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demographic buffering and compensatory recruitment promotes the persistence of disease in a wildlife population.demographic buffering allows populations to persist by compensating for fluctuations in vital rates, including disease-induced mortality. using long-term data on a badger (meles meles linnaeus, 1758) population naturally infected with mycobacterium bovis, we built an integrated population model to quantify impacts of disease, density and environmental drivers on survival and recruitment. badgers exhibit a slow life-history strategy, having high rates of adult survival with low variance, and low ...201626868206
age-related declines in immune response in a wild mammal are unrelated to immune cell telomere length.senescence has been hypothesized to arise in part from age-related declines in immune performance, but the patterns and drivers of within-individual age-related changes in immunity remain virtually unexplored in natural populations. here, using a long-term epidemiological study of wild european badgers (meles meles), we (i) present evidence of a within-individual age-related decline in the response of a key immune-signalling cytokine, interferon-gamma (ifnγ), to ex vivo lymphocyte stimulation, a ...201626888036
development of a real-time pcr for a sensitive one-step coprodiagnosis allowing both the identification of carnivore feces and the detection of toxocara spp. and echinococcus multilocularis.studying the environmental occurrence of parasites of concern for humans and animals based on coprosamples is an expanding field of work in epidemiology and the ecology of health. detecting and quantifying toxocara spp. and echinococcus multilocularis, two predominant zoonotic helminths circulating in european carnivores, in feces may help to better target measures for prevention. a rapid, sensitive, and one-step quantitative pcr (qpcr) allowing detection of e. multilocularis and toxocara spp. w ...201626969697
development of crenosoma vulpis in the common garden snail cornu aspersum: implications for epidemiological studies.crenosoma vulpis (dujardin, 1845), the fox lungworm, is a metastrongyloid affecting the respiratory tract of red foxes (vulpes vulpes), dogs (canis familiaris) and badgers (meles meles) living in europe and north america. the scant data available on the intermediate hosts of c. vulpis, as well as the limited information about the morphology of the larvae may jeopardise epidemiological studies on this parasite.201627079792
discovery and complete genome sequence of a novel circovirus-like virus in the endangered rowi kiwi, apteryx rowi.circoviruses are circular, non-enveloped, single-stranded dna viruses around 2000 nucleotides (nt) in length and include the pathogenic species, porcine circovirus 1 and beak and feather disease virus, capable of causing significant morbidity and mortality. this group of viruses may be robust to degradation by external environments, and avian circoviruses are known to move between closely related hosts. using a de novo metagenomic approach, followed by confirmatory pcr, we identify for the first ...201627115421
wind turbines cause chronic stress in badgers (meles meles) in great britain.a paucity of data exists with which to assess the effects of wind turbines noise on terrestrial wildlife, despite growing concern about the impact of infrasound from wind farms on human health and well-being. in 2013, we assessed whether the presence of turbines in great britain impacted the stress levels of badgers ( meles meles ) in nearby setts. hair cortisol levels were used to determine if the badgers were physiologically stressed. hair of badgers living <1 km from a wind farm had a 264% hi ...201627187031
herd-level risk factors for bovine tuberculosis and adoption of related biosecurity measures in northern ireland: a case-control study.bovine tuberculosis (btb) is a zoonotic disease which is endemic in northern ireland. as it has proven difficult to eradicate this disease, partly due to a wildlife reservoir being present in the european badger (meles meles), a case-control study was conducted in a high incidence area in 2010-2011. the aim was to identify risk factors for btb breakdown relating to cattle and badgers, and to assess the adoption of btb related biosecurity measures on farms. face-to-face questionnaires with farmer ...201627240911
differential associations of borrelia species with european badgers (meles meles) and raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides) in western poland.european badgers and raccoon dogs and their associated ticks and lice were assayed for the presence of lyme borreliosis and relapsing fever-group spirochete dna in western poland. analyses of blood, ear-biopsy and liver samples revealed that 25% of 28 raccoon dogs and 12% of 34 badgers were pcr positive for borreliae. borrelia garinii was the dominant species in raccoon dogs (62.5%), followed by b. afzelii (25%) and b. valaisiana (12.5%). pcr-positive badgers were infected only with b. afzelii. ...201627263838
blood thicker than water: kinship, disease prevalence and group size drive divergent patterns of infection risk in a social mammal.the importance of social- and kin-structuring of populations for the transmission of wildlife disease is widely assumed but poorly described. social structure can help dilute risks of transmission for group members, and is relatively easy to measure, but kin-association represents a further level of population sub-structure that is harder to measure, particularly when association behaviours happen underground. here, using epidemiological and molecular genetic data from a wild, high-density popul ...201627440666
a rare cardiopulmonary parasite of the european badger, meles meles: first description of the larvae, ultrastructure, pathological changes and molecular identification of angiostrongylus daskalovi janchev & genov 1988.angiostrongylus daskalovi is a rare cardiopulmonary nematode infecting badgers. the parasite was described in 1988 and, since then, found only once in mustelids in europe. the present study aims to report new cases of patent a. daskalovi infection in badgers from northern romania and to provide new information on its ultrastructure, molecular diagnosis, and pathology.201627485118
badgers prefer cattle pasture but avoid cattle: implications for bovine tuberculosis control.effective management of infectious disease relies upon understanding mechanisms of pathogen transmission. in particular, while models of disease dynamics usually assume transmission through direct contact, transmission through environmental contamination can cause different dynamics. we used global positioning system (gps) collars and proximity-sensing contact-collars to explore opportunities for transmission of mycobacterium bovis [causal agent of bovine tuberculosis] between cattle and badgers ...201627493068
brains of native and alien mesocarnivores in biomonitoring of toxic metals in europe.mercury (hg), lead (pb) and cadmium (cd) are involved in mammalian brain damage. however, little is known about pb and cd brain levels in wildlife that reflect the geochemical background. the aims of the study include the estimation of hg, pb and cd concentrations, and the determination of relationships between these elements in the brains of 94 mesocarnivores. road-killed or hunted animals were obtained from north-western poland near the polish-german border. the investigation covered the nativ ...201627513467
