Question
What evidence his Department has evaluated of TB being transmitted from badgers to cattle.
Answer
Mr. Campbell-Savours: To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence his Department has evaluated of TB being transmitted from badgers to cattle. [1058] Mr. Rooker: References for the evidence that has been evaluated are as follows. Evidence considered Benham, P. (1985). The inter-relationships between cattle and badger behaviour and farm husbandry practices and their relevance to the transmission of Mycobacterium bovis. MAFF. Cheeseman C. L. & Mallinson, P.J. (1979). Handbook on Biotelemetry and Radio-tracking. Edited by C. J. Amlaner and D. W. Macdonald. Pergammon Press, Oxford. Cheeseman, C. L., Wilesmith, J. W. & Stuart, F. A. (1989). Tuberculosis, the disease and its epidemiology in the badger, a review. Epidemiology and Infection 103, p.113-125. Clifton-Hadley, R. S., Wilesmith, J. W & Stuart, F. A. (1993). Mycobacterium bovis in the European badger (Meles meles): Epidemiological findings in tuberculour badgers from a naturally infected population. Epidemiology and Infection 111, p. 9-19. Clifton-Hadley, R. S., Wilesmith, J. W., Richards, M.S., Upton, P. & Johnston. S. (1995). The occurrence of Mycobacterium bovis infection in and around an area subject to extensive badger (Meles meles) control, Epidemiology and Infection 114, p. 179-193. Dunnet, G.M., Jones, D.M. & McInerney, J.P. (1986). Badgers and Bovine tuberculosis--Review of Policy. HMSO, London. Francis, J. (1947). "Bovine tuberculosis",. Staples Press, London 220 pp. Gallagher, J. & Nelson, J. (1979). Causes of ill health and natural death in badgers in Gloucestershire Veterinary Record 105, p.546-551. Griffin, J.M. (1993). The role of bought-in cattle in herd breakdowns due to tuberculosis in part of county Cavan during 1989. Irish Veterinary Journal 46, p.143-148. Griffin, J.M. & Dolan, L.A. (1995). The role of cattle-to-cattle transmission of Mycobacterium bovis in the epidemiology of tuberculosis in cattle in the Republic of Ireland--A Review. Irish Veterinary Journal 48(6), p.228-234. Hancox, M. (1995). The great badgers and bovine TB debate. Biologist 42, p.159-161. Jubb, K.V.F., Kennedy, P.C & Palmer, N. (1985). Pathology of Domestic Animals. 3rd ed. New York and London: Academic Press. 2: p. 493-504. Little, T.W.A., Naylor, P.F. & Wilesmith, J.W. (1982a). Laboratory studies of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers and calves. Veterinary Record 111, p. 550-557. Little, T.W.A., Swan, C., Thompson, H.V. & Wilesmith, J.W. (1982b). Bovine Tuberculosis in domestic and wild mammals in an area of Dorset. Parts I, II & III. Maddock, E.C.G. (1933). Studies on the survival time of the bovine tubercle bacilli in soil, soil and dung, in dung and on grass. Journal of Hygiene Cambridge 33: p. 103-117. Maddock, E.C.G. (1936) Experiments on the infectivity for healthy calves of bovine tubercle bacilli discharged in dung upon pasture. Journal of Hygiene 36: p. 594-601. McFadyean, J. & Knowles, R. (1915). The diagnosis of tuberculosis in cattle by inoculation of guinea pigs with antiformined faeces. Journal of Comparative Pathology 28: P. 107-146. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (September 1984). A Review of Bovine Tuberculosis in Great Britain. Monaghan, M.L., Doherty, M.L., Collins, J.D., Kazda, J.F. & Quinn, P.J. (1994). The tuberculin test. Veterinary Microbiology 40, p. 111-124. Muirhead, R.H., Gallagher, J. & Burn, K.J. (1974). Tuberculosis in wild badgers in Gloucestershire: Epidemiology. Veterinary Record 95, p.552-555 Neal, E. & Cheeseman, C.L. (1996) "Badgers" published by T. & A.D. Poyser Ltd. (ISBN 0-85661-082-8). Neil, S.D., Hanna, J., O'brien, J.J. et al. (1988). Excretion of Mycobacterium bovis by experimentally infected cattle. Veterinary Record 123(13): p. 340-343 Neill, S.D., Hanna, J., Mackie, D.P. et al (1992) Isolation of Mycobacterium bovis form the respiratory tracts of skin test-- negative cattle. Veterinary Record 131, p.45-47. Neill, S.D., Cassidy, J., Hanna, J. et al. (1994). Detection of Mycobacterium bovis infection in skin test-negative cattle with an assay for bovine interferon-gamma. Veterinary Record 135, p. 134-135. Stamp, J.T. (1944). A reviw of the pathogenesis and pathology of bovine tuberculosis with special reference to practical problems. Veterinary Record, 56, p.443-446. Stamp, J.T & Wilson, A. (1946). Veterinary Record. 58, p.11-15. Stenhouse-Williamson, R & Hoy, W.A. (1930). The viability of B. tuberculosis (Bovinus) on pasture land, in stored faeces and in liquid manure. Journal of Hygiene (Cambridge) 30: p.413-419. Wilesmith, J. W. & Williams, D.R. (1986) Tuberculosis lesions in reactor cows Veterinary Record 119 (2), p.51. Zuckerman, Lord. (1980) Badgers, Cattle and Tuberculosis. HMSO, London. My officials have also visited the Republic of Ireland to consider a study conducted in East Offaly. A further independent scientific review is currently under way, under the chairmanship of Professor John Krebs.