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Badgers as a potential source of bovine tuberculosis – first studies in Poland
 
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1
National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland
 
2
University of Zielona Góra, Department of Zoology, Zielona Góra, Poland
 
 
Corresponding author
Marek Lipiec   

National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland, 24-100 Puławy, Partyzantów 57, Puławy, Poland, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2018;25(3):409-410
 
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ABSTRACT
Since 2009, Poland has been recognized as a country officially free of bovine tuberculosis (BTB). However, new outbreaks are each year quoted. In many countries it has been shown that badgers (Meles meles) are a vector of Mycobacterium bovis/caprae (M.bovis/caprae) and a source of bovine tuberculosis for many domestical species, mainly for cattle. The aim of the presented study was to determine, for the first time in Poland, the occurrence of tuberculosis in badgers in areas where the disease occurs in cattle. Tissue samples were examined by classical microbiology methods, mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT), and real time PCR. A total of 155 samples from 31 badgers were examined. In any case Mycobacterium bovis/caprae infection has not been diagnosed. This indicates that badgers probably are not a vector of bovine tuberculosis in Poland.
 
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eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
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