molecular survey of ehrlichia canis and coxiella burnetii infections in wild mammals of southern italy.ehrlichiosis and q fever caused by the intracellular bacteria ehrlichia canis and coxiella burnetii, respectively, are tick-borne diseases with zoonotic potential and widespread geographical distribution. this study investigated the prevalence of both infections in wild mammals in southern italy. tissue samples obtained from the red fox (vulpes vulpes), european badger (meles meles), gray wolf (canis lupus), beech marten (martes foina), and crested porcupine (hystrix cristata) were processed for ...201627535678
discovery of a polyomavirus in european badgers (meles meles) and the evolution of host range in the family polyomaviridae.polyomaviruses infect a diverse range of mammalian and avian hosts, and are associated with a variety of symptoms. however, it is unknown whether the viruses are found in all mammalian families and the evolutionary history of the polyomaviruses is still unclear. here, we report the discovery of a novel polyomavirus in the european badger (meles meles), which to our knowledge represents the first polyomavirus to be characterized in the family mustelidae, and within a european carnivoran. although ...201527692047
molecular analysis of ixodes rugicollis, candidatus neoehrlichia sp. (fu98) and a novel babesia genotype from a european badger (meles meles).the european badger (meles meles) is a widespread mammal in most countries of the european continent, with increasingly recognized veterinary/medical importance owing to its preferred habitats (including pastures and urban environments), broad spectrum of food items, and role as a game hunting target. however, ticks and tick-borne pathogens associated with badgers are only partly known, and most of them have not yet been analysed with molecular biological methods the aim of this study was to per ...201727693484
no compensatory relationship between the innate and adaptive immune system in wild-living european badgers.the innate immune system provides the primary vertebrate defence system against pathogen invasion, but it is energetically costly and can have immune pathological effects. a previous study in sticklebacks found that intermediate major histocompatibility complex (mhc) diversity correlated with a lower leukocyte coping capacity (lcc), compared to individuals with fewer, or many, mhc alleles. the organization of the mhc genes in mammals, however, differs to the highly duplicated mhc genes in stickl ...201627695089
localised badger culling increases risk of herd breakdown on nearby, not focal, land.bovine tuberculosis is an important disease affecting the uk livestock industry. controlling bovine tuberculosis (tb) is made more complex by the presence of a wildlife host, the eurasian badger, meles meles. repeated large-scale badger culls implemented in the randomised badger culling trial (rbct) were associated with decreased cattle risks inside the culling area, but also with increased cattle risks up to the 2km outside the culling area. intermediate reductions in badger density, as achieve ...201627749934
exclusions for resolving urban badger damage problems: outcomes and consequences.increasing urbanisation and growth of many wild animal populations can result in a greater frequency of human-wildlife conflicts. however, traditional lethal methods of wildlife control are becoming less favoured than non-lethal approaches, particularly when problems involve charismatic species in urban areas. eurasian badgers (meles meles) excavate subterranean burrow systems (setts), which can become large and complex. larger setts within which breeding takes place and that are in constant use ...201627761352
lethal distemper in badgers (meles meles) following epidemic in dogs and wolves.canine distemper virus (cdv) represents an important conservation threat to many wild carnivores. a large distemper epidemic sustained by an arctic-lineage strain occurred in italy in 2013, mainly in the abruzzi region, causing overt disease in domestic and shepherd dogs, apennine wolves (canis lupus) and other wild carnivores. two badgers were collected by the end of september 2015 in a rural area of the abruzzi region and were demonstrated to be cdv-positive by real time rt-pcr and ihc in seve ...201627876612
model of selective and non-selective management of badgers (meles meles) to control bovine tuberculosis in badgers and cattle.bovine tuberculosis (btb) causes substantial economic losses to cattle farmers and taxpayers in the british isles. disease management in cattle is complicated by the role of the european badger (meles meles) as a host of the infection. proactive, non-selective culling of badgers can reduce the incidence of disease in cattle but may also have negative effects in the area surrounding culls that have been associated with social perturbation of badger populations. the selective removal of infected b ...201627893809
behaviour of european badgers and non-target species towards candidate baits for oral delivery of a tuberculosis vaccine.in the uk and the republic of ireland, the european badger (meles meles) is a maintenance host for mycobacterium bovis, and may transmit the infection to cattle causing bovine tuberculosis (tb). vaccination of badgers using an injectable bacillus calmette-guerin (bcg) vaccine is undertaken in some areas of the uk with the intention of interrupting this transmission, and vaccination research is underway in ireland. an oral badger tb vaccine is also under development. we investigated the behaviour ...201627931935
use of a commercial serologic test for angiostrongylus vasorum for the detection of a. chabaudi in wildcats and a. daskalovi in badgers.three species of the genus angiostrongylus are known to infect european carnivores: a. vasorum (mainly in canids but also in other carnivores), a. chabaudi (in felids) and a. daskalovi (in mustelids). a. vasorum is responsible for clinically severe disease in domestic dogs, most commonly diagnosed based on fecal examination and serological detection of circulating antigens. considering the poorly known host range and the challenging larval differentiation in the feces between the three species o ...201728043379
testing of a palatable bait and compatible vaccine carrier for the oral vaccination of european badgers (meles meles) against tuberculosis.the oral vaccination of wild badgers (meles meles) with live bacillus calmette-guérin (bcg) is one of the tools being considered for the control of bovine tuberculosis (caused by mycobacterium bovis) in the uk. the design of a product for oral vaccination requires that numerous, and often competing, conditions are met. these include the need for a highly palatable, but physically stable bait that will meet regulatory requirements, and one which is also compatible with the vaccine formulation; in ...201728077246
researchers warn of m. bovis infection threat in rural areas.bovine tuberculosis (tb), caused by mycobacterium bovis, remains a serious animal health problem in the uk, in spite of longstanding statutory surveillance and control measures. endemic infection in the eurasian badger population is thought to complicate bovine tb eradication efforts. sporadic cases of m. bovis infection have also been reported in domestic animals other than cattle. human m. bovis infection is extremely rare in the uk population in the absence of unpasteurised milk consumption o ...200928085628
oral vaccination of free-living badgers (meles meles) with bacille calmette guérin (bcg) vaccine confers protection against tuberculosis.a field trial was conducted to investigate the impact of oral vaccination of free-living badgers against natural-transmitted mycobacterium bovis infection. for a period of three years badgers were captured over seven sweeps in three zones and assigned for oral vaccination with a lipid-encapsulated bcg vaccine (liporale-bcg) or with placebo. badgers enrolled in zone a were administered placebo while all badgers enrolled in zone c were vaccinated with bcg. badgers enrolled in the middle area, zone ...201728121981
