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Diagnosis of tuberculosis in groups of badgers: an exploration of the impact of trapping efficiency, infection prevalence and the use of multiple tests

Buzdugan, S N; Chambers, M A; Delahay, R J; Drewe, J A

Authors

S N Buzdugan

M A Chambers

R J Delahay

J A Drewe



Abstract

Accurate detection of infection with Mycobacterium bovis in live badgers would enable targeted tuberculosis control. Practical challenges in sampling wild badger populations mean that diagnosis of infection at the group (rather than the individual) level is attractive. We modelled data spanning 7 years containing over 2000 sampling events from a population of wild badgers in southwest England to quantify the ability to correctly identify the infection status of badgers at the group level. We explored the effects of variations in: (1) trapping efficiency; (2) prevalence of M. bovis; (3) using three diagnostic tests singly and in combination with one another; and (4) the number of badgers required to test positive in order to classify groups as infected. No single test was able to reliably identify infected badger groups if 80% sensitive, at least 94% specific, and able to be performed rapidly in the field.

Citation

Buzdugan, S. N., Chambers, M. A., Delahay, R. J., & Drewe, J. A. (2016). Diagnosis of tuberculosis in groups of badgers: an exploration of the impact of trapping efficiency, infection prevalence and the use of multiple tests. Epidemiology and Infection, 144(8), 1717-1727. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268815003210

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 30, 2015
Publication Date Jan 6, 2016
Deposit Date Jun 3, 2016
Publicly Available Date Jun 3, 2016
Journal EPIDEMIOLOGY AND INFECTION
Print ISSN 0950-2688
Electronic ISSN 1469-4409
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 144
Issue 8
Pages 1717-1727
DOI https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268815003210
Public URL https://rvc-repository.worktribe.com/output/1398129

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