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invasion of the raccoon dog nyctereutes procyonoides in europe: history of colonization, features behind its success, and threats to native fauna.we aimed to review the history of the introduction and colonization of the raccoon dog nyctereutes procyonoides in europe, the features behind its successful expansion and its impact on native fauna. the raccoon dog quickly colonized new areas after being introduced to the european part of the former soviet union. today it is widespread in northern and eastern europe and is still spreading in central europe. features behind its success include its adaptability, high reproductive potential, omniv ...201132288758
trophic enrichment factors for blood serum in the european badger (meles meles).ecologists undertaking stable isotopic analyses of animal diets require trophic enrichment factors (tefs) for the specific animal tissues that they are studying. such basic data are available for a small number of species, so values from trophically or phylogenetically similar species are often substituted for missing values. by feeding a controlled diet to captive european badgers (meles meles) we determined tefs for carbon and nitrogen in blood serum. tefs for nitrogen and carbon in blood seru ...201223300863
population estimation and trappability of the european badger (meles meles): implications for tuberculosis management.estimates of population size and trappability inform vaccine efficacy modelling and are required for adaptive management during prolonged wildlife vaccination campaigns. we present an analysis of mark-recapture data from a badger vaccine (bacille calmette-guérin) study in ireland. this study is the largest scale (755 km(2)) mark-recapture study ever undertaken with this species. the study area was divided into three approximately equal-sized zones, each with similar survey and capture effort. a ...201223227211
molecular characterization of the microbial communities in the subcaudal gland secretion of the european badger (meles meles).many mammals possess specialized scent glands, which convey information about the marking individual. as the chemical profile of scent marks is likely to be affected by bacteria metabolizing the primary gland products, the variation in bacterial communities between different individuals has been proposed to underpin olfactory communication. however, few studies have investigated the dependency of microbiota residing in the scent organs on the host's individual-specific parameters. here, we used ...201222530962
molecular characterisation of a novel cassava associated circular ssdna virus.the application of sequence non-specific rolling circle amplification of circular single stranded (ss) dna molecules to viral metagenomics has facilitated the discovery in various ecosystems of what is probably a diverse array of novel ssdna viruses. here we describe a putative novel ssdna virus (at a genome level), cassava associated circular dna virus (cascv), isolated from cassava leaf samples infected with the fungi collectotrichum and plectosphaerella. cascv has a circular ambisense genome ...201222465471
parvovirus enteritis in eurasian badgers (meles meles). 201222447563
mhc class ii genes in the european badger (meles meles): characterization, patterns of variation, and transcription analysis.the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) comprises many genes, some of which are polymorphic with numerous alleles. sequence variation among alleles is most pronounced in exon 2 of the class ii genes, which encodes the α1 and β1 domains that form the antigen-binding site (abs) for the presentation of peptides. the mhc thus plays an important role in pathogen defense. european badgers (meles meles) are a good species in which to study the mhc, as they harbor a variety of pathogens. we present t ...201222038175
first report of troglotrema acutum (digenea, troglotrematidae) in the eurasian badger meles meles in the iberian peninsula and presumptive lesions caused in the host.a total of 109 badger meles meles skulls from catalonia (north-eastern iberian peninsula) were studied for helminths. the tremadode troglotrema acutum is reported here for the first time in the eurasian badger in the iberian peninsula and southern europe. three methodologies were used to detect this trematode: an examination for surface lesions, axial computed tomography and fresh skull dissection. the damage caused in the affected skulls is described, along with details regarding the use of com ...201221729381
the effect of badger culling on breakdown prolongation and recurrence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle herds in great britain.bovine tuberculosis is endemic in cattle herds in great britain, with a substantial economic impact. a reservoir of mycobacterium bovis within the eurasian badger (meles meles) population is thought to have hindered disease control. cattle herd incidents, termed breakdowns, that are either 'prolonged' (lasting ≥ 240 days) or 'recurrent' (with another breakdown within a specified time period) may be important foci for onward spread of infection. they drain veterinary resources and can be demorali ...201223236478
comparing badger (meles meles) management strategies for reducing tuberculosis incidence in cattle.bovine tuberculosis (btb), caused by mycobacterium bovis, continues to be a serious economic problem for the british cattle industry. the eurasian badger (meles meles) is partly responsible for maintenance of the disease and its transmission to cattle. previous attempts to manage the disease by culling badgers have been hampered by social perturbation, which in some situations is associated with increases in the cattle herd incidence of btb. following the licensing of an injectable vaccine, we c ...201222761746
dna typing of mycobacterium bovis isolates from badgers (meles meles) culled from areas in ireland with different levels of tuberculosis prevalence.badgers (meles meles) have been implicated in the transmission of mycobacterium bovis infection to cattle in ireland and uk. recent studies in ireland have shown that although the disease is endemic in badgers, the prevalence of disease is not uniform throughout the country and can vary among subpopulations. the extent to which the prevalence levels in badgers impact on the prevalence in cattle is not known. previously, dna fingerprinting has shown that m. bovis strain types are shared between b ...201222619743
mycobacterium bovis infection in badger cubs: re-assessing the evidence for maternally derived immunological protection from advanced disease.the eurasian badger (meles meles) is a significant source of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in the uk and ireland. protection from infectious diseases, arising from maternal antibody transfer, is a well-established immunological phenomenon in mammals. in a previous study of wild badgers, transient serological responses in cubs were taken as evidence of maternal antibody transfer, and it was speculated this conferred protection from subsequent mycobacterial excretion following acquisition of tuber ...201222613668
the distribution of mycobacterium bovis infection in naturally infected badgers.populations of eurasian badgers (meles meles) with tuberculosis (mycobacterium bovis infection) are a significant reservoir of infection for cattle in ireland and the united kingdom. in this study the distribution of infection, histological lesions and gross lesions was determined in a sample of 132 culled badgers from naturally-infected wild populations. badgers were culled when an epidemiological investigation following a tuberculosis breakdown in a cattle herd implicated badgers as the probab ...201222542391
