For capture occasions with multiple tissue samples, the animal was considered Bd-positive if at least one of the tissue samples tested positive for Bd.
If we did confirm the specific antibodies in serum samples, the animal or human was considered as having contact with the virus (in Poland or outside the country).
We acknowledge Marjan Nijhof (Veterinary Practice AnimalCare, Putten, Netherlands) for sampling the animals at the dairy farm.
This was done by sampling the animals from areas that are isolated from the artificial insemination circuit.
Of these ESTs, 73% are derived from animals sampled from Onagawa, Miyagi, Japan, where we sampled the animals for generating the JP dataset.
After sampling, the animals were placed into individual wells of eight-well plastic boxes containing fresh ASW and grown to maturity under standard conditions.
Therefore, we expected that in winter and spring samples, when only OW can be sampled, the animals should be shyer than in summer and autumn, when both OW and YY animals can be sampled.
The spleen samples of the animals were tested by real-time PCR for Anaplasma platys, Babesia vogeli, E. canis and H. canis infection.
Samples of the animals' dung will also be analysed by researchers at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh to gain a better understanding of the animals' seasonal diet.
The researchers will collect blood samples from the animals, which will require anesthetizing them.
