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Over The Horizon

Tubercular Ferrets

Researchers have finally confirmed that tuberculosis can be transmitted from ferret to ferret. Work at AgResearch's Invermay ferret colony has demonstrated that enough social contacts occur between ferrets sharing denning sites and playing together for infection to pass from one animal to another.

The next stage of this study is to look at the effectiveness of Tb vaccination. A group of ferrets has been vaccinated with the BCG vaccine used in humans, and their response to subsequent Tb infection is being monitored.

The researchers hope to develop a means of controlling Tb infection in free-ranging populations.

"Oral vaccination has proved a viable option of controlling disease in wildlife in other countries, so it's feasible a Tb vaccine could be an effective tool for controlling the spread of disease in Tb 'hot spots' in New Zealand," says Dr Tariq Qureshi.