Premium
A Strategic Approach to Eradication of Bovine TB from Wildlife in N ew Z ealand
Author(s) -
Hutchings S. A.,
Hancox N.,
Livingstone P. G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.12079
Subject(s) - wildlife , brushtail possum , bovine tuberculosis , herd , disease eradication , geography , biosecurity , disease control , biology , veterinary medicine , agroforestry , tuberculosis , disease , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology , mycobacterium bovis , medicine , mycobacterium tuberculosis , pathology , marsupial
Summary A review and amendment of N ew Z ealand's N ational P est M anagement S trategy for bovine tuberculosis ( TB ) has led to adoption of new strategy objectives for localized eradication of disease from the principal wildlife maintenance host and infecting vector for farmed cattle and deer, the brushtail possum T richosurus vulpecula . Historic programmes have been based on management of disease within herds and control of wildlife directed towards reducing infected herd prevalence. From J uly 2011, the TB strategy has been redirected towards eradication of TB from possums and other wildlife over a total area of at least 2.5 million hectares over a 15‐year period. The amended strategy is intended to provide large‐scale proof of concept, using two extensive bush areas, that TB can be eradicated from wildlife in New Zealand in the longer term, leading to eventual savings in control programmes needed to protect cattle and deer herds from infection. Achievement of strategy objectives will be supported by major research together with technical and managerial improvements in wildlife TB control and surveillance, and these are reviewed.