven particularly challenging where reservoirs of infection exist in wildlife populations. In Britain and Ireland, control is hampered by a reservoir of infection in Eurasian badgers (Meles meles). Badger culling has positive and negative effects on bovine TB in cattle and is difficult, costly and controversial. Here we show that Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination of captive badgers reduced the progression, severity and excretion of Mycobacterium bovis infection after experimental challenge. In a clinical field study, BCG vaccination of free-living badgers reduced the incidence of positive serological test results by 73.8 per cent. In common with other species, BCG did not appear to prevent infection of badgers subjected to experimental challenge, but did significantly reduce the overall disease burden. BCG vaccination of badgers could comprise an important component of a comprehensive programme of measures to control bovine TB in cattle.
Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK. m.a.chambers@vla.defra.gsi.gov.uk
Mark A
MA
Chambers
Fiona
F
Rogers
Richard J
RJ
Delahay
Sandrine
S
Lesellier
Roland
R
Ashford
Deanna
D
Dalley
Sonya
S
Gowtage
Dipesh
D
Davé
Si
S
Palmer
Jacky
J
Brewer
Timothy
T
Crawshaw
Richard
R
Clifton-Hadley
Steve
S
Carter
Chris
C
Cheeseman
Chris
C
Hanks
Alistair
A
Murray
Kate
K
Palphramand
Stéphane
S
Pietravalle
Graham C
GC
Smith
Alexandra
A
Tomlinson
Neil J
NJ
Walker
Gavin J
GJ
Wilson
Leigh A L
LA
Corner
Stephen P
SP
Rushton
Mark D F
MD
Shirley
George
G
Gettinby
Robbie A
RA
McDonald
R Glyn
RG
Hewinson
D000818:Animals; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002417:Cattle; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000662:veterinary*; D004739:England; D045969:Mustelidae / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D009163:Mycobacterium bovis / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D014380:Tuberculosis, Bovine / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission
D001500:BCG Vaccine