daily energy expenditure in the face of predation: hedgehog energetics in rural landscapes.failure to balance daily energy expenditure (dee) with energy intake can have an impact on survival and reproduction, and therefore on the persistence of populations. here we study the dee of the european hedgehog (erinaceus europaeus), which is declining in the uk. we hypothesise that there is a gradient of suitable habitat for hedgehogs in rural areas, which is a result of fewer food resources, a higher risk from predation by badgers (meles meles) and colder ambient temperatures, as distance t ...201728148819
the effect of oral vaccination with mycobacterium bovis bcg on the development of tuberculosis in captive european badgers (meles meles).the european badger (meles meles) is a reservoir host of mycobacterium bovis and responsible for a proportion of the tuberculosis (tb) cases seen in cattle in the united kingdom and republic of ireland. an injectable preparation of the bacillus calmette-guérin (bcg) vaccine is licensed for use in badgers in the uk and its use forms part of the bovine tb eradication plans of england and wales. however, there are practical limitations to the widespread application of an injectable vaccine for badg ...201728174695
occurrence and molecular genotyping of giardia duodenalis and cryptosporidium spp. in wild mesocarnivores in spain.there is a surprisingly scarce amount of epidemiological and molecular data on the prevalence, frequency, and diversity of the intestinal protozoan parasites giardia duodenalis and cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife in general and mesocarnivore species in particular. consequently, the extent of the cyst/oocyst environmental contamination attributable to these wild host species and their potential implications for public veterinary health remain largely unknown. in this molecular epidemiological su ...201728215875
local feeding specialization by badgers (meles meles) in a mediterranean environment.a case of local feeding specialization in the european badger (meles meles), a carnivore species with morphological, physiological and behavioural traits proper to a trophic generalist, is described. for the first time, we report a mammalian species, the european rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus), as the preferred prey of badgers. secondary prey are consumed according to their availability, compensating for temporal fluctuations in the abundance of rabbit kittens. we discuss how both predator (litt ...199528306974
niche relations among three sympatric mediterranean carnivores.previous studies carried out in the doñana national park reported that red foxes (vulpes vulpes) were killed by iberian lynxes (lynx pardinus), whereas similar-sized eurasian badgers (meles meles) were not. therefore, we predicted that fox would avoid lynx predation risk by niche segregation whereas we did not expect such a segregation between badger and lynx. as an approach for evaluating our predictions, we compared their diet, activity patterns, and habitat use in an area of doñana where the ...199928307883
habitat, food availability and group territoriality in the european badger, meles meles.since european badgers (meles meles l.) form non-cooperative groups in parts of their geographic range, but are solitary elsewhere, their social systems have been at the centre of a debate about the evolution of group living in the carnivora. in a recent review of models of non-cooperative sociality, woodroffe and macdonald (1993) presented evidence in favour of two hypotheses, which suggested that badger groups might form because either the distribution of blocks of foodrich habitat, or the eco ...199328313297
abundance of badgers (meles meles) in england and wales.the european badger (meles meles) is of considerable interest in the uk as it is both a protected species and the main wildlife reservoir for bovine tuberculosis infection in cattle. while there have been three national badger surveys in the 1980s, 1990s and 2011-13, using the number of badger main setts as a proxy for the abundance of badger social groups, none has combined contemporary data on social group size at landscape and national scales. we estimated social group size by genotyping hair ...201728325904
development of a novel immunochromatographic lateral flow assay specific for mycobacterium bovis cells and its application in combination with immunomagnetic separation to test badger faeces.the european badger is an important wildlife reservoir of mycobacterium bovis implicated in the spread of bovine tuberculosis in the united kingdom and ireland. infected badgers are known to shed m. bovis in their urine and faeces, which may contaminate the environment. to aid bovine tuberculosis control efforts novel diagnostic tests for detecting infected and shedding badgers are needed. we proposed development of a novel, rapid immunochromatographic lateral flow device (lfd) as a non-invasive ...201728499434
serological and molecular detection of toxoplasma gondii and babesia microti in the blood of rescued wild animals in gangwon-do (province), korea.infections of toxoplasma gondii and babesia microti are reported in many wild animals worldwide, but information on their incidence and molecular detection in korean wild fields is limited. in this study, the prevalence of t. gondii and b. microti infection in blood samples of 5 animal species (37 chinese water deer, 23 raccoon dogs, 6 roe deer, 1 wild boar, and 3 eurasian badgers) was examined during 2008-2009 in gangwon-do (province), the republic of korea (=korea) by using serological and mol ...201728506045
molecular detection of sarcocystis lutrae in the european badger (meles meles) in scotland.neck samples from 54 badgers and 32 tongue samples of the same badgers (meles meles), collected in the lothians and borders regions of scotland, were tested using polymerase chain reactions (pcrs) directed against the 18s ribosomal dna and the internal transcribed spacer (its1) region of protozoan parasites of the family sarcocystidae. positive results were obtained from 36/54 (67%) neck and 24/32 (75%) tongue samples using an 18s rdna pcr. a 468 base pair consensus sequence that was generated f ...201728641603
field evaluation of candidate baits for oral delivery of bcg vaccine to european badgers, meles meles.the control of tuberculosis (tb) in cattle in the uk and ireland is compromised by transmission of mycobacterium bovis to cattle from the european badger (meles meles), which acts as a wildlife reservoir. vaccination of badgers could potentially contribute to tb control but the only licensed vaccine is injectable badgerbcg which requires the live-capture of badgers. current research is aimed at developing an oral tb vaccine (where vaccine is contained within bait) that is intended to be more cos ...201728689652
detection of babesia dna in blood and spleen samples from eurasian badgers (meles meles) in scotland.babesia are intraerythrocytic parasites of importance worldwide within the fields of human and veterinary medicine, as some babesia sp., including babesia microti are potentially zoonotic and can cause fatal disease in both humans and animals. the aims of this study were to use a nested pcr (amplifying the 18s rrna gene) to determine the presence and species of babesia parasite dna found in blood (n = 47) and spleen (n = 47) samples collected from eurasian badgers (meles meles) in scotland. the ...201728696186
