Evaluation of a method to detect Mycobacterium bovis in air samples from infected Eurasian badgers (Meles meles) and their setts. (1st March 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, R.M.; Ashford, R.; Cork, J.; Palmer, S.; Wood, E.; Spyvee, P.; Parks, S.; Bennett, A.; Brewer, J.; Delahay, R.; Chambers, M.; Sawyer, J.
• Is Part Of: Letters in applied microbiology. Volume 56:Number 5(2013:May)
• Page Start: 361
• Page End: 365
• Publication Date: 2013-03-01
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.62
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.12055
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-8254

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="lam12055-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Environmental air sampling was evaluated as a method to detect the presence of <italic>M. bovis</italic> 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 <italic>M. bovis</italic> 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 <italic>M. bovis</italic>. Sampling was undertaken from directly under the muzzles of badgers which had been experimentally infected with <italic>M. bovis</italic> (37 samples), within enclosures housing the experimentally infected animals (50 samples), and in the vicinity of setts with resident infected wild badgers (52 samples). The methods employed did not detect <italic>M. bovis</italic> from either infected badgers or artificial or natural setts known to contain infected animals. However, samples taken at four of the six natural setts were positive for <italic>Mycobacterium gordonae</italic>.</p> </abstract>