Increasing number of Sika deer could be responsible for local outbreaks of bovine TB in cattle, according to a new study.
Research carried out by Trinity College Dublin and the National Parks and Wildlife Service could have a major impact for controlling bovine TB in Ireland.
Dr David Kelly, from Trinity’s School of Natural Sciences, said: “Irish farmers have been aware of the effects of bovine TB for well over 70 years. Its incidence has steadily diminished in Ireland, from three per cent in 1960 to 0.3 per cent some 50 years later.”
“Unfortunately, while the management of one TB wildlife host has made great advances, another wildlife TB host has appeared on the radar: deer.”
Researchers used county-level populations densities to track the three known maintenance hosts of TB in Ireland: cattle, badgers and Sika deer.
The study showed that while there have been general reductions in TB infection, there is a correlation between increasing Sika deer density and higher local TB infection.
“This pattern has emerged in recent years and has major implications for TB control within Ireland. Now, when attempting to manage TB in wildlife, Sika deer will need to be considered as well as badgers,” Mr Kelly concluded.
LSL News.