This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-23060148
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Wounded seal found on Cornish coast had bovine TB | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A wounded seal pup that washed up on a Cornish beach was put down after contracting bovine TB, vets say. | |
| The government said the "unusual" incident demonstrated that bovine TB could spread between species. | The government said the "unusual" incident demonstrated that bovine TB could spread between species. |
| Vet Andy Biggs said it may have been from a badger bite after a badger possibly came into contact with the pup after being attracted by the placenta. | |
| Mr Biggs said: "It's quite worrying to me. That pup was so severely affected and untreatable that it was destroyed." | Mr Biggs said: "It's quite worrying to me. That pup was so severely affected and untreatable that it was destroyed." |
| "What's essentially an aquatic mammal, who spends very little time on our shore, goes away with a free present of bovine TB," he added. | "What's essentially an aquatic mammal, who spends very little time on our shore, goes away with a free present of bovine TB," he added. |
| 'Terrible bite' | 'Terrible bite' |
| After the wounded animal was discovered, it was taken to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek but had to be put down after it failed to recover. | After the wounded animal was discovered, it was taken to the Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek but had to be put down after it failed to recover. |
| Tests by government vets at the Polwhele Veterinary Laboratory near Truro found it was suffering from bovine TB. | Tests by government vets at the Polwhele Veterinary Laboratory near Truro found it was suffering from bovine TB. |
| The vets said they believed it was the first time a seal had been diagnosed with the disease. | The vets said they believed it was the first time a seal had been diagnosed with the disease. |
| Many other warm-blooded animals are susceptible to catching bovine TB, such as pigs, sheep, goats, cats and dogs, the government said. | Many other warm-blooded animals are susceptible to catching bovine TB, such as pigs, sheep, goats, cats and dogs, the government 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 was announced for two test areas earlier in the year. Under the proposals, about 5,000 badgers will be culled in two pilot zones in the South West. | A badger cull was announced for two test areas earlier in the year. Under the proposals, about 5,000 badgers will be culled in two pilot zones in the South West. |
| The government said the action was needed to help tackle bovine TB, a disease of cattle that has been steadily rising since the 1980s. | The government said the action was needed to help tackle bovine TB, a disease of cattle that has been steadily rising since the 1980s. |
| However, wildlife groups said killing badgers would have no impact. | However, wildlife groups said killing badgers would have no impact. |