wildlife disease ecology from the individual to the population: insights from a long-term study of a naturally-infected european badger population.1. long-term individual-based datasets on host-pathogen systems are a rare and valuable resource for understanding the infectious disease dynamics in wildlife. a study of european badgers (meles meles) naturally infected with bovine tuberculosis (btb) at woodchester park in gloucestershire (uk) has produced a unique dataset, facilitating investigation of a diverse range of epidemiological and ecological questions with implications for disease management. 2. since the 1970s this badger population ...201728815647
the first report of aelurostrongylus falciformis (schlegel, 1933) (nematoda, metastrongyloidea) in badger (meles meles) in polandaelurostrongylus falciformis belongs to the superfamily of metastrongyloidea. this nematode occurs in european badgers and locates in lungs, in respiratory tract. numerous species of land snails are intermediate hosts of the parasite. in 2015, parasitological necropsy of 9 badgers, shot in the forest district głęboki bród in augustowska primeval forest, was performed. two examined animals were infected with nematodes a. falciformis. in the lungs of each badger two specimens of nematodes were det ...201728822203
quantitative interferon-gamma responses predict future disease progression in badgers naturally infected with mycobacterium bovis.the diagnosis and control of mycobacterium bovis infection (bovine tuberculosis: tb) continues to present huge challenges to the british cattle industry. a clearer understanding of the magnitude and duration of immune response to m. bovis infection in the european badger (meles meles) - a wildlife maintenance host - may assist with the future development of diagnostic tests, and vaccination and disease management strategies. here, we analyse 5280 diagnostic test results from 550 live wild badger ...201729017616
genital tract screening finds widespread infection with mustelid gammaherpesvirus 1 in the european badger ( meles meles).:  sexually transmitted diseases (stds) can be important drivers of population dynamics because of their negative effects on reproduction. however, screening for stds, especially in wildlife populations, is widely neglected. using the promiscuous, polygynandrous european badger ( meles meles) as a model, we investigated the presence and prevalence of herpesviruses (hvs) in a wild, high-density population and assessed potential differences in somatic fitness and female reproductive condition betw ...201829077546
seasonal variation in daily patterns of social contacts in the european badger meles meles.social interactions among hosts influence the persistence and spread of infectious pathogens. daily and seasonal variation in the frequency and type of social interactions will play an important role in disease epidemiology and, alongside other factors, may have an influence on wider disease dynamics by causing seasonal forcing of infection, especially if the seasonal variation experienced by a population is considerable. we explored temporal variation in within-group contacts in a high-density ...201729152194
contact networks structured by sex underpin sex-specific epidemiology of infection.contact networks are fundamental to the transmission of infection and host sex often affects the acquisition and progression of infection. however, the epidemiological impacts of sex-related variation in animal contact networks have rarely been investigated. we test the hypothesis that sex-biases in infection are related to variation in multilayer contact networks structured by sex in a population of european badgers meles meles naturally infected with mycobacterium bovis. our key results are th ...201829266710
monitoring mycobacterium bovis in eurasian badgers (meles meles) killed by vehicles in northern ireland between 1998 and 2011. 201829273602
spatial perturbation caused by a badger (meles meles) culling operation: implications for the function of territoriality and the control of bovine tuberculosis (mycobacterium bovis).1. the spatial organization of a badger population (north nibley) is described before and after it was subjected to a uk ministry of agriculture, fisheries and food badger removal operation (bro) intended to control bovine tuberculosis. comparison is made with an undisturbed badger population (woodchester park). 2. the woodchester park population was organized in group territories with clearly defined boundaries that remained stable during the 3 years of study (1995-97). in north nibley, however ...200029313991
environmental dust inhalation in the european badger (meles meles): systemic distribution of silica-laden macrophages, pathological changes, and association with mycobacterium bovis infection status.chronic inhalation of crystalline silica and silicates may lead to severe lung disease in humans, termed silicosis. the disease is an occupational health concern in miners and related professions worldwide. silicosis is also a strong risk factor for tuberculosis in humans. due to its subterranean lifestyle, the european badger (meles meles) is continuously exposed to environmental dust, while this species is also susceptible to tuberculosis, caused by mycobacterium bovis. to date, a thorough inv ...201829342164
pathogenesis ofmycobacterium bovisinfection: the badger model as a paradigm for understanding tuberculosis in animals.tuberculosis in animals is caused principally by infection withmycobacterium bovisand the potential for transmission of infection to humans is often the fundamental driver for surveillance of disease in livestock and wild animals. however, with such a vast array of species susceptible to infection, it is often extremely difficult to gain a detailed understanding of the pathogenesis of infection--a key component of the epidemiology in all affected species. this is important because the developmen ...201729379792
molecular identification of sarcocystis lutrae in the european otter (lutra lutra) and the european badger (meles meles) from the czech republic.muscular sarcosporidial infections by sarcocystis lutrae (apicomplexa: sarcocystidae) from the otter (lutra lutra) and badger (meles meles) (carnivora: mustelidae) were found in the czech republic. as part of a diversity evaluation of sarcocystis in wild carnivores during 2016-2017, samples of diaphragm, tongue and hind-limb muscles were collected from nine districts, examined by compression and characterized molecularly. cyst walls were thin, with no visible protrusions, and histological sectio ...201829411109
super-ranging. a new ranging strategy in european badgers.we monitored the ranging of a wild european badger (meles meles) population over 7 years using gps tracking collars. badger range sizes varied seasonally and reached their maximum in june, july and august. we analysed the summer ranging behaviour, using 83 home range estimates from 48 individuals over 6974 collar-nights. we found that while most adult badgers (males and females) remained within their own traditional social group boundaries, several male badgers (on average 22%) regularly ranged ...201829444100
alaria spp. mesocercariae in eurasian badger (meles meles) and wild boar (sus scrofa) from the białowieża forest, north-eastern poland.alaria spp. mesocercariae are commonly found in wild boar and other omnivorous mammals. in europe, the number of cases presenting alaria mesocercariae infections has been on the rise in the last years. from october to december 2016, samples of muscle from tongue, neck, and mandibular regions were collected from 1 eurasian badger (meles meles) and 14 wild boars (sus scrofa) hunted in the białowieża forest, north-eastern poland. using the alaria migration technique (amt), alaria mesocercariae were ...201829502296
