**3.1 Characterization of published articles**

Investigation of bTB epidemiology in wild boar and red deer (most often studied hosts) are mostly cross-sectional (11/14), the rest being surveys (Tables 1-2). Most studies opt for targeted surveillance on hunted (6/14) or culled (3/14) animals, the rest relying on scanning surveillance in routine meat inspection schemes for detection of macroscopic lesions-like lesions (Table 1-2). The mean number of animals studied in targeted-design studies is 278 for wild boar (n=9, range 96-1.060) and 401 for red deer (n=6, range 95-1.368). Thirteen out of fourteen studies use bacteriological culture as the diagnostic test. Nevertheless most of them (9/14) also include a previous screening test (usually gross pathology or routine meat inspection schemes), followed by bacteriological culture when macroscopic lesions were observed (Table 1-2).

As regards studies on other host species (ungulates and carnivores), 5/14 are case reports, 6/14 surveys while 3/14 are cross sectional studies (Table 3). Five out of twelve studies rely on passive surveillance of haphazardly found carcasses and 3/12 on targeted surveillance of purposefully trapped animals. Most of these studies deal with carnivore species. As expected regarding novel host species, 3/12 studies are case reports (Table 3). Mean number of animals studied in survey studies is 105 for fallow deer (n=4, range 89- 134), 63 for badger (n=3, range 2-157) and 15 for Iberian lynx (n=5, range 1-39). Most other species (Table 5) are dealt in single studies, usually as case reports. Serologic tests were used in 3/9 studies investigating other host species, such as Barbary sheep and carnivores (Table 3).
