A field study was carried out on Little Island (County Waterford, Ireland) in June 2000 to evaluate the potential of a bait-marking system for use in European badgers (Meles meles). Two oral biomarkers, sulfadimethoxine (SDM) and rhodamine B, were incorporated into fishmeal baits and distributed by hand at main setts in five test territories for 3 consecutive days. In parallel, non-biomarked baits were distributed at a single control territory. The objectives of the study were to: (1) assess the effects of SDM and rhodamine B on palatability and thus bait acceptance, and (2) investigate the marking capacity of SDM and rhodamine B in serum and hair samples taken from badgers. Trapping was carried out in each territory for 5 consecutive days immediately after bait distribution. Analysis of data revealed that 90–100% of baits were removed in four of the test territories and from the control territory. In the fifth test territory, 61% of baits were removed. Of the badgers (n = 26) trapped in the test territories, 18 (69%) were positive when tested for both biomarkers. In contrast, the remaining eight animals and those captured in the control territory (n = 6 badgers) were negative. In the marked animals, the highest levels of SDM were recorded in serum samples taken soon after bait distribution. Thereafter, the levels declined in each badger over the course of the study. In contrast, rhodamine B was readily detectable by fluorescence microscopy of hair samples throughout the period of study. The results indicate that SDM and rhodamine B act as systemic markers in badgers and have potential future applications for monitoring of oral vaccine uptake.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Articles|
April 01 2002
SULFADIMETHOXINE AND RHODAMINE B AS ORAL BIOMARKERS FOR EUROPEAN BADGERS (MELES MELES)
A. K. Southey;
A. K. Southey
1 Department of Large Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
Search for other works by this author on:
D. P. Sleeman;
D. P. Sleeman
2 Department of Zoology and Animal Ecology, Lee Maltings, National University of Ireland, Cork, Ireland
Search for other works by this author on:
E. Gormley
E. Gormley
3
1 Department of Large Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland
3 Corresponding author (email: egormley@ucd.ie)
Search for other works by this author on:
J Wildl Dis (2002) 38 (2): 378–384.
Article history
Received:
December 27 2000
Citation
A. K. Southey, D. P. Sleeman, E. Gormley; SULFADIMETHOXINE AND RHODAMINE B AS ORAL BIOMARKERS FOR EUROPEAN BADGERS (MELES MELES). J Wildl Dis 1 April 2002; 38 (2): 378–384. doi: https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-38.2.378
Download citation file:
Citing articles via
TERRESTRIAL PATHOGEN POLLUTANT, TOXOPLASMA GONDII, THREATENS HAWAIIAN MONK SEALS FOLLOWING HEAVY RUNOFF EVENTS
Stacie J. Robinson, Angela Amlin, Michelle M. Barbieri
EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF NONINVASIVE FECAL SAMPLING FOR PREGNANCY DETECTION IN ELK (CERVUS CANADENSIS)
Eryn M. Watson, Katherine A. Kurth, Dailee L. Metts, Sarah E. Moorey, Bradley F. Miller, Richard W. Gerhold, Lisa I. Muller
PATHOLOGY OF HATCHLING HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLE (ERETMOCHELYS IMBRICATA) MORTALITIES OCCURRING WHILE UNDER REHABILITATIVE CARE, 2015–21
Paula Sotomayor Rodríguez, Kimberly Stewart, Angela Picknell, Lemuel Pemberton, Alissa Tepedino, Dominique Capaldo, Michelle M. Dennis
Molecular Evidence of Leptospira spp. in Isolated Fijian Bats
Jessica L. McCutchan, Matthew A. Knox, Alivereti Naikatini, David T. S. Hayman, Brett D. Gartrell
Avian Chlamydia abortus Strains Detected in Galápagos Waved Albatross (Phoebastria irrorata)
Rachid Aaziz, Rommel L. Vinueza, Fabien Vorimore, Christiane Schnee, Gustavo Jiménez-Uzcátegui, Gina Zanella, Karine Laroucau