Longevity of Mycobacterium bovis in brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) carcasses, and contact rates between possums and carcasses

• Published in: New Zealand veterinary journal Vol. 59; no. 5; pp. 209 - 217
• Main Authors: Barron, MC, Pech, RP, Whitford, J, Yockney, IJ, de Lisle, GW, Nugent, G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 01.09.2011
• Subjects: Animal radio tracking; Animals; Brush-tailed possums; brushtail possum; Communicable diseases; Contact Tracing - veterinary; disease transmission; indirect transmission; Mycobacterium bovis; Mycobacterium bovis - growth & development; Mycobacterium bovis - pathogenicity; Risk Factors; Seasons; Spleen - microbiology; Survival Analysis; Transmission; Trichosurus - microbiology; Trichosurus vulpecula; Tuberculosis - epidemiology; Tuberculosis - transmission; Tuberculosis - veterinary

AIM: To determine, for a variety of environmental conditions, how long Mycobacterium bovis might remain viable inside the carcass of a brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) that died of bovine tuberculosis (Tb), and to measure the rate of contact between free-ranging possums and possum carcasses....