bovine tuberculosis vaccine research: historical perspectives and recent advances.the emergence of wildlife reservoirs of mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle as well as increased inter-regional trade with associated spread of m. bovis has led to renewed interest in the use of vaccines for the control of bovine tuberculosis (tb). field efficacy trials performed in the early 20th century demonstrated the partial effectiveness of bacilli calmette-guerin (bcg) for the control of bovine tb. recent experimental trials with cattle have demonstrated that: (1) subunit vaccines may ...201222342705
bcg vaccination against tuberculosis in european badgers (meles meles): a review.tuberculosis (tb) is a significant animal health problem in many parts of the world, and reservoirs of infection in wild animals complicate disease control efforts in farmed livestock, particularly cattle. badgers (meles meles) are a significant wildlife reservoir of mycobacterium bovis infection for cattle in the united kingdom (uk) and republic of ireland (roi). vaccination of badgers using an m. bovis strain bacille calmette-guérin (bcg) vaccine could potentially be an option in the national ...201222340983
bcg vaccination reduces risk of tuberculosis infection in vaccinated badgers and unvaccinated badger cubs.wildlife is a global source of endemic and emerging infectious diseases. the control of tuberculosis (tb) in cattle in britain and ireland is hindered by persistent infection in wild badgers (meles meles). vaccination with bacillus calmette-guérin (bcg) has been shown to reduce the severity and progression of experimentally induced tb in captive badgers. analysis of data from a four-year clinical field study, conducted at the social group level, suggested a similar, direct protective effect of b ...201223251352
molecular identification of trichinella britovi in martens (martes martes) and badgers (meles meles); new host records in poland.trichinella larvae were detected in a marten (martes martes) and a badger (meles meles) in poland. the animals were found dead following car accidents. all examined animals derived from the mazurian lake district, north-east poland, near the village kosewo górne where trichinella infection were earlier confirmed in wildlife; red foxes and wild boars. the muscle samples were examined by artificial pepsin-hcl digestion method. the parasites were identified as trichinella britovi by multiplex polym ...201223129201
impact of external sources of infection on the dynamics of bovine tuberculosis in modelled badger populations.the persistence of bovine tb (btb) in various countries throughout the world is enhanced by the existence of wildlife hosts for the infection. in britain and ireland, the principal wildlife host for btb is the badger (meles meles). the objective of our study was to examine the dynamics of btb in badgers in relation to both badger-derived infection from within the population and externally-derived, trickle-type, infection, such as could occur from other species or environmental sources, using a s ...201222738118
performance of proximity loggers in recording intra- and inter-species interactions: a laboratory and field-based validation study.knowledge of the way in which animals interact through social networks can help to address questions surrounding the ecological and evolutionary consequences of social organisation, and to understand and manage the spread of infectious diseases. automated proximity loggers are increasingly being used to record interactions between animals, but the accuracy and reliability of the collected data remain largely un-assessed. here we use laboratory and observational field data to assess the performan ...201222745704
emergence of canine distemper virus strains with modified molecular signature and enhanced neuronal tropism leading to high mortality in wild carnivores.an ongoing canine distemper epidemic was first detected in switzerland in the spring of 2009. compared to previous local canine distemper outbreaks, it was characterized by unusually high morbidity and mortality, rapid spread over the country, and susceptibility of several wild carnivore species. here, the authors describe the associated pathologic changes and phylogenetic and biological features of a multiple highly virulent canine distemper virus (cdv) strain detected in and/or isolated from r ...201222362965
large-scale serosurvey of besnoitia besnoiti in free-living carnivores in spain.the disease bovine besnoitiosis is responsible for severe economic losses caused by the protozoan besnoitia besnoiti. the identity of the definitive host (dh) of this parasite has yet to be determined, although it is presumed to be a carnivore. with the aim of advancing in the identification of b. besnoiti dh, a necessary step in implementing control strategies, the contact rate of 205 free-roaming carnivores with this parasite in spain was studied. the study included 16 wolves (canis lupus), 41 ...201222770702
a coprological survey of parasites of wild carnivores in ireland.the increasing movement of people to wilderness areas, shrinking of wildlife habitats and the resulting urbanisation of wildlife has led to growing concerns about the transfer of parasitic diseases, particularly from contaminated faeces. faecal samples from wild carnivores in ireland were examined for the presence of protozoan and nematode parasites. red fox (vulpes vulpes) samples (n = 91) were positive for uncinaria stenocephala (38%), eucoleus aerophilus (26%), toxocara canis (20%), trichuris ...201323900557
detection and characterization of histoplasma capsulatum in a german badger (meles meles) by its sequencing and multilocus sequencing analysis.a wild badger (meles meles) with a severe nodular dermatitis was presented for post mortem examination. numerous cutaneous granulomas with superficial ulceration were present especially on head, dorsum, and forearms were found at necropsy. histopathological examination of the skin revealed a severe granulomatous dermatitis with abundant intralesional round to spherical yeast-like cells, 2-5 μm in diameter, altogether consistent with the clinical appearance of histoplasmosis farciminosi. the stru ...201323035880
snapshot of viral infections in wild carnivores reveals ubiquity of parvovirus and susceptibility of egyptian mongoose to feline panleukopenia virus.the exposure of wild carnivores to viral pathogens, with emphasis on parvovirus (cpv/fplv), was assessed based on the molecular screening of tissue samples from 128 hunted or accidentally road-killed animals collected in portugal from 2008 to 2011, including egyptian mongoose (herpestes ichneumon, n = 99), red fox (vulpes vulpes, n = 19), stone marten (martes foina, n = 3), common genet (genetta genetta, n = 3) and eurasian badger (meles meles, n = 4). a high prevalence of parvovirus dna (63%) w ...201323527182
control strategies for wildlife tuberculosis in ireland.the principal domestic maintenance host for mycobacterium bovis is infected cattle. in countries where comprehensive surveillance schemes have been applied, tuberculosis rarely affects an animal to the extent that it presents with clinical disease. in the latter stages of an eradication campaign, the aim is to maintain the disease-free status of clear herds and eliminate foci of infection in herds as well as restricting movement of infected animals from these herds, other than to slaughter. howe ...201324171858
