Using Coyotes to Detect Bovine Tuberculosis
Author Information
Author(s): VerCauteren Kurt C., Atwood Todd C., DeLiberto Thomas J., Smith Holly J., Stevenson Justin S., Thomsen Bruce V., Gidlewski Thomas, Payeur Janet
Primary Institution: US Department of Agriculture–Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA–APHIS) Wildlife Services
Hypothesis
Coyotes can serve as effective sentinels for detecting Mycobacterium bovis in wildlife.
Conclusion
Coyotes are effective indicators of M. bovis presence, allowing for reduced sampling efforts and increased detection rates.
Supporting Evidence
- Coyotes tested positive for M. bovis at a prevalence of 33%, compared to 1.49% in deer.
- Using coyotes reduced the number of animals needed for testing by 97%.
- Detection of M. bovis was significantly higher in coyotes than in deer.
Takeaway
Scientists found that coyotes can help spot a disease called bovine tuberculosis in the wild, which means we can check fewer animals and still find out if the disease is there.
Methodology
Coyotes were trapped and tested for M. bovis in a bovine TB-endemic area in Michigan, comparing prevalence with that in deer.
Potential Biases
Capture methods may have introduced bias, but the study design aimed to minimize this risk.
Limitations
The study was limited by the inability to randomize trapping locations and potential biases in capture methods.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 91 male and 84 female coyotes, with 101 classified as juveniles and 67 as adults.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 9.54–18.96 km2
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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