THE PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODY TO THE VIRUSES OF BOVINE VIRUS DIARRHEA, BOVINE HERPES-VIRUS 1, RIFT-VALLEY FEVER, EPHEMERAL FEVER AND BLUETONGUE AND TO LEPTOSPIRA SP IN FREE-RANGING WILDLIFE IN ZIMBABWE

The prevalence of antibody to the viruses of bovine virus diarrhoea (B VD), bovine herpes virus type1 (BHV1), rift valley fever (RVF), bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) and bluetongue (BT) and to Leptospira sp. was d etermined in wildlife populations in Zimbabwe. Evidence of infection w ith BVD virus was found in 14 of the 16 species examined but was great est in eland Taurotragus oryx, nyala Tragelaphus angasi and bushbuck T ragelaphus scriptus. Persistent infection with BVD virus was found in 1 of 303 antibody-free eland but not in the smaller sample of 102 anti body-free buffalo Syncerus caffer. Antibody to BHV1 was widespread, be ing found in 10 of 16 species with the highest prevalence being in buf falo and eland. Antibody to RVF was most prevalent in black rhino Dice ros bicornis and white rhino Ceratotherium simum, buffalo and waterbuc k Kobus ellipsiprymnus. Both BEF and BT were widespread in all the spe cies examined. Evidence of infection with Leptospira sp. was found in 7 species. Infections were due to up to 3 of 8 different serovars.