I am indeed also carrying out these tests on badgers. However due to the fact that they can carry bovine tuberculosis and leptospirosis I am not asking the general public to collect them for me. Apart from the fact I don't want anyone to get sick because of my research if anyone did I would be held responsible. Therefore I will get samples from the Irish central veterinary research laboratories, which routinely test badgers and therefore can only get samples that are clear of these other diseases.
I am also looking at stoats, feral ferrets, otters and pine martens that are donated from va