assessment of the safety of bacillus calmette-guérin vaccine administered orally to badgers (meles meles).european badgers (meles meles) are a wildlife reservoir for mycobacterium bovis (m. bovis) in parts of england, wales and ireland, constituting a potential source of tuberculosis (tb) infection for cattle. vaccination of badgers against tb is one of the tools available for helping reduce the prevalence of bovine tb in badgers, made possible by the licensing in 2010 of bacillus calmette-guérin (bcg) vaccine for intramuscular administration to badgers (badgerbcg). however, practical limitations as ...201829525277
molecular identification of sarcocystis lutrae (apicomplexa: sarcocystidae) in muscles of five species of the family mustelidae.carnivores usually act as definitive hosts of sarcocystis species. however, the number of reports on sarcocyst formation in musculature of predators is on the increase. in the present study, muscle samples of 68 mustelids collected in lithuania were examined for sarcocysts of sarcocystis species. sarcocysts were detected in diaphragm, tongue and limb muscles of ten animals (14.7%) but were not discovered in the heart. based on 18s rdna, 28s rdna, cox1 and its1 sequence analysis, sarcocystis lutr ...201829700640
a citizen science based survey method for estimating the density of urban carnivores.globally there are many examples of synanthropic carnivores exploiting growth in urbanisation. as carnivores can come into conflict with humans and are potential vectors of zoonotic disease, assessing densities in suburban areas and identifying factors that influence them are necessary to aid management and mitigation. however, fragmented, privately owned land restricts the use of conventional carnivore surveying techniques in these areas, requiring development of novel methods. we present a met ...201829787598
badger setts provide thermal refugia, buffering changeable surface weather conditions.den use can be crucial in buffering environmental conditions and especially to provide an insulated environment for raising altricial young. through sept-dec 2016 we monitored temperature and humidity at 11 badger setts (burrow systems), using thermal probes inserted over 4-13 sett entrances to a depth of ca. 2 m, supplemented by continuous daily logging at one entrance per sett. setts were cooler than exterior conditions sept-oct, and warmer than exterior conditions nov-dec. setts cooled down w ...201829801631
effects of weather conditions on oxidative stress, oxidative damage, and antioxidant capacity in a wild-living mammal, the european badger (meles meles).wild-living animals are subject to weather variability that may cause the generation of reactive oxygen species, resulting in oxidative stress and tissue damage, potentially driving demographic responses. our 3-yr field study investigated the effects of seasonal weather conditions on biomarkers for oxidative stress, oxidative damage, and antioxidant defense in the european badger (meles meles). we found age class effects: cubs were more susceptible to oxidative stress and oxidative damage than a ...201829905500
causes of mortality and morbidity in free-ranging mustelids in switzerland: necropsy data from over 50 years of general health surveillance.although mustelids occur worldwide and include a wide range of species, little is known about the diseases affecting them. mustelids have regularly been submitted for post mortem investigation in the framework of the program for general wildlife health surveillance in switzerland, which has been in place for nearly 60 years. we performed a retrospective analysis of the necropsy reports on mustelids submitted to the diagnostic service of the university of bern. the aims of this study were to pres ...201829921290
the first reported case of advanced aelurostrongylosis in eurasian badger (meles meles, l. 1758) in bosnia and herzegovina: histopathological and parasitological findings.this paper represents the first description of advanced aelurostrongylosis in the eurasian badger (меles meles, l. 1758) from bosnia and herzegovina, which is an autochthonous species of the country. an adult female badger was found dead on a road; the cause of death was trauma but the emphasis in the paper is on severe verminous pneumonia caused by metastrongylids from genus aelurostrongylus spp. this parasitological and histopathological finding confirms the presence of aelurostrongylus in mus ...201829934693
inbreeding intensifies sex- and age-dependent disease in a wild mammal.the mutation accumulation theory of senescence predicts that age-related deterioration of fitness can be exaggerated when inbreeding causes homozygosity for deleterious alleles. a vital component of fitness, in natural populations, is the incidence and progression of disease. evidence is growing for natural links between inbreeding and ageing; between inbreeding and disease; between sex and ageing; and between sex and disease. however, there is scant evidence, to date, for links among age, disea ...201829938787
evolution of mhc class i genes in eurasian badgers, genus meles (carnivora, mustelidae).because of their role in immune defense against pathogens, major histocompatibility complex (mhc) genes are useful in evolutionary studies on how wild vertebrates adapt to their environments. we investigated the molecular evolution of mhc class i (mhci) genes in four closely related species of eurasian badgers, genus meles. all four species of badgers showed similarly high variation in mhci sequences compared to other carnivora. we identified 7-21 putatively functional mhci sequences in each of ...201929959426
investigation into the genetic diversity in toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in the european badger meles meles.the toll-like receptor (tlr) genes are a conserved family of genes central to the innate immune response to pathogen infection. they encode receptor proteins, recognise pathogen associated molecular patterns (pamps) and trigger initial immune responses. in some host-pathogen systems, it is reported that genetic differences, such as single nucleotide polymorphisms (snps), associate with disease resistance or susceptibility. little is known about tlr gene diversity in the european badger (meles me ...201830005397
lactic acid bacteria isolated from european badgers (meles meles) reduce the viability and survival of bacillus calmette-guerin (bcg) vaccine and influence the immune response to bcg in a human macrophage model.bovine tuberculosis (btb) caused by mycobacterium bovis is the most serious endemic disease affecting livestock in the uk. the european badger (meles meles) is the most important wildlife reservoir of btb transmission to cattle, making eradication particularly difficult. in this respect, oral vaccination with the attenuated m. bovis vaccine bacillus calmette-guerin (bcg) has been suggested as a wide-scale intervention to reduce btb infection in badgers. however, experimental studies show variabl ...201830005620
reduced occupancy of hedgehogs (erinaceus europaeus) in rural england and wales: the influence of habitat and an asymmetric intra-guild predator.agricultural landscapes have become increasingly intensively managed resulting in population declines across a broad range of taxa, including insectivores such as the hedgehog (erinaceus europaeus). hedgehog declines have also been attributed to an increase in the abundance of badgers (meles meles), an intra-guild predator. the status of hedgehogs across the rural landscape at large spatial scales is, however, unknown. in this study, we used footprint tracking tunnels to conduct the first nation ...201830190482