sex-related heterogeneity in the life-history correlates of mycobacterium bovis infection in european badgers (meles meles).heterogeneity in the progression of disease amongst individual wild animals may impact on both pathogen and host dynamics at the population level, through differential effects on transmission, mortality and reproductive output. the role of the european badger (meles meles) as a reservoir host for mycobacterium bovis infection in the uk and ireland has been the focus of intense research for many years. here, we investigate life-history correlates of infection in a high-density undisturbed badger ...201324171847
mycobacterium bovis: characteristics of wildlife reservoir hosts.mycobacterium bovis is the cause of tuberculosis in animals and sometimes humans. many developed nations have long-standing programmes to eradicate tuberculosis in livestock, principally cattle. as disease prevalence in cattle decreases these efforts are sometimes impeded by passage of m. bovis from wildlife to cattle. in epidemiological terms, disease can persist in some wildlife species, creating disease reservoirs, if the basic reproduction rate (r0) and critical community size (ccs) threshol ...201324171844
mycobacterium bovis infection in domestic pigs in great britain.mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (tb), infects a wide range of wild and domestic mammals. despite a control programme spanning decades, m. bovis infection levels in cattle in great britain (gb) have continued to rise over recent years. as the incidence of infection in cattle and wildlife may be linked to that in swine, data relating to infection of pigs identified at slaughter were examined in this study. between 2007 and 2011, almost all m. bovis-infected pigs ori ...201324095608
spatial relationships between eurasian badgers (meles meles) and cattle infected with mycobacterium bovis in northern spain.recent studies suggest that badgers may be a potential reservoir of mycobacterium bovis infection for cattle in northern spain. the objective of this study was to investigate potential epidemiological links between cattle and badgers. culture and molecular typing data were available for cattle culled during the national tuberculosis (tb) eradication campaigns between 2008 and 2012, as well as from 171 necropsied badgers and 60 live animals trapped and examined over the same time period. mycobact ...201323602422
modelling the impact of vaccination on tuberculosis in badgers.tuberculosis (tb) in livestock, caused by mycobacterium bovis, persists in many countries. in britain, efforts to control tb through the culling of badgers (meles meles), the principal wildlife host, have so far been unsuccessful, and there is significant interest in vaccination of badgers as an alternative or complementary strategy [corrected]. using a simulation model, we show that where tb is self-contained within the badger population and there are no external sources of infection, limited-d ...201323570613
long-term temporal trends and estimated transmission rates for mycobacterium bovis infection in an undisturbed high-density badger (meles meles) population.we describe epidemiological trends in mycobacterium bovis infection in an undisturbed wild badger (meles meles) population. data were derived from the capture, clinical sampling and serological testing of 1803 badgers over 9945 capture events spanning 24 years. incidence and prevalence increased over time, exhibiting no simple relationship with host density. potential explanations are presented for a marked increase in the frequency of positive serological test results. transmission rates (r0) e ...201323537573
surveillance and movements of virginia opossum (didelphis virginiana) in the bovine tuberculosis region of michigan.wildlife reservoir hosts of bovine tuberculosis (btb) include eurasian badgers (meles meles) and brushtail possum (trichosurus vulpecula) in the uk and new zealand, respectively. similar species warrant further investigation in the northern lower peninsula of michigan, usa due to the continued presence of btb on cattle farms. most research in michigan, usa has focused on interactions between white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus) and cattle (bos taurus) for the transmission of the infectious ...201323531427
patterns of direct and indirect contact between cattle and badgers naturally infected with tuberculosis.tuberculosis (tb) due to infection with mycobacterium bovis is transmitted between cattle and badgers (meles meles) in the uk and ireland but it is unclear where or when transmission occurs. we investigated direct and indirect interactions between badgers and cattle using automated proximity loggers on animals and at badger latrines located on pasture, in an area of south-west england with a high-density badger population. direct contacts (interactions within 1.4 m) between badgers and cattle at ...201323522445
heterogeneity in the risk of mycobacterium bovis infection in european badger (meles meles) cubs.the behaviour of certain infected individuals within socially structured populations can have a disproportionately large effect on the spatio-temporal distribution of infection. endemic infection with mycobacterium bovis in european badgers (meles meles) in great britain and ireland is an important source of bovine tuberculosis in cattle. here we quantify the risk of infection in badger cubs in a high-density wild badger population, in relation to the infection status of resident adults. over a ...201323522097
evaluation of a method to detect mycobacterium bovis in air samples from infected eurasian badgers (meles meles) and their setts.environmental air sampling was evaluated as a method to detect the presence of m. bovis in the vicinity of infected badgers and their setts. airborne particles were collected on gelatine filters using a commercially available air sampling instrument and tested for the presence of m. bovis using bacteriological culture and real-time pcr. the sensitivity of bacteriological culture was broadly similar to that of real-time pcr when testing samples artificially spiked with m. bovis. sampling was unde ...201323384280
adhesion of human and animal escherichia coli strains in association with their virulence-associated genes and phylogenetic origins.intestinal colonization is influenced by the ability of the bacterium to inhabit a niche, which is based on the expression of colonization factors. escherichia coli carries a broad range of virulence-associated genes (vags) which contribute to intestinal (invags) and extraintestinal (exvags) infection. moreover, initial evidence indicates that invags and exvags support intestinal colonization. we developed new screening tools to genotypically and phenotypically characterize e. coli isolates orig ...201323872574
wild boar tuberculosis in iberian atlantic spain: a different picture from mediterranean habitats.infections with mycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (mtc) are shared between livestock, wildlife and sporadically human beings. wildlife reservoirs exist worldwide and can interfere with bovine tuberculosis (tb) eradication efforts. the eurasian wild boar (sus scrofa) is a mtc maintenance host in mediterranean iberia (spain and portugal). however, few systematic studies in wild boar have been carried out in atlantic regions. we describe the p ...201324010539
