HL Deb 09 February 2005 vol 669 cc123-4WA
Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many infectious tubercle bacilli may be voided by badgers with primary kidney disease onto pasture during urination. [HL1110]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Whitty)

This has not been measured. However, the number of tubercle bacilli voided by a badger with kidney lesions would vary according to the severity of infection and the behaviour of the individual badger.

Baroness Byford

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether, of badgers that die as a result of bovine tuberculosis, there is a difference in time course of the disease depending on the route of infection. [HL1112]

Lord Whitty

There are no available data to give a definitive answer to this question. There is no evidence to show that bovine TB itself is a major cause of death in badgers. The evidence available suggests that in badgers infected by bite wounding, there is a more rapid dissemination of disease, which might lead to an earlier death; whereas badgers with infected lungs, indicating a respiratory route of infection. can survive for long periods. Some individuals have been recorded as surviving for up to three or four years.