Seven camels in a herd of approximately 40 camels belonging to nomadic
people in Niger died over a short period. No diagnostic samples were
obtained. Brain was obtained from the eighth camel in the group, which
died after a clinical illness manifested by unusual behaviour, aggres
sion, pica, ptyalism and terminal paralysis. Rabies virus was demonstr
ated in the brain of this camel by immunofluorescent staining. Before
the deaths of the camels a feral dog had joined the nomadic encampment
and died there, and a domestic dog belonging to the group had then di
ed after displaying aggressive behaviour. It is postulated that canine
rabies had been transmitted to the camels in the herd.