Serosurvey for Selected Viral Agents in White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) in Kruger National Park, 2007

Abstract

One hundred serum samples collected from free-ranging white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) in Kruger National Park (KNP) during the 2007 capture season were selected for measurement of antibody levels to several different vector-borne viral agents. These infectious diseases were chosen to compare with an earlier serosurvey that had been conducted in KNP in rhinos during 1987-1997. Positive antibody titers were found against epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) of deer (8%), Bluetongue (BT) (1%), and Rift Valley fever (RVF) (49%). However, none of the 100 animals tested had detected antibody levels to African horse sickness (AHS). These values were in sharp contrast to those measured in the 1987-1997 survey in KNP white rhinos (AHS 60%, EHD 30%, BT 37%, RVF 0%). Vector-borne viral infection prevalence in white rhinos in the same geographical location appears to vary over time and may be important for monitoring presence of pathogens in an ecosystem.

A phytosociological analysis and description of wetland vegetation and ecological factors associated with locations of high mortality for the 2010-11 Rift Valley fever outbreak in South Africa

“…It appears that a low level of RVFV transmission occurs during inter-epidemic periods. Activity of RVFV without noticeable outbreaks or clinical cases has been reported in African wildlife [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ], cattle [ 15 ], sheep and goats [ 16 ], and in humans [ 17 , 18 ], based on serological surveys.…”

Awareness of African Horse Sickness as an Emerging Arbovirus Disease

“…Hewan karnivora liar tersebut diduga memakan zebra yang telah terinfeksi virus AHS. Anjing dapat terinfeksi secara akut setelah makan daging kuda yang terinfeksi, bahkan berakibat fatal, namun anjing tidak tampak berperan sebagai penular dan anjing bukan induk semang yang disenangi oleh Culicoides sp (Miller et al 2011;Carpenter et al 2017). Anjing Afrika dapat menunjukkan gejala klinis akut terhadap infeksi AHS seperti acute respiratory distress syndrome atau kematian mendadak, dikonfirmasi dengan uji histopatologis dan terdeteksinya antibodi terhadap virus AHS dan terdeteksi virus AHS dengan menggunakan uji qRT-PCR.…”

Epizootic haemorrhagic disease

“…It is assumed, therefore, that the epidemiological features of EHDV infection mirror those of BTV. Thus, although less well documented on a global basis, the distribution of EHDV infection likely is similar to that of BTV and includes tropical and temperate regions throughout the world between latitudes of approximately 40-50°N and 35°S (4,25,31,37,38,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52). It is assumed, but not well proven, that the specific vector species differ throughout the world.…”

“…The high seroprevalence of EHDV infection among ruminants in endemic areas indicates that most ungulates survive infection with the virus and experience only subclinical infections (2,18,28,30,37,45,46,47,48,49,50,51). In Australia, for example, where six serotypes of EHDV have been recognised, and five of these for more than 30 years (54), clinical disease attributable to EHDV infection has not been recognised.…”

“…Since the initial description of EHD in the eastern United States, EHDV infection of wild and domestic ungulates has been identified elsewhere in the Americas (including the Caribbean islands and both Central and South America), Africa, Asia (including Eastern, Central and Southeast Asia), Australia, Indian Ocean islands such as Mauritius and Reunion, and the Middle East (4,14,16,25,30,(37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46)(47)(48)(49)(50)(51)(52)(53)(54)(55). Although infection of domestic livestock is prevalent in many endemic areas, EHDV only rarely causes overt disease in livestock species and apparently only in cattle and not small ruminants (4,23).…”