Evil microbe nearly accounts for hound (6)

I believe the answer is:

badger

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'for hound' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'evil microbe nearly' is the wordplay.
'evil' becomes 'bad' (associated in meaning).
'microbe' becomes 'germ' (synonyms).
'nearly' means to remove the last letter.
'germ' with its last letter taken off is 'ger'.
'bad'+'ger'='BADGER'

'accounts' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. It may be part of another bit of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for badger that I've seen before include "Plague - nocturnal animal" , "Black and white burrower" , "Carnivore - pester" , "Harass, pester" , "Pester -- nocturnal mammal" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.

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