Background on TB research and development
Whilst the EIS sets out a framework for research, the detailed evidence and innovation activities are co-ordinated through four Programme Management Boards (PMBs), which align broadly to the EIS Strategic Goals.
The PMBs annually assess our evidence and innovation needs, consult stakeholders and make recommendations on the content of a work programme for their area of responsibility. An overarching Evidence and Innovation Priorities Group (EIPG) then makes final decisions on the overall size and shape of the DAERA directed AFBI Research Work Programme.
The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) was created on 1 April 2006 as an amalgamation of DARD’s (now DAERA) Science Service and the Agricultural Research Institute of Northern Ireland (ARINI). AFBI is a DAERA Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB). It carries out high technology research and development, statutory, analytical, and diagnostic testing functions for DAERA and other Government departments, public bodies and commercial companies.
There is still much that we do not know about how TB spreads, how it can be diagnosed more accurately, what can be done to prevent its spread between cattle and between wildlife and cattle. etc. Therefore, as a priority we will continue to invest in TB and wildlife research and studies to build the evidence to help deal effectively with all the disease risk factors and reduce TB further.
Additional funding has been allocated in our budget to conduct TB and wildlife research and studies. This programme of TB and wildlife research and studies will help improve the detection and control of TB and guide our eradication strategy in the future. We need to ensure that our research effort is targeted to get maximum value for our spend. We are pursuing TB and wildlife research and studies to identify new and better ways of preventing transmission between cattle and between wildlife and cattle. However it is important to avoid unnecessary costly duplication of research underway in Britain and Ireland, but we will draw down the lessons from that work and also collaborate where appropriate.
Research and development currently underway
The following TB and wildlife research studies are currently underway in Northern Ireland.
Test and vaccinate or remove (TVR) badgers
Estimated project length - 5 years
This approach will involve testing live badgers; vaccinating and releasing the test negative badgers; and removing the test positive ones. This wildlife intervention research will focus on removing diseased badgers and protecting uninfected ones. If you would like to know more about this project, please visit our TVR badgers page.
Gamma Interferon (IFN-g) project
Estimated project length - 3 years
The key aim of the gamma interferon project is to undertake an evaluation of the IFN-g test as currently implemented in Northern Ireland in order to quantify the usefulness of the test to detect additional bTB infected animals. This will include an evaluation of factors that influence test results. The criteria for defining an animal as positive using the IFN-g test will be re-assessed to identify if this could be further optimised and the implications of doing so in terms of test performance.
An assessment will also be made on how other factors influence the IFN-g test. The overall outcomes of the project will be recommendations on the optimisation and best use of the IFN-g test to aid control and eradication of bTB in Northern Ireland. If you would like to know more about this project, please visit our Gamma Interferon project page.
Analysis of molecular strain typing data
Estimated project length - 1 year
The key objectives of this project are to analyse existing data, including geographical clustering of strains, associations between cattle and badger isolates, effect of cattle movement, extent of latent infection, genetic factors, etc. to determine how this tool can be best applied practically in the Northern Ireland TB eradication programme and to provide a better understanding of bovine TB transmission in Northern Ireland.
Risk factors associated with multiple reactor and chronic herds
Estimated project length - 3 years
The key objective of this project is to investigate the risk factors for herds with persistent and/or chronic infection in order to further reduce disease in those herds.
Serological Tests
Estimated project length - 2 years
An assessment of commercially available serological tests for the detection of cattle infected with bovine tuberculosis.
To evaluate the range of commercial and near application serological tests for bovine TB that could ultimately be undertaken as alternatives to or in conjunction with existing tests as part of the bovine TB eradication Programme.
Endemic Diseases
Estimated project length - 2 years
The role of endemic diseases and other factors in the occurrence of bovine Tuberculosis.
To investigate the possible immunosuppressant effect or other role(s) that endemic diseases and nutritional / vitamin deficiencies may have on bovine TB occurrence and control.
