title: A New Experimental Infection Model in Ferrets Based on Aerosolised Mycobacterium bovis.
abstract: There is significant interest in developing vaccines to control bovine tuberculosis, especially in wildlife species where this disease continues to persist in reservoir species such as the European Badger (Meles meles). However, gaining access to populations of badgers (protected under UK law) is problematic and not always possible. In this study, a new infection model has been developed in ferrets (Mustela furo), a species which is closely related to the badger. Groups of ferrets were infected using a Madison infection chamber and were examined postmortem for the presence of tuberculous lesions and to provide tissue samples for confirmation of Mycobacterium bovis by culture. An infectious dose was defined, that establishes infection within the lungs and associated lymph nodes with subsequent spread to the mesentery lymph nodes. This model, which emphasises respiratory tract infection, will be used to evaluate vaccines for the control of bovine tuberculosis in wildlife species.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Sciences Division, Agri-food and Biosciences Institute, Stoney Road, Belfast BT4 3SD, UK.
authors.forename: Lyanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McCallan
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corbett
authors.forename: Peter L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aagaard
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McMurray
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strain
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McNair