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The Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research1997; 64(2); 95-110;

Antibodies against some viruses of domestic animals in southern African wild animals.

Abstract: Twenty-four species of South African wild animals were tested for the presence of antibodies against the viruses of 16 common diseases of domestic animals. Positive results were obtained for African horsesickness, equine encephalosis, equid herpes virus-1, infectious bovine rhinotracheitis, Allerton disease (Herpes mammillitis), lumpy skin disease, parainfluenza, encephalomyocarditis, bluetongue, Wesselsbron disease, bovine ephemeral fever, and Akabane disease complex. No antibodies could be demonstrated against the viruses of equine influenza, equine infectious anaemia, equine viral arteritis and Rift Valley fever. The negative results substantiate observations that the latter diseases, with the exception of equine viral arteritis, are absent in South Africa. The number of animal species found positive for a specific virus, ranged from 0-16. No antibodies were found in crocodiles and warthogs, whereas antibodies against Wesselsbron and bovid herpes virus-1 were present in 16 species. Antibodies against viruses of horses were found almost exclusively in zebras and, although elephants reacted to African horsesickness, no neutralizing antibodies against it could be demonstrated in their sera. Zebras were also found to be positive for Wesselsbron and Akabane, which are usually regarded as viruses of ruminants. Antibodies against most viruses were encountered in all vegetation zones in South Africa but, as a rule, most viruses were more prevalent in the high-rainfall zone in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Publication Date: 1997-06-01 PubMed ID: 9352558
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The researchers tested for antibodies against 16 common domestic animal diseases in 24 species of South African wild animals. They found positive results for 12 diseases but none for equine influenza, equine infectious anaemia, equine viral arteritis and Rift Valley fever, which are generally absent in South Africa. Their results varied by animal species and geographic region.

Objective of the study

  • The study aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies against diseases common in domestic animals within 24 species of South African wild animals. This was done to understand how diseases pass between domestic and wild animals and monitor the potential for outbreaks in local wildlife populations.

Antibody Testing

  • The researchers tested for antibodies against 16 common animal diseases. The presence of antibodies indicates past exposure to the disease. They found evidence of antibodies for 12 out of 16 diseases tested.
  • The remaining 4 diseases, namely equine influenza, equine infectious anaemia, equine viral arteritis, and Rift Valley fever did not show the presence of any antibodies.
  • This suggested these four diseases are absent in the regional habitat, supporting previous observational data that these diseases are not prevalent in South Africa.

Variability Across Species

  • There was variation in the response to antibodies across different species, ranging from zero to 16 species being found positive for a specific virus.
  • Particularly, crocodiles and warthogs were negative for all tested antibodies.
  • On the contrary, antibodies against Wesselsbron and bovid herpes virus-1 were present in 16 animal species.
  • Antibodies for horse-specific viruses were found almost exclusively in zebras. However, in the case of African horsesickness, even though elephants showed signs of an immune response, no neutralizing antibodies could be found in their sera.
  • Zebras also showed antibodies for Wesselsbron and Akabane diseases, typically known to affect ruminants.

Geographical Variation

  • The antibodies were found across all South African vegetation zones.
  • However, a notable large proportion of viruses were more prevalent in the high-rainfall zone of KwaZulu-Natal. This indicates that the biodiversity of the region or specific environmental conditions could be more conducive to the transmission of disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Barnard BJ. (1997). Antibodies against some viruses of domestic animals in southern African wild animals. Onderstepoort J Vet Res, 64(2), 95-110.

Publication

The Onderstepoort journal of veterinary research
ISSN: 0030-2465
NlmUniqueID: 0401107
Country: South Africa
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 2
Pages: 95-110

Researcher Affiliations

Barnard, B J
  • Virology Section, Onderstepoort Veterinary Institute, South Africa.

MeSH Terms

  • Animal Diseases / epidemiology
  • Animal Diseases / immunology
  • Animals
  • Animals, Domestic / immunology
  • Animals, Wild / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood
  • Prevalence
  • Rain
  • South Africa / epidemiology
  • Virus Diseases / epidemiology
  • Virus Diseases / immunology
  • Virus Diseases / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 27 times.
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