THE POPULATION STRUCTURE, DENSITY AND PREVALENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS (MYCOBACTERIUM BOVIS) INBADGERS (MELES MELES) FROM FOUR AREAS IN SOUTH-WEST ENGLAND.

(1) This paper presents information obtained on the prevalence and distribution of tuberculosis in badgers from four areas in south-west England. One hundred and thirty-six badgers, representing twenty-four social groups, were removed for post-mortem examination following outbreaks of tuberculosis in cattle. (2) Mean group size for each area varied little (4.8-7.6 individuals) but mean territory size varied considerably (22.0-74.7 ha). (3) The prevalence of tuberculosis varied greatly from 6.9% to 34.5% indicating spatial and/or temporal variations in prevalence in local populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]