title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Disney's Animal Programs, Department of Veterinary Services, P.O. Box 10,000, Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-1000, USA. mmiller@palmbeachzoo.org
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buss
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joubert
authors.forename: Nomkhosi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maseko
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hofmeyr
authors.forename: Truuske
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gerdes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D010527:Perissodactyla / Q000097:blood*; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral