Thesis (M. Sc.(Wildlife Management))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references. Available on the Internet via the World Wide Web.

Thesis ( (M.Sc.)(Wildlife Management)--University of Pretoria, 1999. / Summary in Afrikaans and English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (PhD.(Veterinary Anatomy))--University of Pretoria, 2002.

Abstract: The risk for humans to contract bovine tuberculosis through the consumption of undercooked game meat as well as biltong (traditionally dried game meat) is a concern. The survival potential of Mycobacterium bovis during the cooking and drying processes was researched in a preceding study on beef and the positive results compelled the authors to investigate the results with a similar preliminary study on game meat. Muscular, lymphatic and visceral tissues from skin test positive African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and greater kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) with tuberculous lesions were collected from the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park during the park’s culling programme. The different tissues were exposed to cooking and the muscular tissue to the drying process prior to culture. All acid-fast isolates were analysed by polymerase chain reaction for the presence of Mycobacterium bovis. All tissues were found negative for Mycobacterium bovis but non-tuberculous mycobacteria were isolated from kidney, liver, heart and lymph nodes. The results showed that these processes will kill Mycobacterium bovis but the unexpected recovery of non-tuberculous mycobacteria suggests possible survival and resistance characteristics of these strains which might be of veterinary public health interest.

Abstract We investigated the relationship between prevalence and severity of clinical signs of Demodex cafferi infection in freeranging African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) and other factors such as age, sex, pregnancy status, and concomitant infections with bovine tuberculosis (BTB), Rift Valley fever (RVF), and brucellosis (BA). Approximately half of 203 buffalo examined in this study had clinical signs of demodicosis (cutaneous nodules); younger age classes had the highest prevalence and severity of lesions (x2521.4, df56, P50.0015). Nodules were generally limited to the head and neck region, but in severe cases were present over the entire animal. We found no significant association between clinical severity of the Demodex infection and gender, pregnancy status, or infection with BTB, RVF, or BA.

Thesis (MSc. (Production Animal Studies))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print format.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2005. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-55). Also available on the World Wide Web.

The range use behaviour and activity patterns of a single herd of disease-free Cape buffalo Syncerus caffer in the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve, Free State, was investigated. This reserve falls outside the historical distribution of these buffalo. It has sub-optimal habitat for buffalo, a long history of severe overgrazing and no large predators. The veld condition and grazing capacity of six management units identified in the reserve were investigated, and a long-term grazing capacity of 750 L.S.U. calculated. A maximum long-term buffalo stocking rate of 82,2 L.S.u. was determined from their range use. The main factors, which appear to regulate habitat selection by the buffalo, are seasonal changes in the food supply, the availability of cover for daytime resting, and protection against low night temperatures. Effective management of the buffalo depends on protecting the woody riverbank and vlei grasslands, which are the most crucial vegetation types for the buffalo. / Dissertation (MSc (Wildlife Management))--University of Pretoria, 1999. / Centre for Wildlife Management / unrestricted