Badger Road Traffic Accident Survey
Estimated project length - ongoing
Badgers are a protected species in Northern Ireland and culling for TB control purposes is not permitted. Ad hoc surveys, using badgers killed by cars, have been undertaken in the past but a province-wide survey has been ongoing since the mid 1990’s. An interim report has been published which noted the following:
- the prevalence of M. bovis in badgers was 17%
- TB infection is geographically widespread in badgers with no evidence of clustering and no apparent association, at regional level, with the distribution of infection in cattle
- herds immediately adjacent to infected badger carcases did not have a higher risk of infection compared to those adjacent to TB-negative animals. However, a higher proportion of herds within 3km of a positive carcase had TB compared to those within 3 km of a negative carcase and the difference was statistically significant
The provisional conclusions arising from the survey was that there did appear to be a link between the distribution of infection in both species, although this did not indicate causality, i.e. direction of spread.
If you would like to know more, please visit out Badger Road Traffic Accident Survey page.
Research and development completed
The following TB and wildlife research and studies have been completed in recent years in Northern Ireland.
Field Survey for the Presence of Badger Setts in Co. Down, Northern Ireland
On 29 January 2013, Minister O’Neill announced that she had commissioned the Agri-food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to commence a preliminary badger sett survey in a 100km2 area between Banbridge and Rathfriland. A further 100km2 survey area was announced, by Minister O’Neill, later in 2013 covering land between Castlewellan, Slieve Croob, Seaforde and Dundrum. With surveying now completed AFBI staff have collated and analysed all data gathered from the survey to produce a report of their findings.
Badger-Cattle Interactions in the Rural Environment: Implications for Bovine Tuberculosis Transmission
An integrated research project was conducted on badgers (Meles meles) and cattle in Northern Ireland to provide data on the ecology of badgers; quantify the level of direct interactions between badgers and cattle at pasture; and determine the frequency of badger visits to farmyards and buildings. The project aimed to quantify potential bovine tuberculosis (bTB) transmission routes between badgers and cattle in an area of Northern Ireland that had a regionally high incidence of bTB in livestock. The project began in November 2011 and was completed in March 2014.
If you would like to know more about this project, please visit our Interactions between badgers and cattle in the rural environment page.
Literature Review on the role of slurry in spreading TB
The key objective of the Literature Review was a comprehensive review of the published work or work nearing completion on the role of slurry in spreading TB and whether it should be treated or disinfected prior to spreading. It was published in March 2014.
This literature review is available at the following link:
TB Biosecurity Study
The key aim of the TB Biosecurity Study was to compare farm characteristics in herds that have recently had a TB breakdown and those that have had no recent history of a breakdown in a TB high incidence area in Co. Down. Consideration of selected cattle and wildlife factors were key elements of the research. The fieldwork element of the Study was completed in July 2011. A survey of on-farm buildings and a farm boundary survey were carried out and some badger sett survey work was also undertaken on and around participating farms. Collation and analysis of the data gathered was completed and the report was published in November 2013. Work is now ongoing to consider the TB Biosecurity Study findings in more detail and, in association with industry stakeholders, consider how its findings can be used to help farmers to do more to protect their herds from bovine TB.
If you would like to know more about this project, please visit the TB biosecurity study page.
Literature Review on cattle-cattle transmission, risk factors and susceptibility
We commissioned the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to complete a literature review to address key knowledge gaps in relation to the transmission of TB between cattle. The key objective of the literature review is a comprehensive review of transmission, within and between herds, of bovine TB with particular reference to cattle to cattle spread (a) in cattle housing, (b) at pasture, and (c) any other significant circumstance or location such as during transport or at markets. This review should also seek from published work or work nearing completion to identify, summarise and rank those factors that influence susceptibility to bovine TB. The review should similarly seek to identify, summarise and rank those practical management actions that could best mitigate the risk of transmission in housing and at pasture and identify any other factors likely to commend further beneficial study.
This literature review is available at the following link:
Literature Review on badger-cattle transmission
We commissioned the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to complete a literature review to address key knowledge gaps in relation to the transmission of TB between badgers and cattle. The key objective of the literature review is a comprehensive review of transmission of bovine TB with particular reference to badger to cattle spread (a) in cattle housing, and (b) at pasture. This review should also seek from published work or work nearing completion to identify, summarise and rank those badger/cattle interfaces most likely to lead to bovine TB transmission. The review should similarly seek to identify, summarise and rank those practical management actions that could best mitigate the risk of transmission in housing and at pasture and identify any other factors likely to commend further beneficial study.
