Equine Herpesvirus Type 9 in Giraffe with Encephalitis
Herpesviruses have been isolated from many mammals. Herpesvirus infection in natural hosts is often mild and is usually followed by a latent infection; however, cross-species herpesvirus infections cause severe and fatal diseases. These findings may explain why the giraffe had lesions while the zebras in the same enclosure did not. Outcome: The fact the zebras […]
Giraffe Skin Disease (GSD): Epidemiology of an Emerging Disease
Diseases can greatly impact wildlife populations by causing temporary or permanent decreases in abundance. Pathogens also can interact with other factors such as habitat loss, climate change, and overexploitation to cause local extinctions. The iconic Maasai giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi) is the national animal of the United Republic of Tanzania. The range of giraffe once […]
Serologic Survey of Selected Viral, Bacterial, and Protozoal Agents in Captive and Free-Ranging Ungulates from Central Kenya
Serologic evidence of exposure to various disease agents in free‐ranging and captive ungulates at a private game ranch in Kenya is presented, and seroprevalence values inside a fenced‐in area are compared with those found on the adjacent open savanna. Zebras outside the fence had a higher prevalence of equine rhinovirus‐1 than zebras inside (Fisher’s exact […]
Linking social and pathogen transmission networks using microbial genetics in giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis)
Although network analysis has drawn considerable attention as a promising tool for disease ecology, empirical research has been hindered by limitations in detecting the occurrence of pathogen transmission (who transmitted to whom) within social networks. Using a novel approach, we utilize the genetics of a diverse microbe, Escherichia coli, to infer where direct or indirect […]