ANTIBODIES AGAINST SOME VIRUSES OF DOMESTIC-ANIMALS IN SOUTHERN AFRICAN WILD ANIMALS

Twenty-four species of South African wild animals were tested for the presence of antibodies against the viruses of 16 common diseases of do mestic animals. Positive results were obtained for African horsesickne ss, equine encephalosis, equid herpes virus-1, infectious bovine rhino tracheitis, Allerton disease (Herpes mammillitis), lumpy skin disease, parainfluenza, encephalomyocarditis, bluetongue, Wesselsbron disease, bovine ephemeral fever, and Akabane disease complex. No antibodies co uld be demonstrated against the viruses of equine influenza, equine in fectious anaemia, equine viral arteritis and Rift Valley fever. The ne gative results substantiate observations that the latter diseases, wit h the exception of equine viral arteritis, are absent in South Africa. The number of animal species found positive for a specific virus, ran ged from 0-16. No antibodies were found in crocodiles and warthogs, wh ereas antibodies against Wesselsbron and bovid herpes virus-1 were pre sent in 16 species. Antibodies against viruses of horses were found al most exclusively in zebras and, although elephants reacted to African horsesickness, no neutralizing antibodies against it could be demonstr ated in their sera. Zebras were also found to be positive for Wesselsb ron and Akabane, which are usually regarded as viruses of ruminants. A ntibodies against most viruses were encountered in all vegetation zone s in South Africa but, as a rule, most viruses were more prevalent in the high-rainfall zone in KwaZulu-Natal.