Accession Number:

AD0747309

Title:

Ecological Relationships between Arboviruses, Ectoparasites, and Vertebrates in Ethiopia

Descriptive Note:

Annual rept. no. 1, 1 Sep 1971-31 Aug 1972

Corporate Author:

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY WASHINGTON DC DEPT OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY

Personal Author(s):

• Watson, George A.
• Ash, John S.

Report Date:

1972-08-31

Pagination or Media Count:

14.0

Abstract:

The primary aim of the project is to identify the natural vertebrate hosts of arboviruses infecting man in Ethiopia, through the collection and identification of animal species inhabiting areas where the viruses are endemic, and the determination of the immunological status of the material. The relative ecological importance of infected vertebrates is being assessed. Five study areas have been established from which approximately 33,500 animals have been captured. Over 9,000 sera have been tested against three Group B arbovirus hemagglutinating antigens. A detailed analysis of the bird sera shows that there is no major difference in over-all antibody rates between the five areas and that species of birds in eight families provide results which are to be pursued in greater detail adequate samples are available from six species in eight families which show that they are not reservoir or amplifying hosts of Group B arboviruses. Among other groups there is a high incidence of Group B antibody in a monkey, a baboon, two fruit bats and a lizard. Rodents and amphibia are of little or not importance.

Descriptors:

• *ECOLOGY
• *ARBOVIRUSES
• AMPHIBIANS
• MAMMALS
• VERTEBRATES
• PRIMATES
• PARASITES
• BIRDS
• TICKS
• DISEASE VECTORS
• GROUP B ARBOVIRUSES
• REPTILES
• ETHIOPIA

Subject Categories:

• Biology
• Microbiology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE