Diminishing returns in bovine tuberculosis control

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (7) ◽  
pp. 1382-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. HONE
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Tuberculosis Control ◽  
Tb Control ◽  
Diminishing Returns ◽  
Best Fitting ◽  
Strength Of Association

SUMMARYMycobacterium bovis causes bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in many mammals including cattle, deer and brushtail possum. The aim of this study was to estimate the strength of association, using model selection (AICc) regression analyses, between the proportion of cattle and farmed deer herds with bTB in New Zealand and annual costs of TB control, namely disease control in livestock, in wildlife or in a combination of the two. There was more support for curved (concave up) than linear models which related the proportion of cattle and farmed deer herds with bTB to the annual control costs. The curved, concave-up, best-fitting relationships showed diminishing returns with no positive asymptote and implied TB eradication is feasible in New Zealand.

The effect of manipulating population density on the probability of den-sharing among common brushtail possums, and the implications for transmission of bovine tuberculosis

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 383 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Caley ◽  
N. J. Spencer ◽  
R. A. Cole ◽  
M. G. Efford
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Contact Rate ◽  
Animal Disease ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
A Site ◽  
And Control ◽  
The Relationship

Common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) act as a reservoir of bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) in New Zealand and the simultaneous sharing of dens may result in the transmission of Tb between possums. The effect of manipulating population density on the per capita probability of simultaneous den-sharing among possums was investigated at a site near Dunedin, New Zealand. Den characteristics that could affect the probability of simultaneous sharing were also investigated, though none were found to be significant. The daily probability of a possum sharing a den was estimated to be 0.07 for possums denning within uncontrolled areas of the study area. Den-sharing was most common between female pairs, though sharing was also recorded between male–female and male–male pairs. The highest number of possums recorded sharing a single den was four. Reducing population density significantly lowered the probability of possums simultaneously sharing dens within the study area, with greater than 60% reductions estimated to eliminate simultaneous den-sharing altogether. The relationship between the contact rate arising from den-sharing and population density was convex-down, rather than convex-up, as often hypothesised for animal–animal disease contact processes. The implications of simultaneous den-sharing for the transmission and control of bovine tuberculosis in brushtail possum populations are discussed.

scholarly journals A comparison of wildlife control and cattle vaccination as methods for the control of bovine tuberculosis

1999 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-519 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. R. KAO ◽  
M. G. ROBERTS
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Control Area ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Source Of Infection ◽  
Wildlife Control ◽  
The Cost

The Australian brushtail possum is the major source of infection for new cases of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in New Zealand. Using hypothetical values for the cost of putative cattle and possum Tb vaccines, the relative efforts required to eradicate Tb in cattle using possum culling, possum vaccination or cattle vaccination are compared. For realistic assumed costs for 1080 poison bait, possum culling is found to be a cost-effective strategy compared to cattle vaccination if the required control area is below 13 ha per cattle herd, while possum vaccination is cost-effective for control areas of less than 3 ha per herd. Examination of other considerations such as the possible roles of possum migration and heterogeneities in possum population density suggest that each control strategy may be superior under different field conditions. Finally, the roles of the possum in New Zealand, and the Eurasian badger in Great Britain and Ireland in the transmission of bovine tuberculosis to cattle are compared.

scholarly journals Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) social interactions and their implications for bovine tuberculosis epidemiology

Behaviour ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 155 (7-9) ◽  
pp. 621-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Rouco ◽  
C. Jewell ◽  
K.S. Richardson ◽  
N.P. French ◽  
B.M. Buddle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Social Interactions ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Tuberculosis Transmission ◽  
Tuberculosis Epidemiology ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Survival Differences

Abstract The brushtail possum is the main reservoir of bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand. Disease prevalence is generally higher in males than in females. This has conventionally been assumed due to greater infection rates of males, but recent work has raised the hypothesis that it may instead be driven by survival differences. With bovine tuberculosis transmission among possums most likely occurring between individuals in close proximity, here we analyse social networks built on data from wild possums collared with contact loggers inhabiting a native New Zealand forest, to investigate whether there is mechanistic support for higher male infection rates. Our results revealed that adult female possums were generally just as connected with adult male possums as other adult males are, with male–female connection patterns not being significantly different. This result suggest that the new ‘survivorship’ hypothesis for the sex bias is more likely than the conventional ‘infection rate’ hypothesis.

A simulation model for the spread of bovine tuberculosis within New Zealand cattle herds

1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 57-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.D. Barlow ◽  
J.M. Kean ◽  
G. Hickling ◽  
P.G. Livingstone ◽  
A.B. Robson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Simulation Model ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Cattle Herds

scholarly journals Using whole genome sequencing to investigate transmission in a multi-host system: bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand

BMC Genomics ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Crispell ◽  
Ruth N. Zadoks ◽  
Simon R. Harris ◽  
Brent Paterson ◽  
Desmond M. Collins ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Whole Genome Sequencing ◽  
Genome Sequencing ◽  
Bovine Tuberculosis ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Host System

Behavioral Referents for Molar Ratings of Heterosocial Skill

1982 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Stephen Royce
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Regression ◽  
Linear Models ◽  
Eye Contact ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Linear Modeling ◽  
Hand Gestures ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Behavioral Cues ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Highly Skilled

A linear modeling technique was used to identify valid behavioral referents of molar heterosocial skill ratings in both men and women. Videotapes of the heterosocial interactions of 30 men and 30 women representing a wide range of skill were shown to untrained peers who made molar heterosocial skill ratings and supplied lists of the behavioral cues they believed to be useful in discriminating skillful and unskillful subjects. The most widely endorsed cues were then scored for their rates of occurrence in the target subjects' interactions, and multiple regression analyses were used to construct linear models of behavioral referents for the molar heterosocial skill ratings. Highly skilled men were those who kept their gaze up, asked questions, and used appropriate hand gestures. Highly skilled women were those who kept their gaze up, made eye contact, and avoided speaking too softly.

scholarly journals Ecology of a brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) population at Castlepoint in the Wairarapa, New Zealand

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ron Jackson ◽  
D.U. Pfeiffe ◽  
T Porphyre ◽  
C Sauter-Louis ◽  
L.A.L. Corner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document