Badger TB Quiz mod 12

Badger Disease and Infections

• Badgers predominantly suffer from pulmonary TB disease.
• The commonest cause of infectious disease associated mortality in badgers is pulmonary TB.

Badger Infection and Vaccination

• The highest levels of badger infection are found in the South West and West of England.
• The Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme uses the BCG vaccine.

Testing and Diagnosis

• Some organisations have adopted the stat-pak test for badger translocation.
• The sensitivity of serological testing for TB is 80-90%.
• The preferred site for blood sample collection for the indirect ELISA test is the jugular vein.

Fungal and Parasitic Diseases

• The preferred treatment for fungal diseases in badgers is itraconazole.
• Dermatophytes (e.g. Trichophyton, Microsporum) have been cultured from the fur of badgers.
• The parasite Trichodectes canis has been reported to cause severe debility in badgers, leading to scaling of the skin and weight loss.
• The recommended treatment for endoparasites in badgers is ivermectin.
• The parasite Toxocara canis has been identified as a cause of diarrhoea in badger cubs.

External Parasites and Anaesthesia

• The tick species Ixodes hexagonus and Ixodes ricinus have been found on badgers in the UK.
• The flea species Ctenocephalides canis is commonly found on badgers.
• The recommended anaesthetic protocol for badgers is medetomidine and ketamine.
• The recommended analgesic for long-term use in badgers is meloxicam.

Zoonotic Diseases and Treatment

• Anthrax has a high zoonotic potential.
• The recommended treatment for brucellosis in badgers is not specified.
• The recommended treatment for salmonellosis in badgers is not specified.
• The recommended treatment for fungal diseases in badgers is itraconazole.
• There is no treatment for canine distemper in badgers.

Badger Culling and Licensing

• The government agency that oversees the licensing of badger culling in England and Wales is Natural England.
• The minimum area size required for badger disease control licences in England is 100 km².
• At least 70% of the estimated badger population must be removed in year one of a badger disease control licence in England.
• The closed season for badger culling in England is December 1 to May 31.

Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme

• The main purpose of the Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme is to reduce the transmission of bovine TB from badgers to cattle.
• The Badger Edge Vaccination Scheme is used in the TB edge area of England.

Other

• Mycobacterium bovis is responsible for causing tuberculosis in badgers.
• The infection rate of bovine tuberculosis in badgers in Wales is 20-30%.
• The commonest cause of infectious disease associated mortality in badgers in the UK is pulmonary TB.
• The highest levels of badger infection are found in the South West and West of England.
• The government agency that oversees the licensing of badger culling in England and Wales is Natural England.
• The recommended treatment for suspected warfarin poisoning in badgers is vitamin K1.