Veterinaria Italiana, 46 (3), 267‐275 Preliminary report of transfrontier disease surveillance in free‐ranging buffalo in the Caprivi Strip, Namibia Andrea Capobianco Dondona(1), Mark Jago(2), Rossella Lelli(1), Anna Marais(3) & Massimo Scacchia(1) Summary nationals of five countries live in the area, A capture operation to ascertain the health making transboundary management of natural status of free‐ranging buffalo (Syncerus caffer) resources a key issue. from six areas in the Caprivi Strip in the north‐ Game normally roam through the Caprivi and, east corner of Namibia is described. In‐depth every year, a number of wild animals undergo reports on buffalo capture operations and their both local and transcontinental translocation cost, with detailed descriptions of diseases for for their release into new habitats for research purposes, sampling techniques, field conservation or sporting purposes (4, 16). The processing of samples and laboratory‐related health status of these animals or the health costs are still lacking in the literature. This status of the populations from which they paper describes materials, methods and the originated is seldom investigated. In 2007, ten related costs of a disease surveillance operation buffalo (Syncerus caffer) from four regions of conducted among buffalo in Namibia. The the Caprivi were collared with satellite radio survey attempted to provide information collars and their movement monitored. At the designed to improve the control of infectious same time, 50 buffalo were immobilised to diseases in the Caprivi Strip, a key area collect sera for preliminary disease profiling bordering Angola, Zambia, Botswana and (9). A second phase of this project was planned Zimbabwe. for October 2009. Keywords Game capture operations are expensive Buffalo, Caprivi Strip, Capture, Namibia, activities. Most of the species usually captured Syncerus caffer, TAD, Transboundary animal are the largest and most valuable, such as disease, Transfrontier disease surveillance. buffalo and other antelope. Disease screening of these animals before movements does not Introduction always occur; it depends on the area of origin and on the health regulations of the The area studied was the Caprivi Strip and the exporting/importing country (1). surrounding Kavango‐Zambezi (KAZA) trans‐ frontier conservation area that also spans parts Game capture does not always require darting of Botswana, Angola, Zimbabwe and Zambia. and immobilisation of the animals; this is one The landscape is a patchwork of different land of the biggest limiting factors for collecting uses, tenure types and boundaries, including biological samples. country borders, veterinary fences, national Transboundary animal diseases (TADs) are parks, communal lands, government land and defined by the Food and Agriculture forest reserves. A variety of ethnic groups and Organization (FAO) as those diseases that are (1) Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molise ‘G. Caporale’, Via Campo Boario, 64100 Teramo, Italy [email protected] (2) Ministry of Environment and Tourism, Directorate of Scientific Services, P/Bag 13346, Windhoek, Namibia (3) Central Veterinary Laboratory, Goethe Street, No. 24, P.O. Box 13187, Windhoek, Namibia © Istituto G. Caporale 2010 www.izs.it/vet_italiana Vol. 46 (3), Vet Ital 267 Preliminary report of transfrontier disease surveillance Andrea Capobianco Dondona, Mark Jago, Rossella Lelli, in free‐ranging buffalo in the Caprivi Strip, Namibia Anna Marais & Massimo Scacchia of economic and/or food security significance, different areas in Caprivi is described; that, by spreading to other countries, may give previous screening for FMD virus was rise to epidemics. Their management and conducted in 1998. In addition to probang for control require cooperation among countries FMD, additional samples were collected and (5, 7). were tested for Brucella, infectious bovine The risk factors for disease transmission rhinotracheitis and contagious bovine between wildlife and livestock relate to the pleuropneumonia, as well as external and type of ecosystem or eco‐zone involved; very internal parasites. The selected diseases occur acid savannahs and high Afromontane eco‐ in Namibian cattle since 1994 (World Animal zones carry a lower risk compared to tropical Health Information Database [WAHID]). savannah where wildlife mixes more readily. African buffalo may be infested with Since links between wildlife and livestock in exceptionally large numbers and species of some African areas are seamless, knowledge of Ixodid ticks (12, 28) and on account of their management issues and disease ecology large size, a high percentage of these ticks are understanding is imperative (19). usually adults (11, 13). Buffalo may indeed play a role in the