factors affecting european badger (meles meles) capture numbers in one county in ireland.understanding factors affecting the number of badgers captured at and around badger setts (burrows) is of considerable applied importance. these factors could be used to estimate probable badger densities for bovine tuberculosis (btb) control and also for monitoring badger populations from a conservation perspective. furthermore, badger management and vaccination programs would benefit by increasing the probability of efficiently capturing the target badger populations. within this context, it w ...201322995474
badger social networks correlate with tuberculosis infection.although disease hosts are classically assumed to interact randomly [1], infection is likely to spread across structured and dynamic contact networks [2]. we used social network analyses to investigate contact patterns of group-living european badgers, meles meles, which are an important wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (tb). we found that tb test-positive badgers were socially isolated from their own groups but were more important for flow, potentially of infection, between social grou ...201324156807
a restatement of the natural science evidence base relevant to the control of bovine tuberculosis in great britain.bovine tuberculosis (btb) is a very important disease of cattle in great britain, where it has been increasing in incidence and geographical distribution. in addition to cattle, it infects other species of domestic and wild animals, in particular the european badger (meles meles). policy to control btb is vigorously debated and contentious because of its implications for the livestock industry and because some policy options involve culling badgers, the most important wildlife reservoir. this pa ...201323926157
bovine tuberculosis and badgers in britain: relevance of the past.the european badger (meles meles) has been identified as a wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis and a source of transmission to cattle in britain and ireland. both behavioural ecology and statistical ecological modelling have indicated the long-term persistence of the disease in some badger communities, and this is postulated to account for the high incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle across large tracts of england and wales. this paper questions this consensus by using historical ca ...201323347609
innovative techniques for estimating illegal activities in a human-wildlife-management conflict.effective management of biological resources is contingent upon stakeholder compliance with rules. with respect to disease management, partial compliance can undermine attempts to control diseases within human and wildlife populations. estimating non-compliance is notoriously problematic as rule-breakers may be disinclined to admit to transgressions. however, reliable estimates of rule-breaking are critical to policy design. the european badger (meles meles) is considered an important vector in ...201323341973
multi-state modelling reveals sex-dependent transmission, progression and severity of tuberculosis in wild badgers.statistical models of epidemiology in wildlife populations usually consider diseased individuals as a single class, despite knowledge that infections progress through states of severity. bovine tuberculosis (btb) is a serious zoonotic disease threatening the uk livestock industry, but we have limited understanding of key epidemiological processes in its wildlife reservoirs. we estimated differential survival, force of infection and progression in disease states in a population of eurasian badger ...201323290694
detection of neospora caninum in wild carnivorans in great britain.samples of brain and other tissues were collected from 99 ferrets (mustela furo), 83 red foxes (vulpes vulpes), 70 european polecats (mustela putorius), 65 american mink (neovison vison), 64 eurasian badgers (meles meles) and 9 stoats (mustela erminea), from around great britain. dna was extracted from approximately 1g of tissue and tested by specific nested its1 pcr for neospora caninum. the results from the pcr demonstrated that neospora specific dna was detected in all species of wild carnivo ...201323102760
investigating the role of wild carnivores in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis.neospora caninum is a protozoan parasite, primarily associated with bovine abortion. the only definitive hosts discovered to date are carnivores. this study aimed to identify the role of mammalian carnivores in the epidemiology of bovine neosporosis. a sample bank of serum, fecal and brain samples was established: american mink (mustela vison), red foxes (vulpes vulpes), pine martens (martes martes), badgers (meles meles), stoats (mustela erminea), otters (lutra lutra) and feral ferrets (mustela ...201323068142
the taxonomic status of badgers (mammalia, mustelidae) from southwest asia based on cranial morphometrics, with the redescription of meles canescens.the eurasian badgers (meles spp.) are widespread in the palaearctic region, occurring from the british islands in the west to the japanese islands in the east, including the scandinavia, southwest asia and southern china. the morphometric variation in 30 cranial characters of 692 skulls of meles from across the palaearctic was here analyzed. this craniometric analysis revealed a significant difference between the european and asian badger phylogenetic lineages, which can be further split in two ...201325232583
a multi-metric approach to investigate the effects of weather conditions on the demographic of a terrestrial mammal, the european badger (meles meles).models capturing the full effects of weather conditions on animal populations are scarce. here we decompose yearly temperature and rainfall into mean trends, yearly amplitude of change and residual variation, using daily records. we establish from multi-model inference procedures, based on 1125 life histories (from 1987 to 2008), that european badger (meles meles) annual mortality and recruitment rates respond to changes in mean trends and to variability in proximate weather components. variatio ...201323874517
denning behaviour of the european badger (meles meles) correlates with bovine tuberculosis infection status.heterogeneities in behaviours of individuals may underpin important processes in evolutionary biology and ecology, including the spread of disease. modelling approaches can sometimes fail to predict disease spread, which may partly be due to the number of unknown sources of variation in host behaviour. the european badger is a wildlife reservoir for bovine tuberculosis (btb) in britain and ireland, and individual behaviour has been demonstrated to be an important factor in the spread of btb amon ...201332214614
new data on the prevalence of trichodectes melis (phthiraptera, trichodectidae) on the european badger meles meles (carnivora, mustelidae).trichodectes melis is a specific ectoparasite of the european badger meles meles. distribution of this chewing louse is little known, although presumably it coincides with the range of its typical host. in poland, it has been found in only a few stands in the western part of the country. it has recently been observed in the area of the białowieża primeval forest, where 81 specimens of t. melis (48 females, 7 males and 26 nymph forms) were collected from two female european badgers, mainly from t ...201425706425
