Detection of live M. bovis BCG in tissues and IFN-γ responses in European badgers (Meles meles) vaccinated by oropharyngeal instillation or directly in the ileum

Table 1 Summary of vaccination protocols and tests (bacteriology, histology and immunology)

		Groups
		Group A	Group B	Group C	Group D
Number of animals		6	6	4	4
Study		1		2
Vaccine delivery		Intellicap capsule	Oropharyngeal	Oropharyngeal	Oropharyngeal
Lipid added		No		HPO	Cocoa Butter
Mucosal target		Intestine	Oral	Oral	Oral
Volume of vaccine	Ileum	300 μl
	Tonsils		100 μl	200 μl	200 μl
	Sub-lingual		100 μl
Vaccine dose (CFU)		5.67 × 10⁷		6.73 × 10⁷
Culture sample		Section	Section	Complete	Complete
Inoculum volume per 7H11 agar plate		400 μl		100 μl
Volume of saline added per sample		3, 5 or 10 ml saline to 0–0.5 g, 0.5–1 g and > 1 g tissues, respectively		10 ml saline
RT-PCR primers		IS6110, IS1081, IS1561’, hsp65, RD1 flanking region		IS6110, IS1081, IS1561’, RV1510
Tissues pooled		None		Left and right tonsils (pool 1), retro-pharyngeal (pool 2) and mandibular (pool 3) lymph nodes
Histology		Yes		No
Tracheal section wash		Yes		No
Environmental faecal sample		Yes		No
IGRA		Yes		Yes
ELISPOT		Yes		No

ISSN: 1746-6148