RABIES AND AFRICAN WILD DOGS IN KENYA

Three packs of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) ranging to the north of the Masai Mara National Reserve in southwestern Kenya were monitore d from 1988 to 1990. During a six week period (August 2-September 14, 1989), 21 of 23 members of one of these packs died. Histological exami nation of two brain samples revealed eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inc lusions (Negri bodies), supporting a diagnosis of rabies viral encepha litis. An additional brain sample tested positive for rabies with a fl uorescent antibody test. Nucleotide sequence of the rabies viral N and G genes from isolates of four African wild dogs (including an individ ual from Tanzania) indicated that infection was with a viral variant c ommon among domestic dogs in Kenya and Tanzania. A hypothesis linking African wild dog rabies deaths to researcher handling is evaluated and considered implausible.