Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) sharing dens: a potential infection route for bovine tuberculosis

Authors: Fairweather A.A.C.; Brockie R.E.; Ward G.D.

Source: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Numbers 1-2, 1 January 1987 , pp. 15-16(2)

Publisher: New Zealand Veterinary Association

Key:

- Free Content

- New Content

- Subscribed Content

- Free Trial Content

Abstract:

Brushtail possums transmit bovine tuberculosis (Mycobacterium bovis) to cattle in New Zealand. In the laboratory the infection can spread from possum to possum by droplet infection but little is known about infection routes in the wild. It is widely supposed that shared dens provide sites for transmitting tuberculosis among possums, but there is little hard information on den-sharing in the scientific literature. Winter inspected possum dens in Queensland eucalypt forest on 783 occasions and found adult animals shared these sites on 23 occasions. At the most, two adult animals shared these dens. Jolly noted a pair of males in a single shelter on Banks Peninsula. Pracy reported that “instances of more than three opposums occupying the one nest have been observed frequently where populations are at high or peak levels”…

Keywords: Possum; Behaviour; Mycobacterium; Tuberculosis

Document Type: Regular paper

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$28.00 plus tax Refund Policy