Landcare Research scientists say a trial they have just completed using "sentinel" pigs to detect bovine tuberculosis in feral possums offers a simple biological early warning system.
Landcare's Animal Health Board-funded trial shows that pigs released into native bush between possum control programmes can quickly and efficiently indicate the extent to which remaining possums are infected with TB.
Animal ecologist Graham Nugent said possums usually died naturally within six months of showing clinical signs of tuberculosis, and wild pigs ate the carcasses.
It is expensive and difficult to survey the possums directly, so scientists are considering radio-tracking herds of sentinel pigs which will eat the carcasses of any sick possums.
Wild pigs tracked over the past eight months, killed and tested for TB, had all developed the disease, despite the relatively short time they were in the infected area.
Mr Nugent said this showed pigs could be useful in identifying TB trouble-spots.
- NZPA
Pigs give early warning of possum TB: scientists
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