the first case of genetically confirmed sparganosis (spirometra erinaceieuropaei) in european reptiles.sparganosis is a zoonosis caused by the spargana (larvae) of spirometra sp. (diphyllobothriidae). reptiles are particularly important vectors for the transmission of this parasite in asia; however, their role in sparganosis spread in european wildlife is unrecognized. we investigated the infection of reptiles with spirometra sp. in ne poland, where several mammalian hosts have been identified recently and in the past. of the 59 dead reptiles, plerocercoids were found in two grass snakes (natrix ...201830220047
badgers as a potential source of bovine tuberculosis - first studies in poland.since 2009, poland has been recognized as a country officially free of bovine tuberculosis (btb). however, new outbreaks are each year quoted. in many countries it has been shown that badgers (<i>meles meles</i>) are a vector of <i>mycobacterium bovis/caprae</i> (<i>m.bovis/caprae</i>) and a source of bovine tuberculosis for many domestical species, mainly for cattle. the aim of the presented study was to determine, for the first time in poland, the occurrence of tuberculosis in badgers in areas ...201830260200
detection of toxoplasma gondii in a eurasian badger (meles meles) living in wildlife areas of izmir, turkey.toxoplasma gondii is an obligatory intracellular protozoon parasite that causes toxoplasmosis in humans and all warm-blooded animals. in this study, we aimed to investigate the presence of t. gondii dna in a eurasian badger (meles meles) that was found dead in the wildlife area of izmir. according to the results of real time polymerase chain reaction, t. gondii rep gene was found to be positive in the eurasian badger brain homogenate. in conclusion, eurasian badger, a known carnivore, can be a p ...201830280697
inbreeding shapes tuberculosis progression in female adult badgers (meles meles).in focus: beton, c. h., delahay, r. j., smith, f. a. p., robertson, a., mcdonald, r. a., young, a. j., burke t. a., & hodgson, d. (2018). inbreeding intensifies sex- and age-dependent disease in a wild mammal. journal of animal ecology, 87, 1497-1499. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.12878 increasing crossbreeding of relatives promotes inbreeding which, in turn, can cause a reduction in fitness and the emergence of a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. benton et al., used the badger (mel ...201830298536
prevalence of capillaria plica in danish wild carnivores.capillaria plica is a parasitic nematode belonging to the family capillariidae. the adult parasites reside in the urinary tract of wild and domestic canines. the infection is most often asymptomatic, but can cause a wide range of symptoms including urinary bladder inflammation, pollacisuria, dysuria and hematuria. canines acquire the infection by ingesting the intermediate host, the earthworm (lumbricidae). epidemiological studies on c. plica infection in wildlife are few and only one previous d ...201830302310
demodex melesinus (acariformes: demodecidae) - the forgotten european badger parasite, rediscovered after 100 years.among 15 demodecid mite species (acariformes: demodecidae) recorded from carnivorans carnivora, 3 species were described from mustelids mustelidae. they are known only from single records, for which demodex erminae has been described from the stoat mustela erminea from great britain and new zealand, d. melesinus from the european badger meles meles known solely from great britain and d. lutrae discovered in the eurasian otter lutra lutra from poland. the current record confirms the existence of ...201830367752
validity of genus perostrongylus schlegel, 1934 with new data on perostrongylus falciformis (schlegel, 1933) in european badgers, meles meles (linnaeus, 1758): distribution, life-cycle and pathology.a century of debates on the taxonomy of members of the metastrongyloidea molin, 1861 led to many reclassifications. considering the inconstant genus assignation and lack of genetic data, the main aim of this study was to support the validity of the genus perostrongylus schlegel, 1934, previously considered a synonym of aelurostrongylus cameron, 1927, based on new molecular phylogenetic data and to understand its evolutionary relationships with other metastrongyloid nematodes.201830376875
urbanization and cattle density are determinants in the exposure to anticoagulant rodenticides of non-target wildlife.the persistence and toxicity of second generation anticoagulant rodenticides (sgars) in animal tissues make these compounds dangerous by biomagnification in predatory species. here we studied the levels of sgars in non-target species of wildlife and the environmental factors that influence such exposure. liver samples of terrestrial vertebrates (n = 244) found dead between 2007 and 2016 in the region of aragón (ne spain) were analysed. the presence of sgars was statistically analysed with binary ...201930390453
high diversity of hemotropic mycoplasmas in iberian wild carnivores.two-hundred and thirty-one wild carnivores belonging to 10 species of in spain were analyzed for the presence of dna of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) by means of a universal real-time pcr targeting a 16s rrna gene fragment. positive reactions were found for wolf (canis lupus: 6/37), fox (vulpes vulpes: 1/41), eurasian badger (meles meles: 49/85), pine marten (martes martes: 11/23), stone marten (martes foina: 6/9), least weasel (mustela nivalis: 4/4), european wildcat (felis s. silvestris ...201830396424
the population and landscape genetics of the european badger (meles meles) in ireland.the population genetic structure of free-ranging species is expected to reflect landscape-level effects. quantifying the role of these factors and their relative contribution often has important implications for wildlife management. the population genetics of the european badger (meles meles) have received considerable attention, not least because the species acts as a potential wildlife reservoir for bovine tuberculosis (btb) in britain and ireland. herein, we detail the most comprehensive popu ...201830397461
bait uptake by wild badgers and its implications for oral vaccination against tuberculosis.the deployment of baits containing vaccines or toxins has been used successfully in the management of wildlife populations, including for disease control. optimisation of deployment strategies seeks to maximise uptake by the targeted population whilst ensuring cost-effectiveness. tuberculosis (tb) caused by infection with mycobacterium bovis affects a broad range of mammalian hosts across the globe, including cattle, wildlife and humans. the control of tb in cattle in the uk and republic of irel ...201830412584
role of mustelids in the life-cycle of ixodid ticks and transmission cycles of four tick-borne pathogens.elucidating which wildlife species significantly contribute to the maintenance of ixodes ricinus populations and the enzootic cycles of the pathogens they transmit is imperative in understanding the driving forces behind the emergence of tick-borne diseases. here, we aimed to quantify the relative contribution of four mustelid species in the life-cycles of i. ricinus and borrelia burgdorferi (sensu lato) in forested areas and to investigate their role in the transmission of other tick-borne path ...201830458847
influence of tree thinning on the abundance of mammals in a japanese larch larix kaempferi plantation.we examined the influence of tree thinning on the abundance of mammals in a japanese larch larix kaempferi plantation in mt gariwang, pyeongchang, south korea. in 2014 and 2015, from april to october, we recorded the presence of tracks as a proxy for abundance, for the following seven mammalian species: korean hare lepus coreanus, raccoon dog nyctereutes procyonoides, siberian weasel mustela sibirica, eurasian badger meles meles, water deer hydropotes inermis, roe deer capreolus pygargus, and wi ...201730460053
