Infection of Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) with Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium complex in Spain

Vet J. 2011 Nov;190(2):e21-e25. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2011.04.012. Epub 2011 May 25.

Abstract

The prevalence, distribution and pathology related to infection with Mycobacterium bovis and other mycobacteria were determined in trapped (n=36) and road-killed (n=121) badgers in Spain from 2006 to 2010. The prevalence of M. bovis based on bacteriological culture from road-killed badgers was 8/121 (6.6%) and from trapped badgers was 0/36 (0%). Tuberculosis/M. bovis infection was evident in 15/121 (12.4%) road-killed badgers when bacteriology and histopathology were combined. Mycobacterium avium complex was isolated by culture from the tracheal aspirate of 1/36 (2.8%) trapped badgers and from tissue pools from 8/121 (6.6%) road-killed badgers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Female
  • Male
  • Mustelidae / virology*
  • Mycobacterium / genetics
  • Mycobacterium / isolation & purification
  • Mycobacterium avium / genetics
  • Mycobacterium avium / isolation & purification*
  • Mycobacterium bovis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium bovis / isolation & purification*
  • Prevalence
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Spain / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / pathology
  • Tuberculosis / veterinary*