The ecology of the European badger (Meles meles) in Ireland: a review

peer-reviewedThe badger is an ecologically and economically important species. Detailed knowledge of aspects of the ecology of this animal in Ireland has only emerged through research over recent decades. Here, we review what is known about the species' Irish populations and compare these findings with populations in Britain and Europe. Like populations elsewhere, setts are preferentially constructed on south or southeast facing sloping ground in well-drained soil types. Unlike in Britain, Irish badger main setts are less complex and most commonly found in hedgerows. Badgers utilise many habitat types, but greater badger densities have been associated with landscapes with high proportions of pasture and broadleaf woodlands. Badgers in Ireland tend to have seasonally varied diets, with less dependence on earthworms than some other populations in northwest Europe. Recent research suggests that females exhibit later onset and timing of reproductive events, smaller litter sizes and lower loss of blastocysts than populations studied in Britain. Adult social groups in Ireland tend to be smaller than in Britain, though significantly larger than social groups from continental Europe. Although progress has been made in estimating the distribution and density of badger populations, national population estimates have varied widely in the Republic of Ireland. Future research should concentrate on filling gaps in our knowledge, including population models and predictive spatial modelling that will contribute to vaccine delivery, management and conservation strategies.Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and FoodTeagasc Walsh Fellowship Programm

Psoriatic arthritis: the role of self-reported non-adherence, non-trough drug levels, immunogenicity and conventional synthetic DMARD co-therapy in adalimumab and etanercept response

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between self-reported non-adherence, non-trough drug levels, immunogenicity and conventional synthetic DMARD (csDMARD) co-therapy in TNF inhibitor (TNF-i) drug response in PsA. Methods Serum samples and adherence questionnaires were collected at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months for PsA patients prescribed TNF-i. Non-trough adalimumab (ADL) and etanercept (ETN) drug levels were measured at 3 and 6 months using commercially available ELISAs. Clinical response was assessed using PsA response criteria (PsARC) and change in 28-joint DAS (ΔDAS28) between baseline and 3, 6 and 12 months. Results In 244 PsA patients (52.5% ADL and 47.5% ETN), self-reported non-adherence was associated with PsARC non-response over 12 months using generalized estimating equation (GEE) modelling (P = 0.037). However, there was no significant difference between non-trough ADL or ETN drug levels based on self-reported non-adherence. Higher ETN levels at 3 months were associated with PsARC response at 3 (P = 0.015), 6 (P = 0.037) and 12 months (P = 0.015) and over 12 months using GEE modelling (P = 0.026). Increased ADL drug levels at 3 months were associated with greater ΔDAS28 at 3 months (P = 0.019). ADL anti-drug antibody-positive status was significantly associated with lower 3- and 6-month ADL levels (P < 0.001) and ΔDAS28 and PsARC response at 3, 6 and 12 months. Meanwhile, MTX co-therapy was associated with a reduction in immunogenicity at 3 and 6 months (P = 0.008 and P = 0.024). Conclusion Although both were associated with reduced response, the objectively measured non-trough drug levels showed more significant associations with drug response than self-reported non-adherence measures