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sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Serosurvey of selected infectious agents in free-ranging and captive lions (Panthera leo) in Zimbabwe

Auteur : Bay, Gert

Etablissement de soutenance : University of Zurich

Grade : Doktorwürde der Vetsuisse-Fakultät Universität Zürich 2007

Résumé
Thus, the aims of this study were to investigate the prevalences and interrelationships of antibodies to several infectious agents in serum samples from lions in Zimbabwe and to compare these results to those reported from other regions in Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa, Namibia). Serum samples (n = 72) collected between 1990 and 2003 from free-ranging and captive lions were analyzed regarding to antibodies to feline herpesvirus (FHV), calicivirus (FCV), parvovirus (FPV), coronavirus (FCoV), immunodeficiency virus (FIV), leukaemia virus (FeLV), canine distemper virus (CDV), Toxoplasma gondii, Ehrlichia canis, and Anaplasma phagocytophilum. Among the free-ranging lions (n = 43) antibodies to FHV and to T. gondii were highly prevalent (FHV, 81% ; T. gondii, 86%). Based on the crossreactivity with FIV in Western blots, it was concluded that a lion lentivirus is endemic in free-ranging lions in Zimbabwe as 52% of the samples were considered positive. Exposure to FPV could be detected in 23% of the samples. We found low prevalences of antibodies to FCoV (7%), A. phagocytophilum (14%), and CDV (7%) and no evidence for exposure to E. canis, FCV and FeLV. Prevalences vary in different regions of southern and eastern Africa, thus any translocation of animals must be considered carefully.

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