transmission of important It was decided to work with buffalo because of tick‐borne diseases of livestock, but data on their relevance as reservoirs of foot and mouth ticks from buffalo and livestock in this key disease (FMD) virus. These animals move long area are lacking. distances during the annual cycle and, in the area covered by the survey, they can cross four international borders (23). In the recent past, Materials and methods since 2001, several outbreaks of FMD have occurred in cattle in the Caprivi Strip and The area buffalo have been incriminated for failures in Caprivi is a strip of land running east‐west in immunisation campaigns, on the assumption the north‐east corner of Namibia, with a depth of being carriers of FMD serotype variants not varying between 30 km and 100 km (Fig. 1). present in the vaccine. The area falls within the Zambezi Baikiaea In addition, samples were also taken to woodlands eco‐region (6), which is character‐ determine the presence of other infectious ised by a mosaic of woodlands, savannahs, agents. grasslands, some of which are seasonally In this preliminary report, immobilisation from flooded, and forests. The altitude above sea the helicopter of a significant number of level varies between 930 m and 1 100 m and buffalo, depending on the herds size, from six rainfall averages approximately 650 mm per Buffalo Susuwe Eastern Flood Plains Mahango Mudumu National Park Mamili National Park Figure 1 Caprivi map and buffalo capture sites 268 Vol. 46 (3), Vet Ital www.izs.it/vet_italiana © Istituto G. Caporale 2010 Andrea Capobianco Dondona, Mark Jago, Rossella Lelli, Preliminary report of transfrontier disease surveillance Anna Marais & Massimo Scacchia in free‐ranging buffalo in the Caprivi Strip, Namibia year, mostly falling between November and . Bwabwata National Park, Mahango section April. The average daily temperature is . Bwabwata National Park, Susuwe North and approximately 23°C. In 1996, the human South sections population in the area totalled approximately . Mamili National Park 115 000 (18) in communal lands and . Mudumu National Park. settlements, border parks and other protected areas. Wildlife, livestock and people therefore Personnel live in close proximity with one another and Four veterinarians, with different skills and conflicts between the various species are levels of expertise, were involved in the common (20). In addition, there is an increased project. Two members were from the Ministry risk of disease transmission at the of Environment and Tourism and were wildlife/livestock interface (Fig. 2). responsible for anaesthesia, one was a FMD The Caprivi Strip is at the centre of the recently consultant expert from the United Kingdom proposed Kavango‐Zambezi Transfrontier and the fourth, from the Istituto Zooprofilattico Conservation area (KAZA) which will be one Sperimentale dellʹAbruzzo e del Molise the world’s largest conservation areas, ‘G. Caporale’, was responsible for the collection, measuring almost 280 000 km2; it will include identification, recording and storage of protected areas and communal lands in samples in the field. Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Angola, as Three veterinary technicians from the well as Namibia (www.kazapark.com/). Namibian Central Veterinary Laboratory Control fences, along national borders and provided support for the capture team and within the individual countries, play a critical assistance to veterinarians in accelerating role in limiting disease spread into domestic procedures. stock but their presence constitutes major and Three members of the Game Capture Team of serious limiting factors to seasonal natural the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and movements of wildlife (22). representatives of different government and Buffalo were captured and sampled in the non‐governmental organisations participated areas listed below: in the capture operations over a period of . Eastern Flood Plains, Namibian side of 10 days. Chobe River Three different teams composed of one . Bwabwata National Park, Buffalo section veterinarian, one technician and one assistant Buffalo range Maximum possible range – excludes consolidated fields and those areas where human densities are greater than 20/km2 Medium range – excludes all present fields and areas where human densities are greater than 10/km2 and allows for expansion of agriculture Core range – areas where buffalo should reach full potential State protected areas Conservancies 1. Mahango Game Park 7. Proposed Conservancy (Malengalenga?) Veterinary control fence 2. West Caprivi Game Park 8. Wuparo Conservancy 2a Western Core Area 9. Proposed Conservancy (Lianshulu?) 2b Eastern Core Area 10. Mashi Conservancy Human settlement 3. Kwando Triangle 11. Mayuni Conservancy