The diagnostic performance of four serological assays for bovine brucellosis in African buffaloes, namely Rose-Bengal test (RBT), complement fixation test (CFT), indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (iELISA) and fluorescence polarisation assay (FPA) were evaluated and compared in a case-control study. The study followed the OIE assay validation pathway for validation of diagnostic tests applicable to wildlife species where there is a validated test available in a taxonomically closely related species. Two uninfected and four infected herds were recruited and an uninfected composite reference panel of 107 sera and infected composite reference panel of 93 were selected using composite reference standards. Diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) and diagnostic specificity (DSp) were calculated for individual tests and for different combinations of two tests in series and in parallel. Cut-off points were adjusted using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Using these cut-off values, the index tests performed as follows: RBT DSe of 98.9% (95% CI 96.83% - 100%) and DSp of 98.1% (95% CI 95.6% - 100%), iELISA (cut-off >40.5%) DSe 98.9% (95% CI 94.2% - 100%) and DSp 100% (95% CI 96.6% - 100%), CFT (cut-off >0 iU/ml) DSe 74.2% (95% CI 64.1% - 82.7%) and DSp 100% (95% CI 96.6% - 100%) and FPA (cut-off >16 mP) DSe 97.9% (95% CI 94.2% - 99.7%) and DSp 100% (95% CI 96.6% - 100%). Based on performance index and area under the ROC curve, the iELISA performed best (198.9% and 1.0), followed closely by the FPA (197.9% and 0.989) and the RBT (197.0%). The CFT s lower performance (174.2%, and 0.871) was due to low DSe. Kappa values for test agreement between the index tests was above 0 for all combinations, and varied from unweighted Kappa of 0.685 (95% CI 0.608 0.762) between FPA and iELISA to 0.26 (0.136-0.383b) between CFT and RBT. Consideration of the indices for positive and negative test agreement between the index tests supported the differential specificity of tests for different immunoglobulin classes and higher in line with the findings in cattle. Positive predictive value in herd C and E were 100% for the iELISA, CFT and FPA, 97.3% in herd C and 98.4% in herd E for the RBT. Negative predictive values in herd C ranged from 89% for the CFT to 99.2% for the RBT and in herd E 73.1% for the CFT to 98.7% for the RBT. Overall repeatability was satisfactory, except for the FPA, which was considered the result of sample quality related to prolonged storage in a freezer. The index tests were all found fit for use to detect or confirm brucellosis in populations and individual animals. The values for DSe and DSp that were estimated will be of use in the interpretation of serological results and determination of diagnostic strategies in different circumstances. Different combinations of tests in series and parallel increased the DSp and DSe. Using the RBT in combination with the CFT/FPA/iELISA interpreted in series or in parallel in relation to the epidemiological setting and objective of testing is recommended. / Mini-dissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2015. / tm2016 / Veterinary Tropical Diseases / MSc / Unrestricted

The aim of this study was to test whether or not the equilibration time of two different cryodiluents influences the post thaw qualities of epididymal African buffalo (Syncerus caffer') sperm. Diluents and equilibration times were compared by assessing the post thaw spermatozoal motility, longevity and the acrosomal integrity. African buffaloes belong to Africa's "Big Five" and are, therefore, popular animals amongst game farmers, hunters and tourists. They are also asymptomatic carriers of foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) and considered to be a wildlife reservoir for this plague. Other diseases, that are carried and can be transmitted from the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer') to livestock include tuberculosis, brucellosis and theileriosis or corridor disease (CD). Therefore, the transportation of African buffaloes is highly regulated. Disease-free buffalo populations are currently derived from a small genetic 8 pool and are smaller in their trophy size than the free-ranging animals from the diseased areas of the Kruger National Park (KNP) and the Hluhluwe/Umfolozi National Park. Hence there is a special interest in bringing new genetic material into the disease-free populations. Epididymal sperm from 11 mature African buffalo bulls was collected, diluted with two different semen extenders (TriiadylTM [Tris egg yolk extender] and AndroMed® [synthetic extender, i.e. fully defined medium]) and frozen. Pre-freezing equilibration times of 2 and 9 hours were tested. Total and progressive motilities, longevities and acrosomal integrity were measured and compared. Results show that there were no differences in post-thaw sperm quality when equilibration times between 2 and 9 hr were used. The use of the egg yolk containing extender (TriiadlyTM) resulted in higher percentage of post-thaw motilities than the use of the synthetic AndroMed®. Because a high percentage of progressive motile spermatozoa is one of the prerequisites for successful AI it must be concluded that TriladylTM is superior to AndroMed®. As I believe the advantages of higher motility to be bigger than the hygiene risks of a yolk containing extender I conclude that epididymal buffalo sperm should rather be frozen with TriiadylTM than with AndroMed®. / Dissertation (MSc (Production Animal Science))--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Production Animal Studies / unrestricted