September 2024: Update on TB surveillance in two badger control areas
Updated 16 October 2024
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Summary
During badger control operations in 2022, a sample of badger carcases were collected from two cull areas: Area 20 – Wiltshire and Area 29 – Gloucestershire. Post-mortem examination (PME) was carried out by APHA, with tissue sampling taken for bacteriological culture to attempt to isolate M. bovis. If M. bovis was isolated, it underwent Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analysis to establish if there were links to the local cattle breakdowns. This report provides the results of this exercise.
Area 20 – Wiltshire
Area 20 – Wiltshire covers 549 km2 and began licensed badger control in 2017. In 2022, the final year of their Supplementary Badger Control licence, a sample of badgers removed underwent PME. This was to establish a baseline prevalence for the area, as the area elected to move to APHA-led badger vaccination during the 2023 open season (starting in May). Of the carcases sampled, 12 out of 113 (10.6%) were positive for M. bovis. Two WGS clades were present (B6-11 and B6-91), which is in line with those identified from local cattle cases.
Area 29 – Gloucestershire
Area 29 – Gloucestershire covers 431 km2 and began licensed badger control in 2018. A sample of the carcases removed during the first year of operations underwent PME by APHA, with 18.3% (24 out of 131) of the carcases positive for M. bovis. This was originally reported in September 2019 as 17.7%, increasing due to reculture of an inconclusive result (September 2019: Update on TB surveillance in wildlife in England during 2018). APHA repeated the sampling exercise in 2022, which was the first year of the area’s Supplementary Badger Control licence. Of the carcases sampled, 25 out of 173 (14.5%) were positive for M.bovis. Five WGS clades were present (B6-83, B6-11, B6-62, B6-12 and B1-11), consistent with those identified from local cattle cases and found in 2018 (B6-11, B6-62 and B6-12). Apparent prevalence of TB in badgers in Area 29 has reduced by 2.9%, though this is not statistically significant.