| Summary: | Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is an important zoonosis, with considerable health, economic and conservation impacts across Europe. The disease shows considerable heterogeneity on both a national and international scale, with a more severe problem occurring in the Western and Southern European countries. This pattern of disease is considered to be due primarily to the role played by bTB-infected wildlife in the dynamics ofthe disease. In the first part of this thesis, a spatial stochastic simulation model is used to examine the dynamics and control of bTB infection in one of the major wildlife host species, the badger (Meles meles).The results indicate that infection can persist at the badger group sizes frequently found within the British Isles. Moreover, the presence of external sources of infection alters the disease dynamics by lowering the threshold of infection. Vaccination of badgers could be an effective method of bTB control. However, it would need to be deployed over a long period of time and the presence of external sources of infection may seriously compromise its effectiveness. In the second part of the thesis, a statistical model is developed to quantify existing and potential hazards of bTB posed by combined livestock-wildlife host communities across Europe. Current hazards are dominated by the contribution of cattle (Bas taurus). However, wildlife species, especially roe deer (Caprealus eaprealus) and wild boar (Sus serafa), have the potential to assume a greater role in disease dynamics in the future. The results of the thesis demonstrate the potential significance of multiple host communities in bTB dynamics at a range of scales. A better understanding of the dynamics of bTB in mixed livestock-wildlife communities with multiple hosts is essential to underpin the development of more effective bTB control strategies across Europe.
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