Date: September 28, 2016
Source: University of Surrey
Research published in Research in
Veterinary Science reveals that vitamin D supplementation reduces the incidence
and severity of tuberculosis (TB) in wild boar and red deer. The pilot study of
40 animals was conducted by a multidisciplinary team of scientists from the
University of Surrey (UK), Universidad de Extremadura (Spain), and SME
Ingulados (Spain).
Wild boar and red deer are key
hosts of bovine tuberculosis -- a chronic, infectious disease mainly caused by
Mycobacterium bovis -- in southern Europe, with the incidence of TB in these
animals particularly high in certain areas of Spain. The research could
therefore have a positive impact on animal health and -- since these species
are valuable in the hunting and meat products industries -- local economies.
The research also concludes that
vitamin D supplementation could be explored in other species such as badgers,
which are key hosts for bovine tuberculosis in the UK.
Vitamin D -- and other
nutritional factors -- are known to influence the severity of TB in humans but
its relationship with cattle and other mammals has not been studied until now.
The research takes an innovative 'One Health' approach, which explores human
and animal health in a holistic way using key learnings across both
disciplines. At the University of Surrey, expert in human nutrition Professor
Susan Lanham-New collaborated closely with veterinary scientists from the
University's School of Veterinary Medicine.
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