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Wounded seal on coast had TB from badger bite, vet says Wounded seal on coast had TB from badger bite, vet says
(35 minutes later)
A wounded seal pup that washed up on a Cornish beach has been put down after being declared the first ever to catch bovine TB.A wounded seal pup that washed up on a Cornish beach has been put down after being declared the first ever to catch bovine TB.
Vet Andy Biggs treated the seal and believes it was bitten by a badger.Vet Andy Biggs treated the seal and believes it was bitten by a badger.
Mr Biggs suggested the badger could have come into contact with the pup at birth after being attracted by the placenta.Mr Biggs suggested the badger could have come into contact with the pup at birth after being attracted by the placenta.
The government said the "unusual" incident demonstrates that Bovine TB could spread between species.The government said the "unusual" incident demonstrates that Bovine TB could spread between species.
Mr Biggs said: "Its quite worrying to me. What's essentially an aquatic mammal who spends very little time on our shore, goes away with a free present of Bovine TB.Mr Biggs said: "Its quite worrying to me. What's essentially an aquatic mammal who spends very little time on our shore, goes away with a free present of Bovine TB.
"That pup was so severely affected and untreatable that it was destroyed.""That pup was so severely affected and untreatable that it was destroyed."
'Terrible bite''Terrible bite'
Many other warm blooded animals are susceptible to catching bovine TB, such as pigs, sheep, goats, cats and dogs, the government has said.Many other warm blooded animals are susceptible to catching bovine TB, such as pigs, sheep, goats, cats and dogs, the government has said.
Nigel Gibbons, the government's chief veterinary officer, said: "It seems quite unusual. We know badgers are territorial. A bite wound is quite often the way badgers are infected, or other animals infected.Nigel Gibbons, the government's chief veterinary officer, said: "It seems quite unusual. We know badgers are territorial. A bite wound is quite often the way badgers are infected, or other animals infected.
"It illustrates the possibility that bovine TB can spread from one species to another.""It illustrates the possibility that bovine TB can spread from one species to another."
About 10,000 cattle were slaughtered between January and March because they reacted to the TB test, or were in direct contact with the disease.About 10,000 cattle were slaughtered between January and March because they reacted to the TB test, or were in direct contact with the disease.
Yvonne Squire, from Torrington in Devon, had a kitten who caught Bovine TB.Yvonne Squire, from Torrington in Devon, had a kitten who caught Bovine TB.
She said: "He was attacked by a feral cat. I took him to the vet with a terrible bite. The kitten got worse. I took him back to the vet. They did all these tests.She said: "He was attacked by a feral cat. I took him to the vet with a terrible bite. The kitten got worse. I took him back to the vet. They did all these tests.
"They phoned me up to say my little Alfie had TB, and he had to be put down. He said there was a dog there who also had it.""They phoned me up to say my little Alfie had TB, and he had to be put down. He said there was a dog there who also had it."
A badger cull is under way in two test areas. Under the proposals, about 5,000 badgers will be culled in two pilot zones in the South West.
The government says the action is needed to help tackle bovine TB, a disease of cattle that has been steadily rising since the 1980s.
However, wildlife groups say killing badgers will have no impact.