Defra extends its badger vaccination fund

doi:10.1136/vr.f3480

Simulating the next steps in badger control for bovine tuberculosis in England

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0248426 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. e0248426

Author(s):

Graham C. Smith ◽

Richard Budgey

Keyword(s):

Simulation Model ◽

Carrying Capacity ◽

Bovine Tuberculosis ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Fertility Control ◽

Host Population ◽

Dramatic Reduction ◽

Control Option ◽

Badger Vaccination ◽

The Uk

Industry-led culling of badgers has occurred in England to reduce the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in cattle for a number of years. Badger vaccination is also possible, and a move away from culling was “highly desirable” in a recent report to the UK government. Here we used an established simulation model to examine badger control option in a post-cull environment in England. These options included no control, various intermittent culling, badger vaccination and use of a vaccine combined with fertility control. The initial simulated cull led to a dramatic reduction in the number of infected badgers present, which increased slowly if there was no further badger management. All three approaches led to a further reduction in the number of infected badgers, with little to choose between the strategies. We do note that of the management strategies only vaccination on its own leads to a recovery of the badger population, but also an increase in the number of badgers that need to be vaccinated. We conclude that vaccination post-cull, appears to be particularly effective, compared to vaccination when the host population is at carrying capacity.

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