Foot-and-mouth disease and the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer). 1. Carriers as a source of infection for cattle.
Ten pregnant buffalo cows, six of which were subsequently shown to be carriers of SAT 1, 2 and 3 viruses, were captured in the Kruger National Park (KNP) and allowed to calve in captivity. The buffalo cows and calves were separated by a fence from 6 FMD susceptible cattle but the buffalo and cattle were obliged to use common drinking troughs and hay racks. Over a period of 15 months, during which the buffalo calves lost their maternally-derived immunity, neither the buffalo calves nor the susceptible cattle became infected with FMD virus. By the end of the observation period, however, only 1 buffalo cow still had detectable virus in its oesophageal/pharyngeal specimens.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005537:Aphthovirus / Q000276:immunology; D002020:Buffaloes; D002353:Carrier State / Q000662:veterinary*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases; D005260:Female; D005536:Foot-and-Mouth Disease / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013019:South Africa
D000914:Antibodies, Viral