heterozygosity-fitness correlations in a wild mammal population: accounting for parental and environmental effects.hfcs (heterozygosity-fitness correlations) measure the direct relationship between an individual's genetic diversity and fitness. the effects of parental heterozygosity and the environment on hfcs are currently under-researched. we investigated these in a high-density u.k. population of european badgers (meles meles), using a multimodel capture-mark-recapture framework and 35 microsatellite loci. we detected interannual variation in first-year, but not adult, survival probability. adult females ...201425360289
closed-population capture-recapture modeling of samples drawn one at a time.motivated by field sampling of dna fragments, we describe a general model for capture-recapture modeling of samples drawn one at a time in continuous-time. our model is based on poisson sampling where the sampling time may be unobserved. we show that previously described models correspond to partial likelihoods from our poisson model and their use may be justified through arguments concerning s- and bayes-ancillarity of discarded information. we demonstrate a further link to continuous-time capt ...201425311362
neighbouring-group composition and within-group relatedness drive extra-group paternity rate in the european badger (meles meles).extra-group paternity (egp) occurs commonly among group-living mammals and plays an important role in mating systems and the dynamics of sexual selection; however, socio-ecological and genetic correlates of egp have been underexplored. we use 23 years of demographic and genetic data from a high-density european badger (meles meles) population, to investigate the relationship between the rate of egp in litters and mate availability, mate incompatibility and mate quality (heterozygosity). relatedn ...201425234113
host specificity of the badger's flea (paraceras melis) and first detection on a bat host.defining the whole spectrum of potential hosts of a parasite has large epidemiological and evolutionary implications in biology. specialized parasites might be able to occasionally exploit a range of different host species, increasing the individual survival and the chances of successful dispersal. for long time paraceras melis has been considered a specific flea of european badger meles meles. anyway, it has occasionally been reported on different hosts. in this work, we summarize the host spec ...201425216783
pathogen burden, co-infection and major histocompatibility complex variability in the european badger (meles meles).pathogen-mediated selection is thought to maintain the extreme diversity in the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) genes, operating through the heterozygote advantage, rare-allele advantage and fluctuating selection mechanisms. heterozygote advantage (i.e. recognizing and binding a wider range of antigens than homozygotes) is expected to be more detectable when multiple pathogens are considered simultaneously. here, we test whether mhc diversity in a wild population of european badgers (mele ...201425211523
individual foraging specialisation in a social mammal: the european badger (meles meles).individual specialisation has been identified in an increasing number of animal species and populations. however, in some groups, such as terrestrial mammals, it is difficult to disentangle individual niche variation from spatial variation in resource availability. in the present study, we investigate individual variation in the foraging niche of the european badger (meles meles), a social carnivore that lives in a shared group territory, but forages predominantly alone. using stable isotope ana ...201425037464
revisiting the phylogeography and demography of european badgers (meles meles) based on broad sampling, multiple markers and simulations.although the phylogeography of european mammals has been extensively investigated since the 1990s, many studies were limited in terms of sampling distribution, the number of molecular markers used and the analytical techniques employed, frequently leading to incomplete postglacial recolonisation scenarios. the broad-scale genetic structure of the european badger (meles meles) is of interest as it may result from historic restriction to glacial refugia and/or recent anthropogenic impact. however, ...201424781805
climate and the individual: inter-annual variation in the autumnal activity of the european badger (meles meles).we establish intra-individual and inter-annual variability in european badger (meles meles) autumnal nightly activity in relation to fine-scale climatic variables, using tri-axial accelerometry. this contributes further to understanding of causality in the established interaction between weather conditions and population dynamics in this species. modelling found that measures of daylight, rain/humidity, and soil temperature were the most supported predictors of activity, in both years studied. i ...201424465376
"reversed" intraguild predation: red fox cubs killed by pine marten.camera traps deployed at a badger meles meles set in mixed pine forest in north-eastern poland recorded interspecific killing of red fox vulpes vulpes cubs by pine marten martes martes. the vixen and her cubs settled in the set at the beginning of may 2013, and it was abandoned by the badgers shortly afterwards. five fox cubs were recorded playing in front of the den each night. ten days after the first recording of the foxes, a pine marten was filmed at the set; it arrived in the morning, made ...201424954928
viral metagenomic analysis of feces of wild small carnivores.recent studies have clearly demonstrated the enormous virus diversity that exists among wild animals. this exemplifies the required expansion of our knowledge of the virus diversity present in wildlife, as well as the potential transmission of these viruses to domestic animals or humans.201424886057
the first report of sparganosis (spirometra sp.) in eurasian badger (meles meles).spirometra sp. is a diphyllobothriid cestode which reproduces mainly in cat-like carnivores and canids. several animal species that are not definitive hosts function as paratenic hosts, in which plerocercoids migrate to other tissues causing sparganosis. in this paper we describe the first case of sparganosis (spirometra sp.) in eurasian badger (meles meles). it was found in an adult female eurasian badger killed on the road in the białowieża primeval forest (north-eastern poland) in april 2013. ...201424398022
isolation and identification of salmonella spp. from red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and badgers (meles meles) in northern italy.salmonella spp. have been isolated from a wide range of wild animals. opportunistic wild carnivores such as red foxes (vulpes vulpes) and badgers (meles meles) may act as environmental indicators or as potential sources of salmonellosis in humans. the present study characterizes salmonella spp. isolated from the intestinal contents of hunted or dead red foxes (n = 509) and badgers (n = 17) in northern italy.201425492524
molecular evidence for hemotropic mycoplasma infection in a japanese badger (meles meles anakuma) and a raccoon dog (nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus).we report detection of hemoplasma in wild japanese badgers (meles meles anakuma) and raccoon dogs (nyctereutes procyonoides viverrinus). sequence analysis of the entire 16s rrna genes identified mycoplasma haemocanis in the raccoon dog sample, and a potential novel mycoplasma species in the japanese badger.201424484489
