1. A REPORT OF AFRICAN HORSE SICKNESS VIRUS IN A CAPTIVE ZEBRA
Lazarus, D. D1*., Atuman, Y. J.2, Adamu, S. S1., Mshelia, W. P.,3 Fasina, F. O.1
1
Viral Research Division, National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom.
2
National Veterinary Research Institute, Outstations Laboratory, Bauchi.
3
Department of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery, ABU Zaria.
Abstract
African horse sickness virus (AHSV) is one transboundary animal disease that has posed threat
to the equine industry in Nigeria. Outbreaks have occurred in the country since the case was first
reported in the 1970s, and this has occurred mostly in exotic horses imported for polo
tournaments. So far, serotypes 9 and 2 have been reported in the country.
This is the first report of African horse sickness diagnosis in zebra in Nigeria. The zebra
reportedly died after showing signs of fever and inappetance. Tissue samples collected at post
mortem examination, tested positive for African horse sickness by reverse-transcription
polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). No virus was isolated in tissue culture.
African horse sickness outbreaks that have occurred in Nigeria has always been recorded in
horses, as donkeys, mules and zebras are markedly resistant with no clinical signs, except fever
and extended viraemia. This paper reports a case of African horse sickness in a captive zebra that
died in a game reserve in Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
Corresponding Author: lazdav2003@yahoo.co.uk
Keywords: African horse sickness virus, transboundary, Equine, Nigeria, Exotic, Serotype,
Zebra, Fever, Inappetance, Post mortem, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction,
Captive, Viraemia, Game reserve.