Population densities and prevalences of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in documented wildlife maintenance and spillover hosts.
Culture performed only on animals presenting bTB-compatible lesions; a) total number of badgers in the Republic of Ireland (approximately): 84000 [111], b) general data for uncontrolled possum populations; local densities as high as 1000 ind./km2[22] and local TBL prevalences as high as 53% have been detected [112]; c) German Wildlife Foundation; published online at: http://www.deutschewildtierstiftung.de/de/schuetzen/arten-schuetzen/rothirsch/verbreitungskarte/ (last accessed: 11/28/12); d) Data from 2007, prior to intensive density reduction measures. Study areas were: 1: South Central Spain; 2: Central-East Portugal; 3: Woodchester Park; 4: overall data; 5: North Eastern Lower Peninsula; 6: Riding Mountain National Park and surroundings (elk), Wood buffalo National Park (wood bison); 7: overall data; 8: Kruger National Park, 9: Southern Bavaria; 10: North-Western Italy; 11: North-Western Minnesota. Apparent prevalence was based on the isolation of M. bovis and/or M. caprae, except: 1 (red deer): TBL prevalence (in areas of known bTB infection); 3: culture and/or serological testing; 4: official sampling (testing method not provided); 6 (wood bison): live animal testing (caudal fold test and/or fluorescent polarisation assay); 7: testing method not provided. Methods for estimating population densities were not provided in most cases, except: 1 (red deer): head-light counts and distance sampling (average density calculated by first author from data provided); 3: capture-mark-recapture; 6 (elk): density calculated by first author from population and map data provided in [107], 9: estimation from hunting bags; 10: driving census; 11: helicopter survey. Prevalence categories: Low: 1–5%; Low-medium: 5–10%; Medium: 10–20%; Medium-high: 20–40%; High: 40–50%. Density categories: Low: 0–5 individuals (ind.)/km2; Medium: 5–20 ind./km2; High: >20 ind./km2.