immunological responses of european badgers (meles meles) to infection with mycobacterium bovis.mycobacterium bovis is the main cause of bovine tuberculosis and its eradication is proving difficult in many countries because of wildlife reservoirs, including european badgers (meles meles) in the uk ireland. following the development of badger specific immunological reagents, many studies have shown that some aspects of the cellular and serological immune responses of badgers to virulent m. bovis and the attenuated m. bovis bcg (bacille of calmette and guérin) strain are similar to those see ...201830502833
diversity of anaplasma and ehrlichia/neoehrlichia agents in terrestrial wild carnivores worldwide: implications for human and domestic animal health and wildlife conservation.recently, the incidence and awareness of tick-borne diseases in humans and animals have increased due to several factors, which in association favor the chances of contact among wild animals and their ectoparasites, domestic animals and humans. wild and domestic carnivores are considered the primary source of tick-borne zoonotic agents to humans. among emergent tick-borne pathogens, agents belonging to family anaplasmataceae (order rickettsiales) agents stand out due their worldwide distribution ...201830533417
social structure contains epidemics and regulates individual roles in disease transmission in a group-living mammal.population structure is critical to infectious disease transmission. as a result, theoretical and empirical contact network models of infectious disease spread are increasingly providing valuable insights into wildlife epidemiology. analyzing an exceptionally detailed dataset on contact structure within a high-density population of european badgers meles meles, we show that a modular contact network produced by spatially structured stable social groups, lead to smaller epidemics, particularly fo ...201830598798
mesocarnivore community structure under predator control: unintended patterns in a conservation context.across the mediterranean, conservation programmes often operate concomitantly with hunting interests within game-lands. carnivore guilds lie at the interface between contrasting management goals, being simultaneously fundamental components of ecosystems and targets of predator control to reduce predation on game species. here, we evaluate the composition and spatial structure of a mesocarnivore community in a protected area of southeast portugal, with high economic investment in conservation and ...201930653547
new serological platform for detecting antibodies against mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in european badgers.european badgers (meles meles) have been identified as wildlife reservoirs for mycobacterium bovis in the uk and ireland, and may also have a role in the epidemiology of animal tuberculosis in other european regions. thus, detection of m. bovis-infected badgers may be required for the purposes of surveillance and monitoring of disease levels in infected populations. current serological assays to detect m. bovis infection in live badgers, while rapid and inexpensive, show limited diagnostic sensi ...201930656864
the helminth parasite community of european badgers (meles meles) in ireland.the european badger (meles meles) is ireland's largest terrestrial carnivore. since first being identified as a wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis in 1974 there has been an increased research focus into the behaviour of these ecologically important mammals in the republic of ireland (roi). however, to date there has never been an assessment of the helminth parasite community of irish badgers. this study of 289 badgers found helminth infection to be endemic within the sample population and ...201930767800
climate and landscape changes as driving forces for future range shift in southern populations of the european badger.human-induced rapid environmental change (hirec), particularly climate change and habitat conversion, affects species distributions worldwide. here, we aimed to (i) assess the factors that determine range patterns of european badger (meles meles) at the southwestern edge of their distribution and (ii) forecast the possible impacts of future climate and landcover changes on those patterns. we surveyed 272 cells of 5 × 5 km, to assess badger presence and confirmed its occurrence in 95 cells (35%). ...201930816237
heterochrony of puberty in the european badger (meles meles) can be explained by growth rate and group-size: evidence for two endocrinological phenotypes.puberty is a key stage in mammalian ontogeny, involving endocrinological, physiological and behavioural changes, moderated by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. thus, not all individuals within one population achieve sexual maturity simultaneously. here, using the european badger (meles meles) as a model, we describe male testosterone and female oestrone profiles (using enzyme-immunoassays) from first capture (3 months, post-weaning) until 28 months (attaining sexual maturity and final body size), ...201930840618
the late pleistocene european badger meles meles from grotta laceduzza (brindisi, apulia, southern italy): the analysis of the morphological and biometric variability.in the last decades, many studies have focused on the description of fossil badger materials from eurasia and several evolutionary hypotheses have been proposed. nevertheless, the debate on taxonomy of the late villafranchian-aurelian european badgers is still far from being solved and several species/subspecies were established over time. herein, we described for the first time the craniodental and postcranial remains of meles meles from grotta laceduzza (apulia, southern italy), representing t ...201930945055
individual variation and the source-sink group dynamics of extra-group paternity in a social mammal.movement of individuals, or their genes, can influence eco-evolutionary processes in structured populations. we have limited understanding of the extent to which spatial behavior varies among groups and individuals within populations. here, we use genetic pedigree reconstruction in a long-term study of european badgers (meles meles) to characterize the extent of extra-group paternity, occurring as a consequence of breeding excursions, and to test hypothesized drivers of variation at multiple lev ...202030971858
environmental impact assessment of development projects improved by merging species distribution and habitat connectivity modelling.environmental impact assessment (eia) is performed to limit potential impacts of development projects on species and ecosystem functions. however, the methods related to eia actually pay little attention to the landscape-scale effects of development projects on biodiversity. in this study we proposed a methodological framework to more properly address the landscape-scale impacts of a new stadium project in lyon (france) on two representative mammal species exemplary for the endemic fauna, the re ...201930975576
serological survey of toxoplasma gondii and besnoitia besnoiti in a wildlife conservation area in southern portugal.toxoplasma gondii and besnoitia besnoiti are closely related apicomplexan protozoa. t. gondii is a zoonotic pathogen which may cause serious disease in man and warm-blooded animals, including wild species. b. besnoiti causes bovine besnoitiosis, an emergent disease in europe, which is linked to important production losses. unlike t. gondii, the life cycle of b. besnoiti remains a mystery, since the definitive host has not yet been identified. the aim of this work was to determine the seroprevale ...201631014504