use of water troughs by badgers and cattle.the frequency of visits by badgers and cattle to five water troughs was examined using motion-activated infra-red cameras in a farming landscape in northern ireland between may and july 2013. cattle visit rates varied significantly across troughs, were greatest during daylight periods, and more frequent during dry weather. badgers were recorded visiting only one of the five water troughs. these visits were recorded on 14 different nights between midnight and 0300 h and were mainly by individual ...201425458885
oral vaccination of badgers (meles meles) against tuberculosis: comparison of the protection generated by bcg vaccine strains pasteur and danish.vaccination of badgers by the subcutaneous, mucosal and oral routes with the pasteur strain of mycobacterium bovis bacille calmette-guérin (bcg) has resulted in significant protection against experimental infection with virulent m. bovis. however, as the bcg danish strain is the only commercially licensed bcg vaccine for use in humans in the european union it is the vaccine of choice for delivery to badger populations. as all oral vaccination studies in badgers were previously conducted using th ...201424792450
physiological stress in the eurasian badger (meles meles): effects of host, disease and environment.a method for monitoring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (hpa) responses of the eurasian badger (meles meles) to stressors was validated by measuring cortisol excretion in serum and faeces. serum and faecal samples were collected under anaesthesia from live-captured, wild badgers and fresh faeces was collected from latrines at 15 social groups in county down, northern ireland. variation in levels of cortisol in wild badgers was investigated relative to disease status, season, age, sex, body mass, ...201424607571
linking bovine tuberculosis on cattle farms to white-tailed deer and environmental variables using bayesian hierarchical analysis.bovine tuberculosis is a bacterial disease caused by mycobacterium bovis in livestock and wildlife with hosts that include eurasian badgers (meles meles), brushtail possum (trichosurus vulpecula), and white-tailed deer (odocoileus virginianus). risk-assessment efforts in michigan have been initiated on farms to minimize interactions of cattle with wildlife hosts but research on m. bovis on cattle farms has not investigated the spatial context of disease epidemiology. to incorporate spatially exp ...201424595231
age-related declines and disease-associated variation in immune cell telomere length in a wild mammal.immunosenescence, the deterioration of immune system capability with age, may play a key role in mediating age-related declines in whole-organism performance, but the mechanisms that underpin immunosenescence are poorly understood. biomedical research on humans and laboratory models has documented age and disease related declines in the telomere lengths of leukocytes ('immune cells'), stimulating interest their having a potentially general role in the emergence of immunosenescent phenotypes. how ...201425268841
mortality trajectory analysis reveals the drivers of sex-specific epidemiology in natural wildlife-disease interactions.in animal populations, males are commonly more susceptible to disease-induced mortality than females. however, three competing mechanisms can cause this sex bias: weak males may simultaneously be more prone to exposure to infection and mortality; being 'male' may be an imperfect proxy for the underlying driver of disease-induced mortality; or males may experience increased severity of disease-induced effects compared with females. here, we infer the drivers of sex-specific epidemiology by decomp ...201425056621
estimating epidemiological parameters for bovine tuberculosis in british cattle using a bayesian partial-likelihood approach.fitting models with bayesian likelihood-based parameter inference is becoming increasingly important in infectious disease epidemiology. detailed datasets present the opportunity to identify subsets of these data that capture important characteristics of the underlying epidemiology. one such dataset describes the epidemic of bovine tuberculosis (btb) in british cattle, which is also an important exemplar of a disease with a wildlife reservoir (the eurasian badger). here, we evaluate a set of nes ...201424718762
density and abundance of badger social groups in england and wales in 2011-2013.in the united kingdom, european badgers meles meles are a protected species and an important wildlife reservoir of bovine tuberculosis. we conducted a survey of badger dens (main setts) in 1614 1 km squares across england and wales, between november 2011 and march 2013. using main setts as a proxy for badger social groups, the estimated mean density of badger social groups in england and wales was 0.485 km(-2) (95% confidence interval 0.449-0.521) and the estimated abundance of social groups was ...201424457532
large-scale movements in european badgers: has the tail of the movement kernel been underestimated?characterizing patterns of animal movement is a major aim in population ecology, and yet doing so at an appropriate spatial scale remains a major challenge. estimating the frequency and distances of movements is of particular importance when species are implicated in the transmission of zoonotic diseases. european badgers (meles meles) are classically viewed as exhibiting limited dispersal, and yet their movements bring them into conflict with farmers due to their potential to spread bovine tube ...201424410133
impacts of removing badgers on localised counts of hedgehogs.experimental evidence of the interactions among mammalian predators that eat or compete with one another is rare, due to the ethical and logistical challenges of managing wild populations in a controlled and replicated way. here, we report on the opportunistic use of a replicated and controlled culling experiment (the randomised badger culling trial) to investigate the relationship between two sympatric predators: european badgers meles meles and western european hedgehogs erinaceus europaeus. i ...201424736454
badger responses to small-scale culling may compromise targeted control of bovine tuberculosis.where wildlife disease requires management, culling is frequently considered but not always effective. in the british isles, control of cattle tuberculosis (tb) is hindered by infection in wild badger (meles meles) populations. large-scale badger culling can reduce the incidence of confirmed cattle tb, but these benefits are undermined by culling-induced changes in badger behavior (termed perturbation), which can increase transmission among badgers and from badgers to cattle. test-vaccinate/remo ...201424927589
ticks collected from wild and domestic animals and natural habitats in the republic of korea.ticks were collected from 35 animals from 5 provinces and 3 metropolitan cities during 2012. ticks also were collected by tick drag from 4 sites in gyeonggi-do (2) and jeollabuk-do (2) provinces. a total of 612 ticks belonging to 6 species and 3 genera were collected from mammals and a bird (n=573) and by tick drag (n=39). haemaphyalis longicornis (n=434) was the most commonly collected tick, followed by h. flava (158), ixodes nipponensis (11), amblyomma testudinarium (7), h. japonica (1), and h ...201425031468
