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Gormley, Eamonn
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Gormley, Eamonn
Official Name
Gormley, Eamonn
Research Output
Now showing 1 - 10 of 14
- PublicationVaccination of badgers with M. bovis BCG: a preliminary study to investigate blood lymphocyte responses associated with protective immunity(University College Dublin. Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, 1999-09)
; ; ; 86 - PublicationVaccination of badgers against tuberculosis: the optimal dose of Mycobacterium bovis required for challenge(University College Dublin. Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, 2003-12)
; ; ; ; ; ; 50 - PublicationTuberculosis in cattle and its control: limitations to the use of the interferon-gamma assay in attested herds(University College Dublin. Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, 2003-12)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; 107 - PublicationNew approaches to the diagnosis and control of tuberculosis in badgers(University College Dublin. Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, 2002-06)
; ; ; 61 - PublicationEvaluation of immunological tests for detection of tuberculosis in badgers(University College Dublin. Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, 2000-10)
; ; ; 58 - PublicationThe performance of the interferon gamma assay when used as a diagnostic or quality assurance test in Mycobacterium bovis infected herds(Elsevier, 2017-05-01)
; ; ; ; ; There are two different contexts in the Irish bTB eradication programme in which the interferon-gamma assay (IFN-γ) is applied. Firstly, the IFN-γ assay is applied routinely to high risk cohorts in herds with four or more reactors to the SICTT. The IFN-γ test is then carried out on blood samples submitted to the laboratory within 8 h of collection (diagnostic testing). Secondly, the use of the IFN-γ assay has recently been extended to test SICTT reactors as part of a general quality assurance (QA) scheme to monitor the performance of the SICTT. Blood samples from reactors are tested one day after blood collection (QA testing). In this study, we analysed the relative performance of the SICTT and IFN-γ when used in parallel as an 8 h diagnostic test and as a 24 h QA test on SICTT reactors. A total of 17,725 IFN-γ tests were included in the analysis (11,658 diagnostic tests and 6067 QA tests). Of the samples submitted for diagnostic testing, the proportion positive to IFN-γ decreased with the severity of interpretation of the SICTT result. Of the standard reactors that were tested with IFN-γ in the QA programme, 92.2% were positive to the IFN-γ test. Among animals that were SICTT −ve/IFN-γ +ve, 18.9% were positive at post-mortem compared to 11.8% of those that were SICTT +ve (standard reactor)/IFN-γ −ve. These results highlight the risk associated with retaining SICTT −ve/IFN-γ +ve animals, and suggest that prompt removal of these animals is necessary to reduce the potential for future transmission.299Scopus© Citations 19 - PublicationCurrent Research at the Badger Vaccine Research Laboratory(University College Dublin. Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis, 2000-10)
; ; ; 69 - PublicationPopulation estimation and trappability of the European badger (Meles meles): implications for tuberculosis management(Public Library of Science, 2012-12-05)
; ; ; ; ; ; Estimates of population size and trappability inform vaccine efficacy modelling and are required for adaptive management during prolonged wildlife vaccination campaigns. We present an analysis of mark-recapture data from a badger vaccine (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) study in Ireland. This study is the largest scale (755 km²) mark-recapture study ever undertaken with this species. The study area was divided into three approximately equal-sized zones, each with similar survey and capture effort. A mean badger population size of 671 (SD: 76) was estimated using a closed-subpopulation model (CSpM) based on data from capturing sessions of the entire area and was consistent with a separate multiplicative model. Minimum number alive estimates calculated from the same data were on average 49-51% smaller than the CSpM estimates, but these are considered severely negatively biased when trappability is low. Population densities derived from the CSpM estimates were 0.82-1.06 badgers kmˉ², and broadly consistent with previous reports for an adjacent area. Mean trappability was estimated to be 34-35% per session across the population. By the fifth capture session, 79% of the adult badgers caught had been marked previously. Multivariable modelling suggested significant differences in badger trappability depending on zone, season and age-class. There were more putatively trap-wary badgers identified in the population than trap-happy badgers, but wariness was not related to individual's sex, zone or season of capture. Live-trapping efficacy can vary significantly amongst sites, seasons, age, or personality, hence monitoring of trappability is recommended as part of an adaptive management regime during large-scale wildlife vaccination programs to counter biases and to improve efficiencies.279Scopus© Citations 36 - PublicationThe role of badgers in the epidemiology of Mycobacterium bovis infection (tuberculosis) in cattle in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland: current perspectives on control strategies(Dove Medical Press, 2014-12-19)
; ; ; Bovine tuberculosis (TB) caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis, is a persistent problem in cattle herds in Ireland and the United Kingdom, resulting in hardship for affected farmers and substantial ongoing national exchequer expenditure. There is irrefutable scientific evidence that badgers are a reservoir of M. bovis infection and are implicated in the transmission of infection to cattle. A range of options for the control of TB in badgers is currently available or under development including culling of badgers, vaccination of badgers and cattle, and improved biosecurity to limit contact between the two species. It is unlikely that the eradication of TB from cattle will be achieved without the reservoir of M. bovis infection in badgers being controlled. The chances of success will, however, improve with greater knowledge of the disease in both species and an understanding of the epidemiological drivers of the transmission of infection between badgers and cattle.310 - PublicationNumbers of close contacts of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 and their association with government intervention strategies(Springer, 2021-12-09)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; Background: Contact tracing is conducted with the primary purpose of interrupting transmission from individuals who are likely to be infectious to others. Secondary analyses of data on the numbers of close contacts of confirmed cases could also: provide an early signal of increases in contact patterns that might precede larger than expected case numbers; evaluate the impact of government interventions on the number of contacts of confirmed cases; or provide data information on contact rates between age cohorts for the purpose of epidemiological modelling. We analysed data from 140,204 close contacts of 39,861 cases in Ireland from 1st May to 1st December 2020. Results: Negative binomial regression models highlighted greater numbers of contacts within specific population demographics, after correcting for temporal associations. Separate segmented regression models of the number of cases over time and the average number of contacts per case indicated that a breakpoint indicating a rapid decrease in the number of contacts per case in October 2020 preceded a breakpoint indicating a reduction in the number of cases by 11 days. Conclusions: We found that the number of contacts per infected case was overdispersed, the mean varied considerable over time and was temporally associated with government interventions. Analysis of the reported number of contacts per individual in contact tracing data may be a useful early indicator of changes in behaviour in response to, or indeed despite, government restrictions. This study provides useful information for triangulating assumptions regarding the contact mixing rates between different age cohorts for epidemiological modelling.131Scopus© Citations 2