Today was made even more bizarre with the announcement of a knighthood for a superannuated guitar player with a degree in astro physics. Part of the reason given was 'services to music' - fair enough. But the other reason was his wildlife escapades, and the creation of what was euphemistically described as 'rural harmony'.
The musician is guitar player Dr. Brian May, who hopes that his newly conferred knighthood will give his causes 'more clout'.
Maybe a few more people will listen to me than would otherwise, you know, if it’s Sir Brian on the phone,” said May, who spoke to The Associated Press via Zoom from his house in Windlesham, Surrey.
The report explains:
May has campaigned against badger culling and fox hunting through an animal welfare group he founded in 2010 — named Save Me after the 1980 Queen song.
We have explored Dr. May's involvement with all things rural, since 2012 when that stunning piece of artwork appeared behind him, at a launch of his charity 'Save Me'. But as we said at the time, exactly what is this now ennobled musician (or star gazer) trying to 'save' badgers from?
Not tuberculosis, as they are an extremely successful host of this Grade 3 zoonosis. Until the disease overwhelms them in a painful and excruciating death. By which time, the bacteria they carry will have been available to any mammal crossing their paths. Territorial scrapping and bite wounding being a common way of introducing micobacterium bovis into the body. As below.
We believe Dr. May is interested in vaccinating badgers. But that route, despite the hype, was mainly to find out if vaccinating these creatures harmed them. Not the efficacy of the procedure and the effect on the shedding of bacteria into the wider environment. For that we had to go to Ireland, where we discovered a domestic cat had been pts after several years of ongoing antibiotics for shoulder and movement problems.
But the stand out piece from those reports was the strain of zTB that had infected the cat and the length of time it was able to be traced after badgers had been vaccinated.
The strain was unique. Danish strain 1331 used only in badger vaccines. And after vaccination:
Numerous acid-fast bacilli have been found within macrophages at the site of BCG vaccination (subcutaneous route) 371 days after administration in badgers, suggesting the possibility of persistence of BCG within a low percentage of this vaccinated population (Lesellier et al. 2006)."
Finally, we think another much loved country dweller may be less than happy with Dr. May's campaigning. Hedgehog numbers are in steep decline, while badger numbers are 'booming' as described in the piece on the link.
But as we have found out, to the great and the good, (and Sir Brian) some animals are more equal than others. A very Happy New Year.