co-infection of trypanosoma pestanai and anaplasma phagocytophilum in a dog from germany.infections with arthropod-borne pathogens are an increasing threat world-wide that requires heightened vigilance from veterinary and medical practitioners, especially when they involve new or unusual organisms. a dog was presented to a local veterinary clinic in germany with malaise, pale mucous membranes and stiff joints. clinical assessment revealed pyrexia, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia. on suspicion of a tick-borne infection, blood samples were examined for clinical and biochemical paramet ...201731014832
living with roommates in a shared den: spatial and temporal segregation among semifossorial mammals.positive interspecific interactions in animal communities (i.e. den sharing) have long been overlooked in animal ecology. the assessment of spatiotemporal overlap among species living within the same burrow system is paramount to explain their strategies of interspecific coexistence. we studied spatiotemporal behavioural patterns of coexistence among four den-sharing mammal species (i.e. the crested porcupine hystrix cristata, the eurasian badger meles meles, the red fox vulpes vulpes and the eu ...201931022506
maximizing habitat connectivity in the mitigation hierarchy. a case study on three terrestrial mammals in an urban environment.environmental policies and the objective of no net loss highlight the importance of preserving ecological networks to limit the fragmentation of natural habitats and biodiversity loss, especially due to urbanization. in the environmental impact assessment context, habitat connectivity and the spatio-temporal dynamics of biodiversity are crucial to obtaining reliable predictions that can support decision-making. we propose a methodological framework 1) to quantify the overall impact of a developm ...201931103679
predicting badger visits to farm yards and making predictions available to farmers.the use of agricultural resources or environments by wildlife may result in opportunities for transmission of infections amongst wild animals, livestock and humans. targeted use of biosecurity measures may therefore reduce disease risks, although this requires practical knowledge of where such measures would be most effective, and effective means of communicating risks so that stakeholders can make informed decisions about such investment. in parts of europe, the european badger meles meles may ...201931125349
identification and epidemiological analysis of perostrongylus falciformis infestation in irish badgers.the lungworm, perostrongylus falciformis (fomerly known as aelurostrongylus falciformis) has been identified in badgers (meles meles) in britain, the russian federation, italy, norway, poland, ukraine, bosnia herzegovina and romania, while aelurostrongylus pridhami has been reported from badgers in spain.201931333818
thelazia callipaeda in mustelids from romania with the european badger, meles meles, as a new host for this parasite.thelazia callipaeda (spirurida, thelaziidae) is a vector-borne zoonotic eye worm with a broad host spectrum. in europe, it is an emerging threat, having greatly expanded its geographical distribution during the past two decades. in romania, t. callipaeda has been previously reported in domestic and wild canids and felids. the aim of the present study was to assess the occurrence of t. callipaeda in mustelids in the country.201931349861
extrinsic factors affecting cub development contribute to sexual size dimorphism in the european badger (meles meles).sexual size dimorphism (ssd) is common among mammals, with males typically being larger than females, as a product of sex-specific differences in growth rate and growth duration. the musteloidea, however, exhibit a hypo-allometric reduction in ssd with increasing body size (contrary to rensch's rule). a variety of extrinsic factors can affect juvenile growth rates and end body size, where one sex may demonstrate greater vulnerability than the other towards a specific factor, moderating patterns ...201931383294
species specialization limits movement ability and shapes ecological networks: the case study of 2 forest mammals.to counteract the negative effects of forest fragmentation on wildlife, it is crucial to maintain functional ecological networks. we identified the ecological networks for 2 mammals with very different degrees of forest specialization, the european badger meles meles and the roe deer capreolus capreolus, by differentiating 4 agroforestry elements as either nodes or connectivity elements, and by defining the distance that provides the functional connectivity between fragments. species occurrence ...201931391812
interspecific visitation of cattle and badgers to fomites: a transmission risk for bovine tuberculosis?in great britain and ireland, badgers (meles meles) are a wildlife reservoir of mycobacterium bovis and implicated in bovine tuberculosis transmission to domestic cattle. the route of disease transmission is unknown with direct, so-called "nose-to-nose," contact between hosts being extremely rare. camera traps were deployed for 64,464 hr on 34 farms to quantify cattle and badger visitation rates in space and time at six farm locations. badger presence never coincided with cattle presence at the ...201931410255
no energetic cost of tuberculosis infection in european badgers (meles meles).energy availability and energy use directly influence an organism's life history, fitness and ecological function. in wild animals, abiotic factors such as ambient temperature, season and rainfall, and biotic factors such as body mass, age, social group size and disease status, all potentially influence energy balance. relatively few studies have examined the effects of disease on the energy expenditure of wild animals. such studies could further our understanding of factors influencing the tran ...201931411730
individual variation in early-life telomere length and survival in a wild mammal.individual variation in survival probability due to differential responses to early-life environmental conditions is important in the evolution of life histories and senescence. a biomarker allowing quantification of such individual variation, and which links early-life environmental conditions with survival by providing a measure of conditions experienced, is telomere length. here, we examined telomere dynamics among 24 cohorts of european badgers (meles meles). we found a complex cross-section ...201931446635
molecular detection of babesia spp. (apicomplexa: piroplasma) in free-ranging canids and mustelids from southern italy.babesiosis is an emerging tick-borne disease caused by apicomplexan parasites with widespread geographical distribution and various wildlife species as reservoir hosts. the aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and assess the role of free-ranging canids and mustelids in the maintenance of babesia spp. in southern italy. pcr analysis of splenic samples targeting the 18s rrna gene revealed the presence of babesia spp. in 36 of 82 (43.9%) red foxes (vulpes vulpes) including 29 (58%) ...201931555669
genetic characterization of carnivore parvoviruses in spanish wildlife reveals domestic dog and cat-related sequences.the impact of carnivore parvovirus infection on wild populations is not yet understood; disease signs are mainly developed in pups and assessing the health of litters in wild carnivores has big limitations. this study aims to shed light on the virus dynamics among wild carnivores thanks to the analysis of 213 samples collected between 1994 and 2013 in wild ecosystems from spain. we determined the presence of carnivore parvovirus dna by real-time pcr and sequenced the vp2 gen from 22 positive sam ...202031581349
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