evidence for widespread leishmania infantum infection among wild carnivores in l. infantum periendemic northern spain.leishmania spp. infection was investigated in tissue samples of wild carnivores from the spanish basque country (bc), by pcr and dna sequencing. the region is at the northern periphery of leishmania infantum endemic iberian peninsula and infection in the dog (reservoir) or other species has not been previously reported. leishmania kinetoplast dna was detected by real-time pcr (rtpcr) in 28% (44/156) of animals. specifically, in 26% of eurasian badgers (n=53), 29% of foxes (n=48), 29% of stone ma ...201424380572
survey of mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in road-killed wild carnivores in portugal.a survey to determine the occurrence of mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (map) in wild carnivores in portugal was conducted by testing samples from road-killed animals between 2009 and 2012. postmortem examinations were performed and tissues were collected from wild carnivores representing four families and six different species, with a total of 74 animals analyzed. cultures were performed by using löwenstein-jensen and middlebrook 7h11 solid media and acid-fast isolates were identifi ...201425632662
first findings and prevalence of adult heartworms (dirofilaria immitis) in wild carnivores from serbia.heartworm (dirofilaria immitis) is a parasitic roundworm that causes a zoonotic disease known as dirofilariosis. little is known about the role of wild carnivores serving as reservoirs in nature. therefore, we examined 738 hearts and lungs of free ranging wild carnivores from serbia to determine the presence of adult heartworms. during the period 2009-2013, the prevalence in golden jackals (canis aureus) was 7.32%, in red foxes (vulpes vulpes) 1.55%, in wolves (canis lupus) 1.43%, and in wild ca ...201424951168
data on the parasitological status of golden jackal (canis aureus l., 1758) in hungary.in hungary, twenty canis aureus individuals were submitted to parasitological examinations in 2010-2012. two coccidia: cystoisospora canis (15%) and toxoplasma-type oocysts (5%), one trematoda: alaria alata (10%), six cestoda: mesocestoides lineatus (20%), echinococcus granulosus (10%), dipylidium caninums (5%), taenia hydatigena (15%), taenia pisiformis (20%), taenia crassiceps (40%), and nine nematoda: angiostrongylus vasorum (10%), crenosoma vulpis (30%), capillaria aerophila (5%), toxocara c ...201424334089
spatial and temporal analyses of metrics of tuberculosis infection in badgers (meles meles) from the republic of ireland: trends in apparent prevalence.badgers are a wildlife host of mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (btb), and an important contributor to the epidemiology of btb in cattle in ireland and britain. repeated culling of badgers in high prevalence cattle btb areas has been used in the republic of ireland as one tool to reduce intra- and interspecific transmission of m. bovis. we assessed factors that influenced infection prevalence of culled badgers from 2009 to 2012 (n=4948) where spatial, temporal and ...201526556049
the variability and seasonality of the environmental reservoir of mycobacterium bovis shed by wild european badgers.the incidence of mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, has been increasing in uk cattle herds resulting in substantial economic losses. the european badger (meles meles) is implicated as a wildlife reservoir of infection. one likely route of transmission to cattle is through exposure to infected badger urine and faeces. the relative importance of the environment in transmission remains unknown, in part due to the lack of information on the distribution and magnitude of ...201526247348
performance of a noninvasive test for detecting mycobacterium bovis shedding in european badger (meles meles) populations.the incidence of mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis, in cattle herds in the united kingdom is increasing, resulting in substantial economic losses. the european badger (meles meles) is implicated as a wildlife reservoir and is the subject of control measures aimed at reducing the incidence of infection in cattle populations. understanding the epidemiology of m. bovis in badger populations is essential for directing control interventions and understanding disease spre ...201526041891
step by step: reconstruction of terrestrial animal movement paths by dead-reckoning.research on wild animal ecology is increasingly employing gps telemetry in order to determine animal movement. however, gps systems record position intermittently, providing no information on latent position or track tortuosity. high frequency gps have high power requirements, which necessitates large batteries (often effectively precluding their use on small animals) or reduced deployment duration. dead-reckoning is an alternative approach which has the potential to 'fill in the gaps' between l ...201526380711
spatial targeting for bovine tuberculosis control: can the locations of infected cattle be used to find infected badgers?bovine tuberculosis is a disease of historical importance to human health in the uk that remains a major animal health and economic issue. control of the disease in cattle is complicated by the presence of a reservoir species, the eurasian badger. in spite of uncertainty in the degree to which cattle disease results from transmission from badgers, and opposition from environmental groups, culling of badgers has been licenced in two large areas in england. methods to limit culls to smaller areas ...201526565626
exploration of the power of routine surveillance data to assess the impacts of industry-led badger culling on bovine tuberculosis incidence in cattle herds.in the uk, badgers (meles meles) are a well-known reservoir of infection, and there has been lively debate about whether badger culling should play a role within the british government's strategy to control and eventually eradicate tuberculosis (tb) in cattle. the key source of information on the potential for badger culling to reduce cattle tb in high-cattle-tb-incidence areas remains the randomised badger culling trial (rbct). in late 2013, two pilot areas were subjected to industry-led badger ...201526374782
isolation and phylogenetic characterization of streptococcus halichoeri from a european badger (meles meles) with pyogranulomatous pleuropneumonia.clinical and pathological studies in european badgers (meles meles) are limited. badgers play a significant role in the epidemiology of bovine tuberculosis (tb) in some countries and an accurate diagnosis is needed for this infection. however, the lesions of bovine tb are similar to those associated with other pathogens, making pathological diagnosis difficult. in the present study, streptococcus halichoeri was isolated from a european badger with pyogranulomatous pleuropneumonia and suspected o ...201525678424
an investigation of red fox (vulpes vulpes) and eurasian badger (meles meles) scavenging, scattering, and removal of deer remains: forensic implications and applications.within northwest europe, especially the united kingdom, the red fox (vulpes vulpes) and the eurasian badger (meles meles) are the largest wild scavengers capable of modifying a set of remains through scavenging. knowledge of region-specific and species-typical scavenging behaviors of scavengers within the crime scene area and surroundings can aid in more efficient and accurate interpretations. the scavenging behaviors of captive and wild foxes and badgers were recorded and compared through actua ...201525065997