This literature review is available at the following link:
Literature Review on cattle bTB tests and effective deployment
We commissioned the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to complete a literature review to address key knowledge gaps in relation to diagnostic tests for TB in cattle. The key objective of the literature review is a comprehensive review of the published work or work nearing completion to inform an understanding of which tests for use in cattle provide the greatest sensitivity and specificity, and in which circumstances, and how this can be applied in order to improve TB control in Northern Ireland per se and, also, to best inform the most practical and cost-effective deployment of test resources in what may become a more constrained economic environment.
This literature review is available at the following link:
Literature Review on bTB tests in badgers
We commissioned the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to complete a literature review to address key knowledge gaps in relation to diagnostic tests for TB in badgers. The key objective of the literature review is a comprehensive review of the published work or work nearing completion on what tests could be conducted on blood or other samples collected from (a) live badgers trapped and released, (b) live badgers trapped, anesthetised and released, and (c) badgers trapped, euthanized and post-mortemed, to provide a better understanding of bovine TB infection in the local badger population, the efficacy of specific tests or combinations of tests, the practicality of a test and release (test -ve)/cull (test +ve) approach, and to provide a comparative assessment of the likely results of such testing between a lethal and non lethal intervention.
This literature review is available at the following link:
Literature review of the International Application of the Interferon-gamma Test
We commissioned the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) to carry out a literature review of the International Application of the Interferon-gamma Test. This report was written as part of the DARD funded Evidence and Innovation research project ‘An evaluation of interferon-gamma (IFN-g) testing for bovine TB in Northern Ireland.’ It fulfils one of the milestones of the project namely ‘a literature review on the application of the IFN-g test internationally.’
The literature review is available at the following link:
Further information about the Gamma Interferon (IFN-g) Project can be found at the page below:
Literature Review on the BCG vaccination against tuberculosis in European badgers
The key objective of this literature review is a comprehensive review of the published work or work nearing completion on the potential efficacy of injectable and oral badger vaccine; on the current understanding how best to administer vaccine (means, frequency, dosage, etc) to achieve the most beneficial cattle TB outcomes and with reference to cost effectiveness. The review should seek to establish whether there are any aspects likely to commend further study or have particular applicability to NI conditions.
This literature review was published in February 2012 on-line in the journal Comparative Immunology Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. A manuscript version is available at the following link:
Alternatively, the final article as published in the journal Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases is available from Science Direct via the link below:
Badger Population Survey
To date, two country-wide surveys have been completed to allow a fuller understanding of the number and distribution of the undisturbed badger population in NI.
The first survey was in 1994. The badger population in Northern Ireland was estimated in 1994 at 38,000 with a mean sett density of 3.51/km2. It was found that a high preponderance of setts occurs in hedgerows and it was postulated that this increases the proximity of badgers to cattle, and therefore, the potential for inter-species transmission Feore S.M. (1994) The distribution and abundance of the Badger Meles meles in Northern Ireland. PhD thesis. Queens University of Belfast.
The second survey was in 2007/2008. The badger population in NI during 2007/2008 is estimated at 33,500 animals in 7,500 social groups giving a mean estimated density of such groups as 0.56 per square kilometre. It was observed that there was a positive association between areas of improved grassland and arable agriculture, and cover. Density was correlated with land class, the highest densities found in drumlin farmland areas and marginal uplands. Due to the prevalence of favourable landscape features, Counties Down and Armagh had the highest density of badger social groups.
The Badger Population Survey report is available at the following link:
Deer Surveys
There are 3 species of wild or feral deer in Northern Ireland: Dama dama (fallow deer), Cervus nippon (sika deer) and Cervus elaphus (red deer). A survey carried out in 1995, in which deer of the three species were sampled, demonstrated a prevalence of 5.8% (397 deer sampled).
A small surveillance exercise carried out in 2009, in which fallow and sika deer were sampled, revealed a prevalence of 2% (146 deer sampled). The low number of deer (less than 3,500 estimated), their restricted range, limited contact with cattle, and the enteric nature of the infection, suggests that their role in the epidemiology of bovine TB is likely to be limited if not entirely insignificant.
If you would like more information on this project, please visit our Wild deer TB surveillance 2008/09 page.
Research by DARD’s Veterinary Epidemiology Unit (VEU) about TB
Further information about the research carried out by DAERA's Veterinary Epidemiology Unit (VEU) in relation to TB can be found at the link below:
More useful links
- TB research in Northern Ireland - an update on current and recently completed research (This document is currently being updated)
- DAERA Research
- AFBI animal health and welfare research projects (AFBI website)