Research in this area will increase our understanding of the behaviour and role of vector species and identify knowledge gaps in our ability to eradicate TB from wild animal populations, by:
- Investigating the role of wildlife species in the epidemiology of TB
- Exploring the use of wild animals as TB sentinels
- Investigating the behaviour of possums at low densities
- Modelling to forecast outcomes.
In 2011/12 we allocated $248,000 to this area of research.
Summary of current research
Project Title: Identification of risk factors associated with new and persistent infection in cattle herds at Karamea and their particular relationship to the outcomes of the possum control programme
Project Number: R-10726
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To identify the critical gaps in herd and possum management preventing eradication of TB from chronic infection areas in Karamea.
Project Title: Effect of rat interference on possum kill during aerial 1080 poisoning
Project Number: R-10729
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To determine whether rat interference with baits affects the efficacy of aerial 1080 poisoning in killing possums.
Project Title: TB Eradication – Proof of Concept
Project Number: R-10731
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To compare the cost-effectiveness of different operational strategies for confirming that TB has been eradicated from multi-host wildlife complexes on farmland and in forest in the central North Island.
Project Title: Bovine TB in New Zealand
Project Number: R-10735
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To increase the body of peer reviewed research underpinning the TB National Pest Management Strategy and improve access to the history and science of bovine TB management in New Zealand by scoping the production and publication of a science book (or some equivalent) comprised of peer reviewed analyses and reviews.
Project Title: Extending and validating the Landcare Research Possum-TB model
Project Number: R-10736
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To improve the credibility and utility of predictions produced by the Possum-TB model by extending the model to simulate two key resource allocation issues and, using existing and new data on possum movement patterns and TB disease dynamics at low densities to better parameterise these applications.
Project Title: Improved efficiency and effectiveness of possum control and monitoring in the Southern South Island
Project Number: R-10737
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To increase the efficiency and effectiveness of ground control of possums in southern South Island habitats by identifying preferred habitat types of possums, seasonality of habitat use and determining where surviving possums aggregate in the landscape after control.
Project Title: Detection of TB in possums by possums
Project Number: R-10738
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To increase the speed and decrease the cost with which possum populations can be declared free of TB, through use of improved estimates of TB detection probabilities by empirically measuring the probability of a possum detecting TB infection in another with which it shares its home range.
Project Title: Fast tracking proof of TB freedom for North Canterbury
Project Number: R-10739
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To develop, for a whole Vector Risk Area (VRA), a resource allocation model for identifying the mix of control, monitoring and TB surveillance needed to quickly provide a high degree of confidence that TB has been eliminated from that area.
Project Title: TB special issue
Project Number: R-10735-01
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To prepare a comprehensive series of research reviews covering the major aspects of bovine TB control in New Zealand, to be published as a readily accessible series in refereed jounal(s).
Project Title: Publication of the conservation benefits of AHB vector control
Project Number: R-10754
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To produce a paper for an international publication based on the synthesis and informed discussion of recent New Zealand research on the conservation benefits derived from pest control.
Project Title: Identification of dairy herds at risk of TB recrudescence using social network analysis
Project Number: R-20750
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To determine the movement frequency and origin of animals moved can be used to predict the risk of TB breakdowns. It will also identify the types of data required from the National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) scheme going forward.
Project Title: Post control possum aggregation in forests and near-forest farmlands
Project Number: R-10751
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To identify the magnitude, spatial scale and driving mechanisms of post control possum aggregation in continuous forest and adjacent pastoral farmland, and the implications of aggregation for TB persistence.
Project Title: Maintaining low possum and rat densities
Project Number: R-10753
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To investigate whether aerial sowing of very low rates of 1080 every second year will maintain rat and possum densities at low levels over a five year period at a reasonable cost relative to conventional five year baiting.
Project Title: Improving predictions and decisions of the Proof of Freedom utility
Project Number: R-10730-01
Research Organisation: Landcare Research NZ Ltd
Objective: To assist AHB staff in the use of the Proof of Freedom utility and to improve predictions by incorporating wider disease surveillance data.