fecal virome analysis of three carnivores reveals a novel nodavirus and multiple gemycircularviruses.more knowledge about viral populations in wild animals is needed in order to better understand and assess the risk of zoonotic diseases. in this study we performed viral metagenomic analysis of fecal samples from three healthy carnivores: a badger (meles meles), a mongoose (herpestes ichneumon) and an otter (lutra lutra) from portugal.201525986582
coexistence of sympatric carnivores in relatively homogeneous mediterranean landscapes: functional importance of habitat segregation at the fine-scale level.one of the main objectives of community ecology is to understand the conditions allowing species to coexist. however, few studies have investigated the role of fine-scale habitat use segregation in the functioning of guild communities in relatively homogeneous landscapes where opportunities for coexistence are likely to be the most restrictive. we investigate how the process of habitat use differentiation at the home range level according to the degree of specialism/generalism of species can lea ...201525933639
dissections of fresh skulls confirm low prevalence of troglotrema acutum (trematoda: troglotrematidae) in german badgers (meles meles).we examined 131 european badgers meles meles (linnaeus, 1758) from 67 localities in central germany for the presence of the cranial trematode troglotrema acutum, as previous studies based on museum skulls might have underestimated the prevalence of the parasite in this host. we detected the flatworm in only three individuals that originated from the rhoen mountains (thurigina and bavaria). while the cranium of one host individual showed the lesions and the sponge-like widening of certain regions ...201525563614
tetragomphius melis infection of the pancreas in japanese badger (meles meles anakuma). 201526823028
reproductive biology including evidence for superfetation in the european badger meles meles (carnivora: mustelidae).the reproductive biology of the european badger (meles meles) is of wide interest because it is one of the few mammal species that show delayed implantation and one of only five which are suggested to show superfetation as a reproductive strategy. this study aimed to describe the reproductive biology of female irish badgers with a view to increasing our understanding of the process of delayed implantation and superfetation. we carried out a detailed histological examination of the reproductive t ...201526465324
high prevalence of trypanosomes in european badgers detected using its-pcr.wildlife can be important sources and reservoirs for pathogens. trypanosome infections are common in many mammalian species, and are pathogenic in some. molecular detection tools were used to measure trypanosome prevalence in a well-studied population of wild european badgers (meles meles).201526396074
winter is coming: seasonal variation in resting metabolic rate of the european badger (meles meles).resting metabolic rate (rmr) is a measure of the minimum energy requirements of an animal at rest, and can give an indication of the costs of somatic maintenance. we measured rmr of free-ranging european badgers (meles meles) to determine whether differences were related to sex, age and season. badgers were captured in live-traps and placed individually within a metabolic chamber maintained at 20 ± 1°c. resting metabolic rate was determined using an open-circuit respirometry system. season was s ...201526352150
scavenger species-typical alteration to bone: using bite mark dimensions to identify scavengers.scavenger-induced alteration to bone occurs while scavengers access soft tissue and during the scattering and re-scavenging of skeletal remains. using bite mark, dimensional data to assist in the more accurate identification of a scavenger can improve interpretations of trauma and enhance search and recovery methods. this study analyzed bite marks produced on both dry and fresh surface deposited remains by wild and captive red fox (vulpes vulpes) and eurasian badger (meles meles), as well as dom ...201526249734
sex differences in senescence: the role of intra-sexual competition in early adulthood.males and females frequently differ in their rates of ageing, but the origins of these differences are poorly understood. sex differences in senescence have been hypothesized to arise, because investment in intra-sexual reproductive competition entails costs to somatic maintenance, leaving the sex that experiences stronger reproductive competition showing higher rates of senescence. however, evidence that sex differences in senescence are attributable to downstream effects of the intensity of in ...201526156771
will trespassers be prosecuted or assessed according to their merits? a consilient interpretation of territoriality in a group-living carnivore, the european badger (meles meles).socio-spatial interactions of carnivores have traditionally been described using the vocabulary of territoriality and aggression, with scent marks interpreted as 'scent fences'. here, we investigate the role of olfactory signals in assumed territorial marking of group-living solitary foragers using european badgers meles meles as a model. we presented anal gland secretions (n = 351) from known individuals to identifiable recipients (n = 187), to assess response-variation according to familiarity ...201526147753
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
mhc class ii-assortative mate choice in european badgers (meles meles).the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) plays a crucial role in the immune system, and in some species, it is a target by which individuals choose mates to optimize the fitness of their offspring, potentially mediated by olfactory cues. under the genetic compatibility hypothesis, individuals are predicted to choose mates with compatible mhc alleles, to increase the fitness of their offspring. studies of mhc-based mate choice in wild mammals are under-represented currently, and few investigate ...201525913367
sequence variation and gene duplication at the mhc drb loci of the spotted seal phoca largha.the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) is one of the most important genetic systems associated with resistance to infectious diseases in vertebrates. the spotted seal (phoca largha) is one of the most endangered species in china. in this study, we present the first step in the molecular characterization of a drb-like locus in the spotted seal by analyzing the nucleotide sequence of the polymorphic exon 2 segments, a 288-nucleotide sequence. by examining the segment from a group of 41 individ ...201525867351
avoiding verisimilitude when modelling ecological responses to climate change: the influence of weather conditions on trapping efficiency in european badgers (meles meles).the signal for climate change effects can be abstruse; consequently, interpretations of evidence must avoid verisimilitude, or else misattribution of causality could compromise policy decisions. examining climatic effects on wild animal population dynamics requires ability to trap, observe or photograph and to recapture study individuals consistently. in this regard, we use 19 years of data (1994-2012), detailing the life histories on 1179 individual european badgers over 3288 (re-) trapping eve ...201525857625
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