The development of wildlife control strategies for eradication of tuberculosis in cattle in Ireland

Wildlife species, such as badgers, act as maintenance hosts for Mycobacteri um bovis and contribute to the spread and persistence of tuberculosis in as sociated cattle populations. in areas in which there is a tuberculosis prob lem affecting a number of herds, the involvement of infected wildlife in th e introduction of M. bovis infection into herds act as a constraint to erad ication of the disease. Epidemiological evidence demonstrates a high preval ence of tuberculosis in badgers, and controlled studies involving comprehen sive badger removal have shown that this strategy can serve to significantl y reduce cattle reactor rates in the targeted areas. However, as the badger is a protected wildlife species, alternative strategies are required to co mbat the disease. Targeted vaccination of wildlife species against tubercul osis is an option which, if successfully employed, could directly facilitat e the advancement of bovine tuberculosis eradication in affected areas. Any proposed vaccination programme would need to be undertaken against the bac kground of an exhaustive investigation of the cattle and herd management-re lated factors, and take account of environmental issues. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.