CANINE-DISTEMPER VIRUS-INFECTION IN SERENGETI SPOTTED HYAENAS

Clinical signs suggestive of canine distemper virus (CDV) infection we re observed among a group of spotted hyaenas (Crocuta crocuta) in the Serengeti, Tanzania. Virus antigen was detected immunohistologically i n a brain sample from a diseased cub. The presence of virus RNA could be demonstrated in this brain as well as in intestine and lymph node o f the animal by RT-PCR. Sequence comparison of brain-derived amplicons showed that the virus was related to recent CDV field isolates. The c losest homology (> 99%) was to a recently described CDV which caused h igh mortality in sympatric lions.