Research

A broad range of scientific research is conducted by UCD CVERA on behalf of its stakeholders. Although the topics are diverse, in all cases this work is undertaken in support of national policy in animal health & welfare and public health, providing scientific information to inform policy decision-making. All scientific research assignments are carefully defined and driven by a specific research question, and the results of each project are published in international peer-reviewed journals. Most assignments are conducted in collaboration with policy colleagues. In addition, some assignments are instigated independently by UCD CVERA staff on issues of national strategic importance.

Links to peer review papers written by, or in association with, members of UCD CVERA can be accessed by selecting the relevant publication years via the dropdown Research tab. A complete list of the papers is contained in the following PDF. Please note that papers by our Colleagues in The TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Centre and The Badger Vaccine Project are also included.

Click here to open a PDF list of UCD CVERA related peer review papers

Recent peer review papers‌

Carlson, J.M., Murphy, T.B., O’Grady, L., Brock, J., Guelbenzu-Gonzalo, M.P., Graham, D.A., McGrath, G., Tratalos, J.A., de Andrade Moral, R., Mimnagh, N., Field, N.L., Mee, J.F., Barrett, D.J., Lane, E.A., McAloon, C.G., 2025.Using herd frailty estimates from survival models in a mortality-based syndromic surveillance system. Preventive Veterinary Medicine (in press). (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

Casey-Bryars, M., Tratalos, J.A., Madden, J.M., McGrath, G., 2025. Preparation for a potential outbreak of bluetongue virus in Ireland: surveillance design to estimate local prevalence after an initial case detection. Irish Veterinary Journal 78, 30. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

Chang, Y., Widgren, S., de Jong, M.C.M., Tratalos, J.A., More, S.J., Hartemink, N., 2025. Evaluating the effectiveness of badger vaccination combined with cattle test-and-removal in managing bovine tuberculosis: Insights from a two-host and multi-route transmission model. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 235, 106386. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

Farrell, M.L., McGrath, G.; Garza Cuartero, L., Barry, G., 2026. Avian Influenza in Ireland: A spatiotemporal, subtype, and host-based analysis (1983-2024). Journal of General Virology (in press). (opens in a new window)[Link]

* Gormley, E., MacHugh, D.E., Meade, K.G., 2025. Epigenetic regulation of the immune response to Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle: potential implications for diagnostic test sensitivity. Tuberculosis (Edinburgh, Scotland) 155, 102697. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

Harvey, N., McGrath, G., O'Shaughnessy, J., Tratalos, J.A., Byrne, B., Allen, A., Skuce, R., Kenny, K., Gordon, S.V., Farrell, D., 2026. Integrating whole-genome sequencing and epidemiology to characterise Mycobacterium bovis transmission in Ireland: a proof of concept. Irish Veterinary Journal 79, 3. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

Marian, R., McAloon, C.G., Kelly, E.T., McAloon, C.I., Mulligan, F.J., O’Grady, L., Beltman, M., Ryan, E.G., 2025. Herd-level prevalence of high fat-to-protein ratio and associated factors during early lactation in Irish spring-calving dairy herds. Animals 15, 3068. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

Martin, H., Manzanilla, E.G., More, S.J., Hyde, R., McAloon, C., 2025. Quantification of antimicrobial use on Irish dairy farms: A comparison of three recording methods. Journal of Dairy Science 108, 1790-1806. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

McAloon, C.I., Farrell, D., Smith, J., Gordon, S.V., Sheehan, M., Kennedy, A., Geraghty, T., Mason, C., Leggett, B., Leonard, F.C., Sweeney, T., McGrath, G., O'Shaughnessy, J., O'Rourke, J., Ridley, A., Deeney, A., More, S.J., 2025. Characterisation and comparison of Mycoplasma bovis strain types from Irish and Scottish bovine isolates in a global context. Veterinary Microbiology 300, 110339. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

Murphy, K.J., Byrne, A.W., Marples, N., O’Hagan, M.J.H., Kelly, D.J., Quinn, D., Breslin, P., Morera-Pujol, V., Khouri, R.M., Barrett, D., McGrath, G., Ciuti, S., 2025. Wildlife response to land-use change forces encounters between zoonotic disease hosts and farms in agricultural landscapes. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 386, 109561. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

Murphy, D., FitzGerald, W., McGrath, G., Swan, C., Kenny, K., 2025. A survey of Irish red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to establish the prevalence of Mycobacterium bovis. Irish Veterinary Journal 78, 9. [(opens in a new window)DOI link]

Murray, E.-J., Ryan, E., Rushton, J., Tratalos, J.A., Brock, J., Tarrant, E., Walshe, S., Graham, D.A., Barrett, D., Geraghty, T., McAloon, C., 2025. Estimating sectoral livestock biomass and stock value using data from national diseases eradication programs: a case study based on the Irish cattle herd from 2011 to 2021. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 12, 1648948. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

* O'Grady, J.F., McHugo, G.P., Ward, J.A., Hall, T.J., Faherty O'Donnell, S.L., Correia, C.N., Browne, J.A., McDonald, M., Gormley, E., Riggio, V., Prendergast, J.G.D., Clark, E.L., Pausch, H., Meade, K.G., Gormley, I.C., Gordon, S.V., MacHugh, D.E., 2025. Integrative genomics sheds light on the immunogenetics of tuberculosis in cattle. Communications Biology 8, 479. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

O’Shaughnessy, J., Harvey, N., Byrne, B., McElroy, M., Gutierrez, M., Murphy, D., Kenny, K., Cameron, H., Prendergast, D., Cupial, R., Goggin, M., Dygico, L.K., Smith, J., Tratalos, J.A., Devaney, R., Ranasinghe, P., Ardis, T., Allen, A., McGrath, G., Gordon, S.V., Farrell, D., 2026. The genomic diversity and spatial patterns of Mycobacterium bovis in Ireland revealed by whole genome sequencing. Irish Veterinary Journal 79, 6. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

Riaz, M.U., O'Grady, L., McAloon, C.G., Logan, F., Gormley, I.C., 2025. Comparison of machine learning and validation methods for high-dimensional accelerometer data to detect foot lesions in dairy cattle. PloS One 20, e0325927. (opens in a new window)[DOI link]

* The TB Diagnostics and Immunology Research Laboratory