Research Article
Farm
husbandry and the risks of disease transmission between wild and
domestic mammals: a brief review focusing on bovine tuberculosis in
badgers and cattle
A. I. Warda1 c1, B. A. Tolhursta2 and R. J. Delahaya1
a1 Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK
a2 School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex, Brighton, BN1 9QG, UK
Abstract
Where
wildlife act as a reservoir of disease for domestic mammals, measures
solely based on management of either in isolation are unlikely to
resolve the problem. Many such diseases can have serious economic
implications for farmers and the economy and their management can
present considerable challenges. Traditionally, wildlife populations
have been culled in attempts to reduce the risks of disease transmission
to 1. livestock (e.g. bovine tuberculosis in European 2. badgers ..). However, this may be both undesirable and
potentially counter-productive in some circumstances. Consequently, in
recent years increasing attention has focused on changing livestock
husbandry and farm management practices so as to reduce risks of disease
transmission from wildlife to livestock. Here we present a brief review
of husbandry and farm management practices that may influence disease
transmission risks from wild to domestic mammals, with particular
attention to bovine tuberculosis in the UK.
We conclude that the
manipulation of farming practices could potentially make a significant
contribution to disease risk management.
However, there are currently
scant empirical data on risk reduction methods and further information
will undoubtedly be required to inform husbandry best-practice.
Keywords
- biosecurity;
- wildlife;
- zoonoses
- http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=941064&fulltextType=RA&fileId=S1357729806000920
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